Occupation/Human rights
U.S. pressure delays Israel's 'Greater Jerusalem' bill: legislator, Reuters
U.S. pressure delayed an Israeli ministerial vote on Sunday on a proposed bill that Washington fears entails annexation of Jewish settlements near Jerusalem, an Israeli lawmaker said.
Opinion: 'Creeping annexation' is a distraction from the one-state reality, +972 Magazine
“A proposed law to ‘annex’ dozens of settlements to Jerusalem is just one step toward normalizing a reality that has been in the making for decades,” writes Michael Omer-Man.
Israeli Minister to Push Plan Aimed at Reducing Number of Arabs in Jerusalem, Ha'aretz
Jerusalem Affairs Minister Zeev Elkin has unveiled his proposal for the municipal division of Jerusalem, which would see several Arab neighborhoods beyond the West Bank separation barrier split off from the Jerusalem municipality and be placed under the jurisdiction of one or more new council administrations.
Israel Mulls Demolishing Homes of Terrorists Causing Serious Injury, Not Only Death, Ha'aretz
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman has instructed on Sunday that consideration be given to expanding the policy of demolishing the homes of terrorists whose attacks have resulted in death to also include acts that resulted in serious injury. Current law in only permits the demolition of the homes of terrorists who have killed Israelis.
This Bedouin village has been demolished by Israel 120 times, +972 Magazine
For the past seven years, Israeli authorities have repeatedly demolished Al-Araqib in order to expel its residents and build a forest in its place.
US-Israeli/Palestinian relations
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker bars Israel boycotters from doing business with his state, JTA
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed an executive order that prohibits state agencies from entering into contracts with companies that boycott Israel.
If Congress was in charge of negotiating Middle East peace, Jewish Insider
In a September 28 interview with Walla News, U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman promised that the Trump administration would unveil within months a peace proposal to Israelis and Palestinians. With few details emerging from the White House, Jewish Insider asked several Members of Congress what they think should be included in a U.S. plan.
Jared Kushner traveled unannounced to Saudi Arabia, CNN
Jared Kushner and other senior White House advisers traveled to Saudi Arabia last week to continue discussions on Middle East peace, a White House official told CNN.
What the Jewish Federations Do With Your Money, Ha'aretz
Research by Haaretz into Jewish charity in North America has found a powerful but opaque machine that turns over billions, but can be vague as to how the money is used, for instance on salaries, and supporting the settlements in Israel.
Israel, Palestine, & the Arab world
Israeli companies talking to Saudi Arabia about $500b 'smart city', Jerusalem Post
A number of Israeli companies are talking to the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia about developing the proposed 26,500-sq.km. “Smart City” zone, The Jerusalem Post has learned, a blow to the decades-long Arab League boycott of the Jewish state. The sovereign wealth fund is owned and controlled by the Saudi state.
UAE judo chief apologizes after athlete refuses to shake Israeli rival’s hand, JTA
The head of the Judo Federation in the United Arab Emirates apologized after one of the country’s athletes refused to shake the hand of his Israeli opponent.
Palestinian politics
Abbas says any Hamas ministers will have to recognize Israel, Times of Israel
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Sunday that he will not appoint to the Palestinian unity government any Hamas officials who don’t publicly recognize Israel.
Israel, Palestinians said back to full West Bank security cooperation, Times of Israel
Security coordination between Israel and the Palestinian Authority has fully resumed some 3 months after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas suspended it to protest new security restrictions imposed at the Temple Mount, Channel 2 TV reported Friday.
Gaza
Gaza banks face uncertain future as reconciliation deal progresses, Al-Monitor
The banks and other financial institutions that have long operated in Gaza under the Hamas government are finding themselves left out of the Palestinian reconciliation.
Hamas tunnel discovered under UN school in Gaza, JTA
The tunnel was discovered on Oct. 15 by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, which runs the school, and Israeli authorities were notified, the UNRWA said in a statement released Saturday.