Israeli settlement in Hebron to expand; Amb. Friedman advisor helped fund Im Tirzu

What We’re Reading

Occupation/Human rights

For First Time in 15 Years: Israel to Approve Settler Homes in Hebron,

An Israeli panel is set to approve next week construction in West Bank settlements, a significant portion of which are located outside settlement blocs. For the first time in 15 years, Israel is expected to approve  construction in the Jewish settlement of Hebron.

U.S. Ambassador’s Adviser Ran 'Dark Money' Nonprofit That Donated $1m to Right-wing Israeli Group,

Rabbi Aryeh Lightstone has been working for U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman for several months, but previously worked at Shining City, which gave millions of shekels to Im Tirzu from unknown sources.

Top Japanese department store stops sales of Israeli settlement wine after civil society concerns,

Mitsukoshi Ginza, one of the leading high-end department stores in Japan, removed wines produced in Israeli settlements from an event promoting Israeli wines, pursuant to concerns raised by the Palestine Forum Japan and other civil society organisations.

Silwan demolitions: 'They're destroying Jerusalem',

For four hours, Abdul Karim Abu Sneina watched as a pair of bulldozers razed the two homes that he had built, leaving a dozen of his family members – including seven children – homeless.

From denial to recognition: There is no 'humane' occupation,

As Israelis, as Jews, as human beings, we must confront the daily reality that takes place throughout the occupied territories. And in doing so, we must face ourselves.

Thousands of Israeli, Palestinian women 'wage peace' in the desert,

The march by Israeli and Palestinian women, demanding that both peoples’ leaders do more for peace, was set to culminate with a protest outside Netanyahu’s residence.

The Bedouin village where compassion ends,

The Palestinian residents of Khan al-Ahmar are facing the threat of expulsion from their homes in the West Bank. No matter how hard they tried to ingratiate themselves with their settler neighbors, nothing seemed to help.

US-Israeli/Palestinian relations

Trump will not move US Embassy to Jerusalem before giving peace plan a chance,

President Donald Trump said he will not move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv until after his administration’s peace plan has a chance to be implemented.

Palestinian politics

PA's Abbas fears being sidelined by Egypt-Hamas-Dahlan alliance,

Amid a flurry of excitement about the reconciliation pact between Hamas and Fatah, the Palestinian Authority is increasingly concerned about the Egyptian role in the talks.

Hamas, Fatah open reconciliation talks in Cairo,

Representatives from the Palestinian political parties of Hamas and Fatah are meeting on Tuesday for reconciliation talks in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.

Gaza

A strawberry’s journey,

Restricted access to markets for Gaza’s produce is one of many challenges faced by farmers and suppliers from the Strip as a result of Israel’s policy.