Top news stories from Israel/Palestine: October 23, 2018

What We’re Reading

Palestinian politics

Palestine: Authorities Crush Dissent,

The Fatah-led Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas authorities in Gaza routinely arrest and torture peaceful critics and opponents, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.

Why Abbas wants to dissolve legislative council,

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is moving toward dissolving the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) in a legally questionable step. The amended Palestinian Basic Law of 2003 does not grant the president or any official Palestinian committee the power to dissolve the PLC.

Occupation/Human rights

Israel Dismantles Alternative Housing Site Meant for Khan al-Ahmar Evacuees,

Following the freeze on evacuation, the removal of the temporary structures signals that the villagers will not be forced to leave anytime soon.

'We Are Working on Foreign Soil and Have to Be Very Cautious': Shelved Al Jazeera Film Details Israel's ‘Covert War’ Against BDS in U.S.,

Haaretz obtained Al Jazeera’s four-part documentary about the Israel lobby, censored following pressure by Jewish-American groups on Qatar.

Israeli politics

Israelis find government's Gaza policy not forceful enough, poll finds,

Nearly 60% of Jewish Israelis said they “think” or “are sure” that Israel should not provide relief measures to improve the lives of the Gaza residents.

US-Israeli/Palestinian relations

Congressional candidate: ‘Israel is not a Jewish democracy’,

“It has become clear to me that being pro-Israel and being pro-peace is critical but I am also pro-democracy,” declared Antonio Delgado who is challenging incumbent Republican Congressman John Faso. “And as currently constructed, you know, Israel is not a Jewish democracy. Those settlements make it so that it can’t be,” Delgado added during the live-streamed debate. “We have got to have a two-state solution.”