Top news stories from Israel/Palestine: August 22, 2018

What We’re Reading

US-Israeli/Palestinian relations

Trump: Israel will pay 'higher price' for his Jerusalem recognition,

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Israel would “have to pay a higher price” in negotiations with the Palestinians in return for his December recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Bolton: There was never quid pro quo for Jerusalem embassy move,

The parties, Bolton said, will need to “talk about it between themselves and see what, if anything, the price of that [the Jerusalem move] was.”

Palestinians lambast Trump's 'audacious' comments on Jerusalem,

Palestinian leaders expressed outrage on Wednesday at US President Donald Trump’s “audacious” and “biased” statements made the previous night in which he said that his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital removed the central sticking point off the table in any future peace negotiations.

Only 17% of Democrats have favorable view of Netanyahu; 64% of Republicans,

The survey of attitudes towards various world leaders showed 64 percent of Republicans had a favorable view of the Israeli leader, while only 17% of Democrats felt the same. Among independents Netanyahu had a 30% approval rating.

U.S. not discussing recognition of Israel's Golan hold: Bolton,

The Trump administration is not discussing possible U.S. recognition of Israel’s claim of sovereignty over the Golan Heights, U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said.

Occupation/Human rights

Israel green-lights over 1,000 settlement homes,

The Defense Ministry committee responsible for authorizing settlement construction on Wednesday advanced plans for over 1,000 homes in the West Bank, with hundreds more expected to be put on the market in the coming days.

IDF Probe Into Gaza Killings: An Opportunity to Rethink Open-fire Policy,

“The ultimate test of an order is not what’s written in it but how it’s implemented – and when it comes to the Gaza border protests, there’s reason for concern.”

One of Palestine's most popular journalists is in jail for incitement,

“Ali Dar Ali was arrested for two posts he published on Facebook. But the prosecution and the judge are far more concerned with his large following than the content of the posts.”

Fortress Israel and the quiet dignity of Palestinian resistance,

The indignities of Israeli interrogation, suddenly known to American journalist and liberal Zionist Peter Beinart and others, have long since become the standard for Palestinians like us, denied an “identity” only the Jewish state claims the power to bestow.

It Took Me Three Decades to Drive One Hour from Gaza to Jerusalem,

Earlier this year, the Israeli army gave me a permit to leave the 11-by-40 kilometer Gaza Strip for the first time in my life and travel to the United States for work. Last month, I left again – this time, to see the rest of Palestine and Israel.

Gaza

The Gazan Toddler With Cancer and the Humanitarian Trap,

“For every cruel and absurd case that is publicized about someone being prevented from leaving Gaza, I learn of hundreds more cases every year that are not publicized.”

Israeli politics

Israel’s Public Enemy No. 1 or the Poster Boy for Zionism?,

His name is Mickey Gitzin and from the way Netanyahu has gone after him, you’d think he was the devil incarnate.

Poll finds Likud would win by a landslide,

The poll found that if an election were held now, the parties currently in Netanyahu’s coalition would win 67 seats.

Israeli gov't: Knesset can make laws everywhere in the world, and can violate sovereignty of foreign states,

In statement to Supreme Court, the Israeli government maintained that the Knesset is allowed to ignore international law anywhere it desires.