Israel and Palestine preparing for Trump

What We’re Reading

US-Israel relations

Israel Plays its Trump Card,

“Right-wingers in Jerusalem are ecstatic; Palestinian leaders are apoplectic. Welcome to a new era of the Arab-Israeli conflict,” writes Neri Zilber.

Israeli politics

Palestinian MK injured ahead of home demolitions: 'The police are liars',

“Although all evidence points to wounds from sponge-tipped bullets, police claim Joint List head Ayman Odeh was hit by stones thrown by Bedouin protesters in Umm el-Hiran. If the police are proven wrong, it means they shot the leader of the third-largest party in Israel in the face without any justification,” writes Mairav Zonszein.

PHOTOS: Israel demolishes homes in Umm el-Hiran amid violence,

Israeli authorities begin demolishing the Bedouin village of Umm el-Hiran in preparation for its replacement with a Jewish town, following violence which left a Bedouin man and an Israeli police officer dead, and a Palestinian MK wounded.

WATCH: Visual analysis undermines police version of events in Umm el-Hiran,

A visual investigation of footage recorded in Umm el-Hiran during an incident that left a Bedouin man and an Israeli police officer dead shows that, contrary to police claims, Israeli forces opened fire on the vehicle before it sped up.

Poll: Half of Israeli Arab public sees racist motive behind home demolitions,

While 27% look for calm, almost equal number want to increase tensions; large majority of respondents say PM, police chief untrustworthy.

Opinion: Has Israeli left given up on two states?,

“Israel’s left no longer preaches for coexistence, dialogue or reconciliation, and focuses only on separating the two peoples through unilateral measures,” writes Akiva Eldar.

Occupation/Human rights

West Bank mayor attempts to push annexation bill ahead of Trump inauguration,

Ma’ale Adumim Mayor Benny Kashriel will be seeking congressional support for the Israeli annexation of the West Bank city during his visit to Washington DC for the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.