Palestinian elections shouldn’t exclude Gaza

What We’re Reading

Gaza

Opinion: The Palestinian Municipal Election should include Gaza as well,

“Holding elections in the West Bank only would mean that the Palestinian government has voluntarily given up part of its power, and would confirm that it does not see itself as representing all Palestinians,” writes Omar Shaban.

As Hamas Tunnels Back Into Israel, Palestinians Are Afraid, Too,

People living on the edges of Gaza border towns, like the Israelis a few miles away, complain of hearing surreptitious digging in the wee hours, and voice a parallel anxiety about the tunnels being rapidly rebuilt near their homes becoming targets for Israeli strikes.

Israel allows cement into Gaza after near 2-month ban,

srael allowed the entry of cement into the Gaza Strip on Thursday evening, following a two-month ban imposed on the besieged enclave, according to the Palestinian Authority’s department of civil affairs.

Occupation/Human rights

Rights Group: Police Collecting Intel by 'Visiting' East Jerusalem Homes at 3 AM,

According to testimonies collected by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, over the past month police forces, including masked policemen, have been entering residential neighborhoods between 2 A.M. and 4 A.M., and going door to door, waking up residents to ask them questions about family members and neighbors, their property, where their children go to school, and more.

US-Israel relations

Why pro-Israel Democrats Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton could have a fight about Israel,

The only Jewish candidate in the 2016 presidential race, who calls himself “100 percent pro-Israel,” and one of Israel’s strongest U.S. defenders are nearing a fight over what being a pro-Israel Democrat means.

Israeli politics

Opinion: Why I'm not afraid of Avigdor Liberman,

“Most chances are that things will remain just as bad as they are,” writes Gilad Halpern.

Netanyahu's Coalition Talks Hit Obstacles as Partners Dig In,

Yisrael Beiteinu has reached a dead end in its negotiations with the Finance Ministry over its conditions for joining the coalition, party chairman Avigdor Lieberman said Monday.

Herzog Presides Over Tumultuous Zionist Union Meeting, Absent Four Boycotters,

Zionist Union chairman Isaac Herzog was the target of harsh criticism on Sunday at his faction first meeting since coalition talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu collapsed last week.