UN to publish list of firms operating in Occupied Territories by year’s end

What We’re Reading

The UN

Ambassador Danon slams UN decision to publish list of businesses operating in Israel's 'occupied' areas,

The UN Human Rights Council has announced that it will publish by the end of the year a list of international businesses operating in the Golan Heights, Jerusalem and the West Bank.

US trying to thwart UN blacklist of settlement-friendly firms,

The Trump administration is reportedly urging the UN’s Human Rights Council not to publish its blacklist of international companies operating in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, saying the move was “counterproductive” and would not advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Occupation/Human rights

Soldiers, settlers clash during removal of illegal homes in Yitzhar,

Residents of the settlement burned tires and “were violent toward soldiers,” the Defense Ministry unit in charge of administering the West Bank said in a statement.

Israeli court rejects appeal to delay Sheikh Jarrah eviction,

The attorney for the Shamasneh family, argued in court on Thursday that the property block number appearing on the eviction order might not be the one on which their home sits.

Israel says outpost legalization law protects Palestinians,

In its official response Thursday to a High Court of Justice petition against a new law to legalize wildcat West Bank outposts, the Israeli government argued that the legislation, if implemented, would benefit Palestinians.

Rights group: administrative detention of Arab citizens 'very alarming',

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel voiced alarm on Monday that five Israeli citizens are currently being held in administrative detention without trial, terming this an increase over recent years, a major infringement on citizens’ rights and a blow to democracy.

In Walajeh, Palestinian residents mobilize against Israeli demolitions,

Villagers temporarily stopped one round of demolitions earlier this month by blocking bulldozers from entering the village, but local activists expect the demolitions will eventually take place.

The battle for al-Aqsa 'has just started',

“A month after protests over new Israeli security measures at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound rocked occupied East Jerusalem, the tension between the Old City’s Palestinian residents and Israeli security forces is still simmering due to Israel’s policy of collective punishment,” write Linah Alsaafin and Budour Hassan.

Netanyahu to attend West Bank event celebrating 50 years of settlement,

Next Monday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to attend his first West Bank celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the Six-Day War and the settlement of the West Bank.

Israel, Palestine & the region

Turkey, Jordan call for ‘serious’ Israel-Palestinian peace talks,

Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday called for new “serious and effective” peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, the royal palace said.

Saudi gamble on Hamas could pay off, or enrich rival Iran,

“The Saudis are increasing pressure on Hamas, which might win them points with US President Donald Trump and Israel, but drive the Palestinian movement and its allies toward Iran,” writes Ahmad Melhem.

US-Israeli/Palestinian relations

PA to give Trump team ultimatum on peace plan,

According to a Palestinian source, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will present US envoys Jason Greenblatt and Jared Kushner with an ultimatum when they arrive this week: If no real progress is made on their peace plan within 45 days, he will go to the UN instead.