Protests Mark 50th Jerusalem Day Anniversary

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Jerusalem Day News

Jerusalem Day Celebration Underscores Israeli-Palestinian Divide,

This year marks half a century since the Arab-Israeli war of 1967, in which Israel defied annihilation by its Arab neighbors and also came to rule over Palestinian Arabs in captured areas, including in the Old City. Predictably, there is profound disagreement over what the anniversary means, and even over the date: Wednesday was exactly 50 years since the Western Wall’s capture from Jordan, along with the rest of the Old City, but by the Jewish lunar calendar. The date on a standard calendar is June 7, 1967.

Netanyahu vows: Temple Mount, Western Wall will forever remain part of Israel,

“Some see the Six-Day War as a disaster for Israel, I see it as Israel’s salvation,” the prime minister says during special Knesset session to celebrate Jerusalem Day and 50 years to the capital’s unification.

Israeli cops assault American Jewish activists in Jerusalem Day protest,

The demonstration, held at Damascus Gate by American and Israeli Jewish activists with IfNotNow, Free Jerusalem and All That’s Left, took place during the March of the Flags, an annual right-wing parade that habitually results in violence against Palestinians from both its participants and the Israeli police units escorting them. The march is heavily funded by the Jerusalem Municipality.

East Jerusalem Facts and Figures 2017,

On Jerusalem Day 2017, as Israel marks 50 years to the “reunification of Jerusalem,” ACRI presents its Facts and Figures report, highlighting the continuous neglect, oppression, and poverty in East Jerusalem.

Israel marks 50 years of 'united Jerusalem', but city struggles,

A half-century after Israel captured East Jerusalem, the holy city remains deeply divided by politics, religion and ethnicity – and struggling with grim economic realities.

U.S.-Israeli/Palestinian Relations

US said pushing Israel to transfer parts of West Bank to PA administrative rule,

Tillerson: Trump ‘Putting A Lot Of Pressure’ On Israel And Palestinians,

“The president was very forceful in his encouragement to both of them to be serious about approaching these discussions in the future and recognize you have to compromise,” Tillerson said in Rome, where he was accompanying Trump on his first overseas trip as president. Trump had just visited Israel and the Palestinian areas.

For many in the Holy Land, Trump’s visit was a success for what he didn’t say,

The lack of specifics in Trump’s addresses allowed for alternative interpretations. Israel’s right-wing camp saw that as a pass to ramp up construction in Israeli settlements, Jewish communities built on land the Palestinians want for a future state.

If Trump wants real success in the Middle East, rhetoric must match reality,

it would not hurt the administration to exhibit a degree of humility when it comes to addressing sensitive issues like the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The President likes to trade on his image as a “disruptor” as part of his ability to conclude deals, and seems to fancy himself to be the one to bring both parties to an agreement. But there are a number of factors that make the short-term prospects for peace shaky. A potential Palestinian leadership crisis, the continuing, slow-moving criminal investigation of Prime Minister Netanyahu, and a general acceptance of the status quo are inertia blocking the peace process. The process promises to be neither easy nor quick, and an approach reflecting that reality is called for if either side is to take the U.S. seriously as a peace broker.

A Palestinian Point Of View On Trump's Attempt At Middle East Peace,

David Greene talks to Diana Buttu, former legal adviser to Mahmoud Abbas, about why she’s skeptical of President Trump’s ability to help Palestinians and Israelis advance toward lasting peace.

Occupation/Human Rights

WATCH: Israeli forces dismantle West Bank protest camp,

Dozens of Israeli soldiers dismantled on Saturday night a protest camp in the West Bank village of Sarura, which was established by Palestinians, Israelis, and diaspora Jewish activists a day earlier. At the time of the dismantling, around 80 people were there, roughly 60 American Jews and 20 Palestinians.

Ahead of Ramadan: Travel from Gaza to al-Aqsa Mosque for Friday prayers to be reinstated in limited capacity,

According to the Civil Affairs Committee in Gaza, Israel informed the committee that one hundred worshippers aged 55 years and above would be permitted to exit Gaza and travel to Jerusalem each Friday. The committee has a list of some 17,000 individuals who have applied to receive permits to travel and worship at al-Aqsa.

How to square a circle: When liberal American Jews become Israeli settlers,

In conversation with The Times of Israel ahead of her book’s release this week to mark the 50th anniversary of the Six Day War — the genesis of the settler enterprise — Hirschhorn explained “City on a Hilltop” was written in part because of the overwhelming archetypical image of the radical American settler she has witnessed among participants of her lectures.

Palestinian Politics

Palestinian Hunger-strikers' Health Deteriorating After 38 Days, Say Prisoners,

The medical condition of dozens of hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners is deteriorating and many more prisoners have been hospitalized over the past two days, representatives of the strikers said Wednesday.