Why the US, EU should intervene in Israeli elections, Al-Monitor
The United States and European Union should explain to Israeli voters what is at stake at the international level in the March elections. If one listens to what diplomats and statesmen are saying behind closed doors, the coming election will be critical. More than determining the composition of the next government, it will determine the place of the State of Israel in the family of nations. Patience is running out, and there are those who speak of a “price tag,” “sticks” and, more bluntly, economic sanctions. Few in Israel are aware that such steps would further worsen the economic situation and the socioeconomic issues currently at the top of the public agenda.
Occupation/Human Rights
Israel's High Court: Unauthorized outpost to be evacuated within 2 years, Yesh Din: Volunteers for Human Rights
The Israeli High Court of Justice ruled last night, in a landmark decision in the struggle against the takeover of Palestinian lands in the West Bank, to evacuate the unauthorized outpost of Amona within two years. Amona is located in the heart of the West Bank.
Huge disparities between Israeli, Palestinian health-care systems, says rights group, Ha'aretz
New report finds that government expenditure per person is nearly 10 times higher in Israel than in territories.
3rd attack in 3 days: Settlers chop down 170 olive trees near Nablus, Ma'an News
Israeli settlers tore down more than 170 olive trees in the village of Yasuf south of Nablus on Sunday, the third such attack in the West Bank in three days.
Hamas and Gaza
In Gaza, Hamas and the PA are at each other’s throats again, The Times of Israel
The non-payment of salaries and poor economic conditions are fueling unrest in the Strip, while Israel’s withholding of PA tax revenue isn’t helping in the West Bank either.
Egypt’s buffer zone expansion hurts Hamas’ arms supplies, Al-Monitor
Abdel Fattah Harhour, governor of Northern Sinai, declared Dec. 31 that Egypt would start to expand the buffer zone on the borderline with Gaza in Rafah city to 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) deep.
Hamas leaders prefer Turkish exile to Gaza hardships, Al-Monitor
Having lost the protection and pampering of the emir of Qatar, political bureau head Khaled Meshaal and other senior Hamas members are now hunting for a new home. Turkey would be a natural destination for senior Hamas officials.
4 Gaza ministries go on strike over unpaid wages, Ma'an News
Employees at the labor, justice, women’s affairs, and public work ministries have not received their monthly wages for nearly 12 months, Gaza’s public employees union said.
Palestinian politics
[Arabic] Exiled Palestinian strongman: Gaza's border with Egypt to be opened soon, Amad News
Exiled Palestinian strongman Mohammad Dahlan claimed Monday that Egyptian officials assured him the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which has been closed indefinitely, will be re-opened soon. He added that the re-opening of the crossing was “only the first stage” of a broad range of measures easing the siege on Gaza to which Egyptian officials had agreed.
A rival of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Dahlan has been in exile since 2007, but remains an influential figure in the Palestinian political scene.