Proposed Israeli law to stiffen penalties for illegal building may target Palestinians

What We’re Reading

Occupation/Human rights

New Israeli Bill to Stiffen Penalties for Illegal Building Targets Arabs, Critics Say,

The Knesset is set to vote Wednesday on a controversial bill that increases jail time for illegal construction from two years to three, and reduces the authority of the courts regarding such offenses while granting more powers to the Finance Ministry’s unit that enforces construction laws.

EU criticises Israel's West Bank demolitions policy,

In the  meeting with the Israeli foreign ministry’s newly appointed director-general, the EU ambassador read out a stern joint statement message, saying Israel was failing in its international legal obligations and needed to change its policy.

Opinion: Why settlement boycotters shouldn't join the BDS movement,

“Although the Israeli government’s crackdown on the BDS movement will doubtless boost sympathy for its cause, progressive settlement boycotters should think twice before getting onboard,” writes Abe Silberstein.

Does BDS ban hurt Israel?,

Jewish organizations in the United States are criticizing the Knesset for banning the entry of those who express support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

WATCH: How Hebron went from integration to segregation,

A tour of Hebron covers the history of the city, from its former incarnation as a space shared by Jews and Arabs to the massacres in 1929 and 1994, and from the Oslo Accords to segregation.

Palestinian, 23, Shot and Seriously Wounded During Israeli Raid on West Bank Refugee Camp,

Akram Alatesh, 23, was hit by three bullets and taken for treatment to Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem.

Palestinian politics

Amending the Charter: What’s in It for Hamas?,

Belal Shobaki explains what’s behind Hamas’s decision to change its charter.

Dismissed Fatah leader rules out reconciliation with Abbas,

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Mohammed Dahlan confirmed that reconciliation efforts with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are currently stalled and warned that Abbas’ internal weakness would reflect the fragility of his political position vis-a-vis the Israelis.

Gaza

Born in Gaza: The deadly blockade,

The story of a family trying to get their sick infant son out of Gaza to save his life.

Palestinian government slashes salaries for Gaza employees,

The cash-strapped Palestinian Authority says it has slashed the salaries of some 50,000 government employees in the Gaza Strip who have been sitting idly since the rival Hamas militant group took over the coastal territory a decade ago.