Top news stories from Israel/Palestine: December 17, 2018

What We’re Reading

Occupation/Human rights

What an Israeli army closure on Ramallah looks like,

As the Israeli army invades Ramallah, fear and anxiety deepen among many Palestinians — but so does solidarity.

As Israel Steps Up West Bank Response, Palestinian Authority Takes a Blow,

The Palestinian Authority fears the rise in clashes with the Israel Defense Forces is further undermining its standing with Palestinians in the West Bank and increasing support for Hamas.

Confidential Report Based on 20 Years of Monitoring Claims: Israel Regularly Breaks International Law in Hebron,

The international monitoring force, recognized by Israel, disputes land ownership of settlers, slams restrictions on movement and worship, and says ‘normal life’ is nowhere to be found in the West Bank city.

Israel Has Weaponized the Settlements,

“Settlement has become an act of punishment and revenge, creating a frightening equation in which the murder of Israelis is not terrorism but rather a building stone for the settlements.”

Police arrest suspect in West Bank assault on Palestinian bus driver,

Police on Thursday evening arrested one of two young men in Modiin Illit suspected of assaulting a Palestinian bus driver as he dropped off passengers in the ultra-Orthodox settlement last week.

Israeli politics

After terror attacks, bill legalizing settler outposts passes first hurdle,

A bill that would likely legalize some 70 West Bank outposts was approved by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation on Sunday in the aftermath of a tumultuous week in which three terrorist attacks sparked a wave of right-wing political anger against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Yair Netanyahu says he’d ‘prefer’ if ‘all the Muslims leave’ Israel,

Yair Netanyahu has said there will not be peace in the land of Israel until either all the Jews or all the Muslims leave — and he would prefer the latter.

BDS and Settlement boycotts

Australia recognizes West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital,

Australia said it recognizes West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and is now starting a search for a suitable site for a trade office within the city.

US-Israeli/Palestinian relations

Messianic Jewish Lobbying Group Builds Support for U.S.-Funded Ethnic Cleansing Plan in Palestine,

A pro-Israel activist group is quietly pushing lawmakers on Capitol Hill and key officials in the White House to embrace a plan that would entail paying Palestinian residents in the West Bank to move abroad.

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