Gaza
Israeli and international groups warn of looming Gaza disaster, Times of Israel/AFP
A joint statement of 16 groups, among them Israel’s B’Tselem, Peace Now and Rabbis for Human Rights along with Amnesty International, said they has asked Israel’s attorney general to intervene.
Opinion: Who’s in Favor of a Massacre in Gaza?, Ha’aretz
“What’s at stake now is the danger of another massacre in the Gaza Strip. Controlled, measured, not too massive, but nonetheless a massacre. When Israeli officers, politicians and commentators talk about “the next round,” they’re talking about the next massacre,” writes Gideon Levy.
US-Israeli/Palestinian relations
Trump Administration Expresses Concern About Humanitarian Situation In Gaza, The Forward/JTA
The Trump administration said it was “concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza,” but said its Hamas rulers were responsible.
Opinion: Kerry killed peace by coddling Israel, Times of Israel
“By needlessly trying to get Abbas to adopt Netanyahu-friendly language, Kerry missed an opportunity to advance the cause of peace by realigning U.S. positions for future talks,” writes Dan Rothem.
Trump Envoy Jason Greenblatt to Visit Israel Soon to Discuss Renewed Peace Talks, Israeli Official Says, Ha’aretz
A senior Israeli official said that the visit may take place next week or right after Ramadan ends June 24.
Tillerson waters down statement that Palestinians ‘changed policy’ of terror payments, Times of Israel
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday appeared to walk back his statement that the Palestinians intend to end the practice of paying the families of terrorists jailed for attacking or killing Israelis.
Palestinian politics
Hamas agrees with Egypt on tighter border security, Al Jazeera
Security and humanitarian issues were discussed by the two sides, marking a thaw in the Egypt-Hamas relationship.
Opinion: The Qatar Crisis Is Pushing Hamas Back to Iran, The Atlantic
The timing of all this could not be worse, with Hamas already under pressure from the electricity crisis.
Sinwar and Dahlan’s Cairo face-to-face, Al-Monitor
Fatah’s dismissed senior official Mohammed Dahlan met on Sunday in Cairo with Hamas Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar in an attempt to advance a solution for Gaza’s economic crisis.
Occupation/Human rights
Jewish terrorism is rearing its head again, Ynet News
In the past two months alone, eight covert Jewish terrorist attacks have been recorded within the Green Line and in the Wes Bank: In Arab communities in Wadi Ara, in the northern village of Na’ura, in Jerusalem, and in Palestinian villages around the settlement of Yitzhar.
The Real Revelation Hidden Inside Netanyahu’s Plan to Leave Settlers in Palestine, Ha’aretz
“As usual, the logic on which the Israeli PM bases his ‘peace’ proposals does not take into account the Palestinian vision,” writes Zvi Bar’el.
Israeli plan to double size of Qalqilya enrages settler leaders, Times of Israel
The plan, Channel 2 news reported Wednesday, would see 14,000 new apartments built on 2,500 dunams (617 acres) in Israeli-controlled Area C surrounding the city. It would potentially double the city’s population from 50,000 to 110,000.
Israeli politics
Why Israel Is Spending Millions on Orthodox Missionary Work — and How This Empowers the Settlers, Ha’aretz
The idea isn’t so much to turn Israelis into Orthodox Jews, but to get them to identify with the worldview of a party identified with settlements, says one critic.