US embassy won’t be moved to Jerusalem – yet

What We’re Reading

US-Israeli/Palestinian relations

Trump waives law requiring US move its embassy to Jerusalem,

President Donald Trump has temporarily waived a law requiring the U.S. to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Trump’s move to renew the waiver for six months keeps the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv for now.

U.S. Mulls Formulating a Principles Paper on Core Issues of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict,

The Trump administration is considering drawing up a set of principles for resolving the core issues, which would be the basis for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations on ending the conflict, Israeli, Palestinian and American officials say.

Opinion: Israel's alt-right ramps up the pressure on Trump,

“Cracks are beginning to show in the Israeli right-wing’s romance with US President Donald Trump. His backtracking on campaign rhetoric, particularly the promise to relocate the US embassy to Jerusalem and his seeming adoption of previous administrations’ policies when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its possible solutions, are not what his enthusiastic supporters in Israel and the West Bank wished for or banked on,” writes Ron Friedman.

U.S. Vice President Pence to Speak at Fundraiser in Honor of Sheldon Adelson,

Pence has become Trump administration’s most senior representative to the Jewish right-wing in the U.S.

Abbas admits Trump yelled at him over incitement – report,

Following insistent Palestinian denials that US President Donald Trump shouted at Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas about Palestinian incitement against Israel during their meeting last week, Abbas has conceded — in Arabic — that the story is true, according to a report by the London-based Qatari news site al-Araby al-Jadid.

Occupation/Human rights

Israelis draw flak for criticising occupation of Palestinian land,

NGOs such as Breaking the Silence, who argue that ending the occupation and creating a Palestinian state is crucial to resolving the conflict, are coming under increasing pressure from Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government.

1968 poll shows what Jewish Jerusalemites thought of Palestinians,

A survey of Jerusalem’s Jewish residents just months after the end of the Six-Day War, newly revealed by Israeli research center Akevot, showed that, even back then, the majority wanted little to do with their Arab neighbors — and as few reminders as possible that they were there at all.

Bribing Palestinians and Censoring Textbooks: An Inside Look at the Israeli Occupation's Early Years,

Research by Akevot reveals that a committee of senior Israeli government officials was established in June 1967 to oversee civilian life for Arabs in the occupied territories. Minutes show how Israel dealt with the new reality, including planning nuclear reactors.

Opinion: Israel Is Not a Democracy,

“A democracy doesn’t deny millions their civil rights, plunder their land and resources and deprive them of independence and of a say in their future,” writes Michael Sfard.

Palestinian refugees’ dreams of returning home fade,

Fifty years ago, Sobhi Awwad left the ancient West Bank city of Jericho with his parents, running to dodge the crossfire from battling Jordanian and Israeli soldiers.

Opinion: Fifty Years, Fifty Lies,

“It began with the question of what to call the West Bank and Gaza. On Israel Radio it was decided to use the term ‘temporarily-held territories.’ This was lie number one,” writes Gideon Levy.

Soldier wounded in stabbing attack in northern West Bank,

A Palestinian woman stabbed an IDF soldier, lightly injuring him, as he guarded the gate of a northern West Bank settlement on Thursday morning, the army said.

Kahlon, Palestinian PM meet on improving economic ties,

Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon met with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah late Wednesday to discuss steps that the Israeli cabinet approved last month to improve economic ties with the PA and relieve restrictions on Palestinian movement prior to US President Donald Trump’s visit to the region last month.

Gaza

Gaza to see forced military retirement in June,

The Palestinian Authority will begin forcing about half of its military staff in the Gaza Strip to retire in a move it hopes will ease its financial crisis and put pressure on Hamas, despite fears that the move is likely to make both situations worse.

Gaza power cuts: When fuel runs out, 'babies will die',

At al-Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in Gaza, 50 babies lie crowded in 30 beds in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Outside, the yard resembles a factory as massive generators roar and hum, turning fuel into electricity, supplying the babies with oxygen through ventilators.

Palestinian politics

Opinion: Why is Normalization Of Israel Stigmatized In Palestinian Society?,

“The Palestinians’ sentiment on normalization may not be unique as the disadvantaged group in their respective conflict,” writes Jonah Naghi.