Speaking Wednesday at a state ceremony to mark 50 years of Israeli settlements in the West Bank,  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that the Jewish communities in the territory will never be uprooted.

“For years, decades actually, the world has inexplicably given Benjamin Netanyahu the benefit of the doubt that, despite endless declarations to the contrary, he is interested and willing to end the occupation and enter into a peace accord that results in the creation of a Palestinian state,” writes Michael Omer-Man.

“Following a violent Palestinian attack on a West Bank settlement, Haaretz’s military correspondent claims Israel has, until now, refrained from collective punishment against the Palestinians. He’s wrong,” writes Yael Marom.

Netanyahu vowed this week that Israel would not uproot any more Arab communities. He seemed to forget two Palestinian villages fighting for their existence at this very moment.

Amid Israeli encroachment onto their lands, Palestinian shepherds are struggling to maintain a traditional lifestyle.

Israeli officials say some of the companies responded to the UN human rights commissioner by saying they won’t renew their contracts in Israel.

A bill extending bans on Israel boycotts to those initiated by international organizations is under review following criticism from civil libertarians, one of its authors said. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., defended the bill, saying critics — including the American Civil Liberties Union — had it wrong.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said a Trump administration-proposed peace plan likely will go public in months and that it was always understood that Israel would expand into the West Bank.

Palestinian officials criticize David Friedman who said Israel is occupying only two percent of the West Bank.

Israel is working on a plan to get the American administration to shut the Palestinians’ diplomatic offices in the US, according to a Hebrew media report.

Short of funds and friends, Hamas may have few options but to make concessions.

Senior Hamas leader Moussa Abu Marzouk said on Thursday that the Gaza-based terror group is not prepared to discuss the dissolution of its military wing during talks with the Fatah party, as the two sides attempt to form a unity government.

An aide for Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, said that Abbas opposed the slaying of three Israelis by a terrorist near Jerusalem on Tuesday.

Jericho prison is playing a key role in a Palestinian security apparatus aimed at stifling dissent, observers say.

Palestine joined Interpol as a member state on Wednesday, a move opposed by Israel, in a vote at the international police organisation’s general assembly in Beijing, Interpol said.