Top news stories from Israel/Palestine: October 24, 2018

What We’re Reading

US-Israeli/Palestinian relations

Requiem for a Consulate,

“By closing its representative institution to the Palestinians, the Trump administration has again harmed peace prospects.”

Merging the U.S. Consulate and Embassy in Jerusalem Is a Mistake,

“Taken together with Trump’s other recent moves—relocating the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, closing the Palestine Liberation Organization’s office in Washington, eliminating funding to Palestinian refugees, canceling assistance to the West Bank and Gaza—it is now nearly impossible for the United States to play a central role in pursuing a peace deal, as it has killed off its relationship with the Palestinians.”

Occupation/Human rights

Netanyahu suggests support for ‘state-minus’ for Palestinians, giving Israel a military presence,

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled that he supported a Palestinian “state-minus,” wherein Israel would maintain a military presence across Israel and the West Bank.

Israeli Right-wing Group Targets New Israel Fund in Dystopian Campaign Film,

Israeli right-wing group The Public Forum has recently released a video bashing the New Israel Fund in which it calls on Israelis not to vote for contenders in municipal elections who are supported by the U.S.-based non-profit.

Israel to broadcast soccer games to settlements as European body gives up demand,

Israel’s national broadcaster will not lose the rights to broadcast Euro 2020 and 2022 World Cup qualifier soccer games after the European soccer body withdrew an earlier demand that games not be broadcast in West Bank settlements, according to a Tuesday report.

Google Maps and the Human Rights of Palestinians,

Despite its said commitment to human rights, Google Maps is violating international law and agreements about the geography of Palestine (West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza) and is disregarding the restrictions to movement imposed on Palestinians by the Israeli occupation, putting their lives in danger.

Jerusalem provides first ever municipal waste removal services to Shuafat camp,

City sanitation workers enter Palestinian refugee camp as part of outgoing Mayor Barkat’s plan to replace UNRWA and oust it from Jerusalem.