Top news stories from Israel/Palestine: April 20, 2018

What We’re Reading

Gaza

Israeli soldiers open fire on Gaza protesters fourth week in a row,

For the fourth consecutive week, Israeli forces shoot Palestinian protesters taking part in the Great Return March demonstrations. This post will be updated as events unfold throughout the day.

Opinion: The Insanity at the Gaza Fence,

“When snipers shoot to kill civilians approaching a wall, there are disturbing echoes for anyone who has lived in Berlin,” writes Roger Cohen.

Greenblatt: Gazans have right to protest, but at ‘safe distance’ from fence,

US President Donald Trump’s Mideast envoy Jason Greenblatt on Thursday said that Gazans “have the right to protest their dire humanitarian circumstances,” but warned them to keep a “safe distance” from the Israeli border.

Israel drops leaflets warning Gaza protesters to keep away from fence,

Israeli military aircraft dropped leaflets near the Gaza border on Friday morning warning Palestinians to keep away from the fence separating the coastal enclave from Israel, the IDF said, ahead of expected mass demonstrations slated for later in the day.

BDS and Settlement Boycotts

Natalie Portman pulls out of Jerusalem ceremony over recent events in Israel,

The actress had pulled out of the June ceremony, where she would have officially received her prize from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after becoming distressed by recent events in the country.

The Anti-BDS Smear Campaign Escalates,

For years, well-funded pro-Israel vigilantes have been harassing Palestine activists. Now they’re enlisting the FBI.

Occupation/Human rights

Opinion: Time to Say Goodbye to the Two-state Solution. Here's the Alternative ,

A.B. Yehoshua, one of Israel’s staunchest fighters for the two-state solution, lays out a proposal for an Israeli-Palestinian partnership.

‘The Forced Displacement of Palestinians Never Truly Ended’,

As Israel celebrates its 70th anniversary, a child and grandchild of exiled Palestinian reflects on the Nakba.

Palestinian politics

Mapping Palestinian Politics,

This ‘map’ charts Palestinian political actors in order to help understand where Palestinians may turn for organisation and leadership in the post-Abbas period.