US-Israeli/Palestinian relations
Israel’s response to Charlottesville hasn’t been as clear as you might have expected, Washington Post
As neo-Nazis and white supremacists marched through Charlottesville chanting “Jews will not replace us,” one may have expected Israel’s response to be swift and unequivocal. But as President Trump was being criticized in the United States for blaming violence on “both sides,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has styled himself as a leader of Jews everywhere, drew flak for giving no response at all.
Yair Netanyahu says leftists more dangerous than neo-Nazis, Times of Israel
The son of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said American left-wing groups are more dangerous than neo-Nazis.
State Dept Annual Report Critiques Israeli Actions in West Bank, Jewish Insider
“In some cases the Palestinians killed reportedly did not pose a threat to life at the time they were shot, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) published reports saying that Israeli security forces committed unlawful killings,” the State Department noted in its annual International Religious Freedom report.
Occupation/Human rights
East Jerusalem: Construction is “unlawful”, demolition is by the book, B'Tselem
On Tuesday, 15 August 2017, Jerusalem Municipality employees went with a Border Police escort to four East Jerusalem neighborhoods where they demolished dwellings and other structures, citing construction without a permit as pretext.
Israeli military kills two Palestinian youths in Jenin Refugee Camp, B'Tselem
B’Tselem’s investigation of the incident found that soldiers who laid the ambush shot and killed two residents of Jenin RC – Sa’ed Salah, 21, and Aws Salameh, 16 – although the two did not pose a threat to the soldiers’ lives.
Hebron: 'We're living in the heart of a prison', Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera talks to the Abu Rajab family in Hebron, whose home has been seized and occupied by Israeli settlers.
Opinion: Why Jewish Israelis should stand with the head of Israel's Islamic Movement, Local Call
“I’m no supporter of Sheikh Raed Salah, but as Jewish Israelis we have an enormous responsibility to state loudly and clearly that which our privilege still permits us. That means opposing political persecution when we see it,” writes Orly Noy.
Israel & the region
UAE sought Gaza war assessment from 'father' of Israel's Iron Dome system, Middle East Eye
The UAE’s top diplomat in America sought a battle damage assessment of Israel’s 2012 eight-day war on Gaza from the “father” of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system, according to leaked emails obtained by Middle East Eye. Yousef Otaiba was introduced to Uzi Rubin by a senior pro-Israel analyst in Washington, although it was unclear if the two ever met. But the emails, obtained by the GlobalLeaks hacking group, show growing military and diplomatic ties between the Gulf kingdom and Israel.
Israel pushes security ties while Cairo, Amman embassies sit empty, Al-Monitor
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to care little about Israel’s diplomatic ties with Egypt and Jordan so long as security ties are maintained,” writes Akiva Eldar.