“Although there is little prospect of a breakthrough during the remaining months of this administration, a clear statement of principles could have a lasting impact, enshrined in a U.N. Security Council resolution and based on the president’s previous statements,” writes Jimmy Carter.

Vice President Joe Biden called on Israel’s government on Sunday to demonstrate its commitment to a two-state solution to end the conflict with the Palestinians and said settlement expansion is weakening prospects for peace.

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has said he will not be attending the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) next week, after over 5,000 people signed a petititon urging him not to share a stage with “Islamophobes, anti-immigrant activists, and religious extremists”.

“AIPAC has never cared about Israel’s disregard for civil and human rights. So why should it care about Trump’s?” asks Mairav Zonszein.

“Israel’s Channel 2 news broadcasted a segment Thursday evening based on material given to them by the hidden-camera-toting undercover moles of right-wing group Ad Kan. What arises from the segment is that Ad Kan in effect gathered classified materials, forbidden for publication, in attempt to ensnare Breaking the Silence,” writes Haggai Matar.

“It is welcome news that the long-awaited cameras will finally be installed soon. The bad news is that they don’t even touch the root of the problem — restrictions on Muslim worshippers accessing Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount,” writes Aviv Tatarsky.

The Israeli civil administration on Monday has announced it would confiscate 1,200 dunams (296.5 acres) of land from Palestinian villages in the northern occupied West Bank district of Nablus, a Palestinian Authority official said.

“Palestinians have been told for decades that limited autonomy in the West Bank is just a stop along the road to sovereignty. But more than 20 years after Oslo failed to usher in independence, the illusion is unraveling — and fast,” writes Mike Omer-Man.

“Mahmoud Abbas’s sudden departure from the political stage could throw Palestine into complete chaos. And the only two sides preparing for such an eventuality are the Israeli Right and Hamas,” writes Menachem Klein.

Palestinians met Saturday with representatives of the International Criminal Court to brief them on the details of claims filed against Israel at the court which they hope will lead to the opening of formal cases and investigations of Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“The religious-secular chasm may be kept at a low boil beneath the unifying factor of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. But more likely, the polarization is one reason why Israel does not take more action to end the conflict,” writes Dahlia Scheindlin.

A bill capping foreign funding for NGOs seeking to influence Israeli elections passed its first legal hurdle on Sunday, even as Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked warned the controversial legislation was “embarrassing” to Israel’s democracy.