BDS
On Boycotts, Academic Freedom, and the Struggle for Justice in Israel-Palestine, The Nation
“How much vitality there is or isn’t among pro-democratic forces in Israel is, indeed, a crucial question.”
Brazil’s Bolsonaro indicates he wants to move embassy to Jerusalem, Times of Israel/AFP
Brazil’s president-elect Jair Bolsonaro has indicated to an Israeli newspaper he intends to defy the Palestinians and most of the world by moving his country’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Occupation/Human rights
Defense Ministry to advance plan for Jewish apartment building in Hebron, Times of Israel
Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman announced Thursday that he had ordered his office to advance planning for the construction of an apartment building for Israeli settlers in the flashpoint West Bank city of Hebron.
Defense Ministry: Israel Has Destroyed 45 Homes of Terrorists’ Families in Last 3 Years, Ha'aretz
Israeli security forces have demolished 45 homes of families of terrorists since 2015, and requests for another four demolitions are currently pending, the head of the Defense Ministry’s operations department, Eran Uliel, told a session of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Wednesday.
AG rules out house demolition for mentally ill terrorists, Ynet
Mandelblit determines a terrorist who suffers from mental impairment ‘would not have the ability to rationally consider the real possibility the home he lives in would be demolished, and consequently decide against carrying out the terror act we wish to deter him from committing.’
Israeli politics
New leadership in West Bank could deepen cracks in settler unity, Times of Israel
Municipal election results embolden camp of council chairs who prefer working outside of Yesha settlement umbrella body to advance policies on behalf of Israelis over Green Line.
Israel & the Gulf
Opinion: Giant leap for Israel-Gulf ties hasn’t shattered the Palestinian glass ceiling, Times of Israel
Do Netanyahu’s visit in Oman and ‘Hatikva’ playing in Abu Dhabi show that normalization with the Arab world is not tied to progress in the peace process? Not so fast, analysts warn.
Gaza
Peacecast: Gaza, Preparing for Dawn, Americans for Peace Now
Report: Egyptian negotiators present Hamas, PA reconciliation agreement, Jerusalem Post
The proposed agreement would be enacted in stages. The PA would first take responsibility for civil services and the government ministries in the Gaza Strip, that are now under Hamas control.
Israel and Qatar reach deal to pay Gaza salaries: Report, Middle East Eye
Israel and Qatar have reportedly agreed to a deal to allow funds to be sent to the blockaded Gaza Strip to allow the Hamas government to pay the enclave’s civil servants.
US-Israeli/Palestinian relations
New Al Jazeera film uncovers 'rotting foundation' of U.S. Israel lobby, +972 Magazine
A new Al Jazeera documentary provides a sobering look at a lobby that continues to defend Israel’s control of Palestinian lives, despite the many Americans turning against it.