Anti-boycott bill struggles to attract Democrats; Palestinian reconciliation talks resume

What We’re Reading

US-Israeli/Palestinian relations

Democrats remain non-committal about anti-BDS bill,

While the Israel Anti-Boycott bill was introduced in March and received considerable media attention, partly due to the ACLU’s opposition, many Democrats remain reluctant to take a stance on the legislation impacting Israel.

Trump and Netanyahu to Meet Monday, Discuss Iran Nuclear Deal and Israeli-Palestinian Peace,

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be meeting here Monday with U.S. President Donald Trump, the first time the two have met since Trump came to Israel in May. Senior Israeli and American officials noted that the meeting, which is scheduled to last an hour, will deal with the Iranian issue and with Trump’s efforts to advance the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.

Abbas' Message to the UN, and to Trump: Recognize Palestine. End Our People's Captivity,

“America routinely offers Israel impunity and rewards. Towards Palestine, it offers only threats. If this White House is serious about peace, it’s time to show it,” writes Hanan Ashrawi.

Palestinian politics

A step towards Palestinian unity?,

“Hamas says it’s finally ready for a reconciliation deal, but questions remain as to whether it will follow through,” writes Daoud Kuttab.

Hamas’s sudden pragmatism is a mixed blessing for Abbas,

The PA president is set to meet Trump to rally his support for two states, and will have to stall before embracing compromise with a group that has vowed to destroy Israel.

What Hamas’ Leader in Gaza Really Said About War With Israel,

“Media sensationalism reinforces the populist ‘there’s no partner for peace’ attitude. Have a closer look at what Yahya Sinwar actually said,” writes Ronit Marzan.

Occupation/Human rights

Israel's top court rules human rights aren't 'controversial.' What about the occupation?,

“As the pro-peace camp has shrunk into oblivion, human rights groups have become the only real anti-occupation force in Israel today. That has made them uncomfortably political,” writes Michael Omer-Man.

Good Cop, Bad Cop of Expulsion,

“While [Israeli far-right MK] Bezalel Smotrich talks of expulsions, Yoav Mordechai, coordinator of government activities in the territories, makes expulsions happen,” writes Amira Hass.

The Great Drain: Israeli quarries in the West Bank: High Court Sanctioned Institutionalized Theft,

In 2009, Yesh Din submitted a groundbreaking petition to the High Court of Justice demanding the court instruct the State to stop all mining and quarry activities in the West Bank. The position paper “The Great Drain” demonstrates how, as a result of the petition’s rejection, the Israeli quarrying industry in the West Bank has expanded significantly.

The House That Bibi Built,

“While Israel proceeds along its merry way, each day building more settlements, demolishing more Palestinian homes, dishing out more hardships to an embittered captive people, far from being the secure and stable dream Netanyahu envisioned, it is seething cauldron waiting for the next explosion,” writes Jim Zogby.

Jerusalem Municipality destroys the home of two families in East Jerusalem,

Last Wednesday, Israeli authorities bulldozed a two-story, two-apartment building to the ground, leaving eight people, four of them minors, homeless.

Drowning in the waste of Israeli settlers,

Some 19 million cubic metres of wastewater from Israeli settlements flows through the occupied West Bank each year.

Is Israel turning its Bedouin citizens into a stateless people?,

“Israel has been systematically revoking citizenship from its Bedouin citizens without as much as telling them. Is this a harbinger of things to come?” asks Orly Noy.

Hundreds of Palestinians, Israelis march to support village encircled by wall,

Israel’s separation wall will surround the village on nearly all sides, which will separate its villagers from some 250 acres of agricultural land.

Israeli politics

Shaked, Bennett propose constitutional law to circumvent Supreme Court,

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and Education Minister Naftali Bennett on Thursday night unveiled a plan to bolster Israel’s constitutional laws at the expense of the Supreme Court.

Gaza

Solar power to the people,

Given the troubled state of Gaza’s existing power grid and a chronic lack of electricity, alternative methods of producing energy could be a literal lifeline for the two million residents of the Strip.