Bernie Sanders: US ‘complicit’ in Israeli occupation

What We’re Reading

US-Israeli/Palestinian relations

Bernie Sanders says US ‘complicit’ in Israel’s occupation of the Palestinians,

Sanders also said that “in terms of Israeli-Palestinian relations the United States has got to play a much more even-handed role. Clearly that is not the case right now.”

Occupation/Human rights

There's no beautifying Israel's treatment of Palestinian children,

“The central problem at the heart of Israel’s half-century old military court system is clear: these courts will never reflect the interests of the defendants, but rather that of the regime of occupation,” writes Sarit Michaeli.

Israel works to thwart renewed Palestinian authority bid to join Interpol,

The bid to join Interpol follows by just two weeks a failed Palestinian effort to join the World Tourism Organization. The Palestinians withdrew that bid following diplomatic efforts by Israel that led to considerable pressure from the US to drop the attempt.

New Israeli closure at Al-Aqsa escalates tensions,

In a closed meeting Sept. 14, the Jerusalem religious authorities, which consist of four Islamic institutions, warned that measures will be taken in protest against Israel, in case the latter does not retract its decision to close down the Bab al-Rahma building inside Al-Aqsa Mosque and to bring the Islamic Religious Endowments before the Israeli court, considering it to be a terrorist organization.

Israel Set to Advance Plans Next Week for Some 2,000 New Homes in West Bank Settlements,

Israel’s Civil Administration is expected to advance plans as early as next week for up to 2,000 new homes in West Bank settlements, a senior government official said on Sunday.

Settler sics dog on border guard during outpost demolition,

An Israeli settler was arrested after he sicced his dog on a Border Police officer during the demolition of an illegally built structure in a northern West Bank outpost on Sunday, the police said.

How Israel Tries to Get a Palestinian Family to Quit Their Home,

It seems the Jabaris’ land is blocking the settlement Kiryat Arba’s expansion hopes, so the army — following planted rumors about weapons — is raiding the house of a family where several children have been disabled since birth

As Israel Backs Kurdish Independence, Palestinians May Reap the Benefit,

“Israel’s right-wing government might end up regretting its public support for Kurdistan. After all, if historical justice legitimates Kurdish and Jewish self-determination, it’s just as applicable to the Palestinians,” writes Dahlia Scheindlin.

Court Rules: Upscale Jewish Country Club Allowed to Restrict Arab Neighbors' Membership,

A court has approved a municipality’s decision to reserve 90 percent of the subscriptions to its country club for town residents, while leaving the remainder available to Jewish and Arab residents of neighboring towns.

The Palestinians Who Didn't Flee During the Nakba,

Manna was a year old when he and his parents were among the many from Majd al-Krum who were herded onto IDF trucks that took them west to the village of Al-Birwa (today, the location of Moshav Ahihud), then south toward the Jezreel Valley and Wadi Ara.

Palestinian politics

PA premier to visit Gaza next week to take control from Hamas,

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah will travel to the Gaza Strip on October 2 as part of renewed reconciliation efforts with Hamas, which runs the enclave, the PA said Monday.