With the normalization of relations between Israel and some Arab countries moving at a relatively fast pace, and with the Abraham Accords having taken over a significant proportion of US policy conversations and priorities for the region, there is a great need to provide a detailed and objective assessment of this new policy direction and its potential impacts and implications. Arab Center Washington DC (ACW) and the Foundation for Middle East Peace (FMEP) are hosting a half-day conference to discuss the implications of these agreements for human rights and democracy across the region, as well as for US policies and priorities, regional and global alliances, and the future of both peace and Palestinian human rights. The conference panels will also include an examination of the diplomatic, economic, military, and technological components of these newly established relations, the motivations of each of the countries involved, and an overall assessment of the future of the Abraham Accords. Featuring Diana Buttu, Dana El Kurd, Marwa Fatafta, Lara Friedman, Zaha Hassan, Khalil Jahshan, Tamara Kharroub, Tariq Kenney-Shawa, Eitay Mack, Yousef Munayyer, Josh Ruebner, Shibley Telhami, and Kristian Coates Ulrichsen. 

1. Israel Introduces Second Plan to Expand Givat Hamatos Settlement in East Jerusalem
2. State Tells Supreme Court: Timeline for Khan Al-Ahmar Demolition Should be Decided by Government
3. Israeli Ministers & Settlers Celebrate Israel’s 75th by Storming Homesh Outpost
4. Israeli Transportation Ministry Requests $960 Million for West Bank Projects
5. Bonus Reads

1.Bills, Resolutions & Letters

2. Hearings
3. Media & Reports
4. Members on the Record (Palestine/Palestinians)
5. Members on the Record (Israel)
6. Members on the Record (Iran)
7. Members on the Record (other Mideast countries)

“At the core of negating the Nakba, or ignoring it, is the denial of any sort of accountability, which remains the core reason why the issue of Palestine and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remain unresolved. Ignoring the Nakba doesn’t just mean whitewashing the ethnic cleansing of at least 500 villages, towns and cities, but also the imposition of a system of Jewish supremacy all over historic Palestine that perpetuates the absence of any just and lasting solution to the conflict…This Israeli government is particularly proud of the legacy of the Nakba. It aspires to implement it more fully, from the Old City of Jerusalem to Sheikh Jarrah, from Masafer Yatta to Khan al-Ahmar. The Zionist political mainstream will continue to consider as normal the fact that Palestinians in exile are not allowed to even visit the West Bank, while Jews worldwide can become settlers in occupied Palestinian territory.” See also Palestinians march to village ethnically cleansed by Israel in lead-up to ‘independence day’ celebrations (New Arab); Israel: Ultra-nationalists storm Al-Aqsa and raise Israeli flag on independence day (Middle East Eye); The problem with ‘reclaiming’ the Israeli flag (Oren Ziv//+972): “By transforming the flag into a symbol of ‘resistance,’ anti-government protesters exclude Palestinians from their purported struggle for democracy.”

“Israeli families gathered at military cemeteries and memorial sites across the country Tuesday to recite prayers and lay wreaths for the fallen, only to see the gravesites of their relatives transformed into political battlegrounds…Graveside gatherings on Memorial Day have, for decades, stood outside the country’s often bitter divisions, a rare opportunity for Israelis to unite over collective loss. But no place is safe from politics this year, as the most far-right government in Israel’s history seeks to weaken the Supreme Court and, critics say, change the very character of the nation…Thousands of widows, children and siblings of the more than 20,000 Israelis killed in their country’s never-ending conflicts had warned against ministers attending the ceremonies. They pleaded with politicians from Israel’s far-right government, asking them to stay away so that families could remember their loved ones in peace.” See also In Israel, a Memorial Day Marked by Political Divisions (NYT)

“Khader Adnan’s hunger strike protesting his imprisonment by Israel has surpassed 80 days and his life is in danger. “This time is different, he is feeling the toll that previous hunger strikes have had on him,” says his wife Randa Moussa.” See also Israeli forces kill Palestinian in raid on Jericho camp (Middle East Eye); Palestinian teen said shot dead by IDF troops during clashes in West Bank (Times of Israel)

“Nobody has asked the Palestinians for permission to graze these herds on their land, which has served them, their parents and their grandparents for planting, sowing and grazing for decades, and which since the 2000s they’ve been blocked from, unable to graze their sheep, goats and cattle…The heads of the two Palestinian local councils told Haaretz that due to the construction of the separation barrier, which significantly reduced the residents’ grazing areas, they’ve had to sell most of their sheep and goats.” See also State land law , also to displace Masafer Yatta (Ali Awad//Humans of Masafer Yatta) and A Nighttime Trip to Joseph’s Tomb, Where Jewish Prayer Means a Military Raid (Haaretz)

“In the halls of the Knesset, and inside ministers’ offices, it’s not hard to encounter people who rose to influence within Regavim, an organization waging a total war on Palestinian construction in the West Bank. Its top representative is Smotrich, who is also a minister in the Defense Ministry with responsibility over the Civil Administration, Israel’s military government in the West Bank…Most importantly, it has obtained broad political influence that is clearly evident and that goes beyond the actions of the Civil Administration. Regavim now essentially functions as part of an entire ecosystem that it helped to create. There is a series of subsidiary foundations, which have sprouted their own offshoots.”

“A nonprofit think tank that serves as a fiscal sponsor for hundreds of progressive causes around the world was recently severed from access to vital financial services due to its support of a French NGO working on Palestinian issues. In February, the Alliance for Global Justice, or AFGJ, issued a statement announcing that the company that handled its credit card transactions had blocked its ability to process donations. The move came after a “pro-Israel” group accused one of the organizations sponsored by AFGIJ, the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, of serving as something of a front for a leftist Palestinian militant group that is designated by the State Department as a terrorist organization.”

“Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, is undeterred by the recent Israeli campaigns accusing her of antisemitism for doing her job…Since assuming her role in May 2022, Albanese has faced significant opposition from the Israeli right wing for her remarks on the Israel-Palestine conflict…In December, the Israeli government’s hasbara (PR) platform ACT-IL launched a campaign calling for her dismissal. …Between 9-12 April, multiple articles were published in several outlets…accusing Albanese of antisemitism. The articles were timed to coincide with a Twitter campaign to pressure UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk to dismiss Albanese. Israeli agents also mobilised an Italian legislator to demand Albanese’s resignation. Albanese says the articles contained many untrue allegations, accusing her of inciting violence by Hamas and “condoning anti-Jewish terrorism”, which the UN rapporteur has denied as unsubstantiated…Despite the relentless pressure, Albanese is adamant that she will continue to speak out against Israeli occupation.” See also this FMEP podcast: A War Crime in the Making: the UN’s Francesca Albanese on Ethnic Cleansing in the South Hebron Hills

“The exclusion of the two-state solution and focus on expanding Abraham Accords reflects the growing Republican attitude towards Israel – and flies in the face of Democrats’ efforts to take a harder line amid concern about the country’s standing as a democracy” See also US House passes pro-Israel measure 401-19, but growing number of Dems vote against (Times of Israel): The 19 lawmakers who voted “no” were more than double the number of representatives who voted against a September 2021 bill to provide Israel with $1 billion for its Iron Dome missile defense system. That resolution passed 420-9. While Tuesday’s resolution was far more symbolic than the 2021 initiative, both were seen as barometers of Congressional support for Israel, with the results on the latest bill indicating that backing has slightly waned. Voting against Tuesday’s pro-Israel resolution were eight of the nine lawmakers who opposed the Iron Dome funding in 2021 — Democratic Representatives Cori Bush, Andre Carson, Chuy Garcia, Raul Grijalva, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie…Joining them were Democratic Representatives Jamaal Bowman, Mark Desaulnier, Jared Huffman, Pramila Jayapal, Hank Johnson, Summer Lee, Betty McCollum, Ilhan Omar, Mark Pocan, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Delia Ramirez and Nydia Velazquez.” See also Republicans nix two-state solution language in resolution marking Israel’s 75th birthday (JTA)

“Jeffries’s visit to Israel is hardly unprecedented. Israel has long been a favored travel destination for members of Congress from both parties because of the centrality of Israel to US foreign policy and the close ties Israel-advocacy groups have cultivated with lawmakers. Jeffries himself has traveled to Israel five times on AIPAC-sponsored trips since arriving to Congress in 2013, according to congressional travel records. This trip, however—which was funded by the US government—has added significance: It is his first foreign trip as leader of the House Democrats, a position that makes him responsible for securing Democratic votes for the US aid package to Israel and other Israel-related initiatives. Amid a rare wave of Democratic criticism of the Netanyahu government’s attempts to curb the power of the Israeli judiciary, and recent polling suggesting that Democratic voters for the first time sympathize more with Palestinians than Israelis, Jeffries is solidifying his reputation as a reliable backer of the Jewish state.” See also Netanyahu urges Jeffries to back expansion of Israeli-Arab accords (Axios) and In Jerusalem, DeSantis Says U.S. Shouldn’t ‘Butt In’ to Israel’s Judicial Overhaul Debate (Haaretz)

“This is not the governor’s first trip to Israel in his official capacity. He chose Israel as the setting of his very first cabinet meeting in April 2019. DeSantis proclaimed with pride during his gubernatorial campaign that he would be the “most pro-Israel governor in America.” His close relationships with, and vociferous support for, Israel’s violent settler movement and its government are a testament to that commitment. DeSantis boasts of how important to him his relationship with Israel continues to be. What he wants for Florida, and indeed for the U.S. given his national aspirations, is what Israel’s leaders are also committed to: further cementing an authoritarian, anti-democratic, repressive government that has absolutely no regard for human rights, international law, or justice.” See also In Jerusalem, DeSantis Says U.S. Shouldn’t ‘Butt In’ to Israel’s Judicial Overhaul Debate (Haaretz); In Jerusalem, DeSantis teases presidential announcement (Jewish Insider); Visiting Jerusalem, Ron DeSantis tries out his Jewish stump speech (JTA)

“In a surprise move, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has backed out of his appearance at a major conference of U.S. Jewish leaders in Tel Aviv, just hours before a speech that was expected to draw mass protests…Jewish Federations of North America rejected criticism of Netanyahu’s planned appearance, noting that it always invites Israel’s elected leader to speak at its annual events. But it had also reiterated its official criticism of the judiciary legislation, praised the protesters and said it would seek to protect peaceful demonstrations that did not interfere with the conference proceedings.” See also At an American Jewish conference in Tel Aviv, protesters are driving the energy (JTA); Mayhem at Jewish Federations conference in Tel Aviv as protesters and panelists fight over judiciary and immigration (JTA); Jewish Federations Conference Opening Night Ends as Israeli Protesters Beg: Save Us! (Haaretz); The Israeli Protesters Pushing New York’s Jews to Break an Old Taboo (Haaretz); Why are American Jews so shocked by Israel’s far-right turn? (Shaul Magid//+972)

“Israel has arrested Jordanian parliamentarian Imad al-Adwan on suspicion of smuggling weapons and gold into the West Bank, the foreign ministry in Amman said Sunday…Meanwhile, Israeli police have issued a gag order on the case, blocking some of the details from being published by Israeli news outlets.” See also Jordanian ambassador visits MP held by Israel over ‘gold, weapons smuggling’ (New Arab); Imad al-Adwan: The Jordanian MP critical of Israel and now under arrest (Middle East Eye) and Israel Strains Its “Cold Peace” with Jordan (Dalia Hatuqa in Jewish Currents 4/12/23)

See also from Al Monitor: Multi-front war with Iran proxies irks Israel despite deterrence; Israel shells Hezbollah targets in Syria in latest escalation; Israel to supply Azerbaijan with satellites in $120 million deal

“Many Iranians have been silent as the opposition leader has essentially backed an apartheid state conducting the same abuses he claims to be fighting.” Iranian Foreign Minister Visits Israel-Lebanon Border: ‘Zionists Understand Only Power’ (Haaretz)

“The city council of the Norwegian capital Oslo has said it will next month instruct businesses it deals with not to trade in goods and services produced in illegally occupied areas, in a move hailed by pro-Palestine groups…Asked if the measure affected only territories illegally occupied by Israel, the department said it “applies equally to any territory occupied in violation of international law”.” See also Palestinians hit out at EU leader for claiming Israel made ‘desert bloom’ (Middle East Eye); Belgian city of Liege cuts ties with Israel over apartheid (Middle East Eye)