Plans to advance for 3,000 West Bank settler homes

What We’re Reading

Occupation/Human rights

Israel to advance plans for 3,000 settlement homes – report,

The Defense Ministry body responsible for authorizing construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank will reportedly be advancing plans for some 3,000 new housing units when it convenes next month.

U.S. Court Rejects Palestinian-led Multi-billion Dollar Lawsuit on Settlements,

A federal court rejected a lawsuit by Palestinian activists against the U.S. government and prominent American companies for their support of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The court stated that it lacked the jurisdiction to discuss this issue because it is political in nature and should be decided by policymakers, not the courts.

The Writing On The Wall: Signs Of Occupation In Hebron,

Palestinian human rights activist Issa Amro writes about the campaign by Israeli settlers to erase Palestinian history and identity in Hebron.

Settlers assault 2 Palestinian youths in Hebron,

A.J., 15, and M.J., 14, both from the Jaber neighborhood in Hebron, were on their way to the local grocery store when they noticed a group of some ten settler youths coming towards them.

How Palestinian students prepare for settler attacks,

Facing ongoing violence from Yitzhar settlers, Palestinians in Urif village must take exceptional precautions.

Israel-Palestine: What Can Be Learned from Other Conflicts?,

sraelis and Palestinians tend to be invested in the notion that their conflict is unique in its intractability. But other conflicts have reached a measure of resolution, or at least extended periods of non-violence. Learning from their limited success can offer insights and key policy implications.

Minister says Israel may cut UN funding over settlement ‘blacklist’,

Gilad Erdan’s warning comes hours after Nikki Haley said US would hold up funds to Human Rights Council if it publishes list of companies operating over the Green Line.

Palestinians sue Greek Orthodox church over land sales to Israelis,

A lawyer said more than 300 Palestinian Christians and associations have filed a complaint in a Palestinian court against the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate for allegedly selling property to Israelis.

Palestinian clown released after 20 months in Israeli prison,

A Palestinian clown accused by Israel of membership in a banned leftist group and held without charge for 20 months has been released, AFP reports.

How Israeli citizens are becoming stateless,

Palestinian lawmakers and residents say an Israeli policy rendering thousands of Bedouins stateless is ‘blatantly illegal’.

Israel sentences Palestinian-French NGO worker to detention without charge or trial,

An Israeli court sentenced Salah Hamouri, a human rights defender and field researcher for Palestinian prisoners’ rights group Addameer, to six months of administrative detention — imprisonment without charge or trial — on Tuesday, in what Addameer said was “part of a systematic policy of disempowerment.”

US-Israeli/Palestinian relations

Greenblatt’s Gaza proposal leaves more questions than answers,

“It is clear that the Palestinian Authority must resume its role in managing the Gaza Strip,” Greenblatt declared and explained, “since Hamas has severely harmed the residents and failed to meet their most basic needs.” But Middle East experts questioned how realistic Greenblatt’s proposal is and urged more clarity from the Trump administration in how they would implement the return of PA rule in Gaza.

The Zionist Leader Who Can’t Quit Steve Bannon,

Stephen K. Bannon will be speaking at the Zionist Organization of America’s dinner this November, and that is newsworthy.

Opinion: Is Black-Palestinian solidarity the best way forward?,

“Equality, in a country that elected Barack Obama, is an attainable cause for Black-Americans. But is it for Palestinians in Israel? I would argue, resoundingly, no,” writes Khelil Bouarrouj.