US-Israeli/Palestinian relations
Under Trump, U.S. Human Rights Report No Longer Calls West Bank 'Occupied' , Ha'aretz
The State Department’s annual report on human rights violations around the world was published on Friday, and it demonstrated the new approach of the Trump administration towards Israel and the Palestinians. Unlike previous years, the report did not contain a section about “Israel and the Occupied Territories,” but a section titled “Israel, Golan Heights, West Bank and Gaza.”
Trump reportedly asked Netanyahu if he actually cares about peace, Times of Israel
“Trump thought Bibi was unnecessarily angering the Palestinians,” Axios reported, citing three sources familiar with the call between the two leaders. “So, in the course of a longer conversation that was mostly friendly and complimentary, he bluntly asked Bibi whether or not he genuinely wants peace.”
Mnuchin to lead U.S. delegation to Jerusalem embassy opening, Axios
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin is expected to lead the United States’ delegation to the inauguration ceremony of the new American embassy in Jerusalem on May 14th, Israeli officials said.
FMEP Resources
Legislative Round-Up: April 20, 2018, Lara Friedman
FMEP’s weekly round-up of Middle East-related activity on Capitol Hill.
Settlement Report: April 20, 2018, Kristin McCarthy
In this edition: Israeli police assist settlers in taking over three Palestinian apartments in East Jerusalem; Palestinians petition Civil Administration to evacuate squatting settlers from Hebron compound; and more.
Gaza
MSF teams in Gaza observe unusually severe and devastating gunshot injuries , Medecins Sans Frontieres
“Half of the more than 500 patients we have admitted in our clinics have injuries where the bullet has literally destroyed tissue after having pulverized the bone”, said Marie-Elisabeth Ingres, Head of Mission of MSF in Palestine.
Occupation/Human rights
Life under occupation: Khirbet Qalqas, a Hebron neighborhood, has been cut off from the rest of the city for over 17 years , B'Tselem
In one fell swoop, Israel’s actions cut off the neighborhood and its residents from the city on which they heavily rely, making their lives unbearable.
Shin Bet: Sharp rise in settler youth ‘price tag’ attacks against Palestinians, Times of Israel
In first 4 months of 2018, there were 13 cases of hate crimes carried out by ultra-nationalists against Palestinians.
Czech Republic withdraws decision to move embassy to Jerusalem, Middle East Monitor
The Czech Republic has withdrawn its previous decision to transfer its embassy from Tel Aviv to the occupied city of Jerusalem, Israel Hayom newspaper reported.
Israeli politics
Jewish Home MK says jailed Palestinian teen ‘deserved a bullet’ in the kneecap, Times of Israel
Jewish Home lawmaker Bezalel Smotrich on Sunday said he was “very sad” that a Palestinian teen protester who was filmed slapping Israeli soldiers was jailed and not shot, saying Ahed Tamimi deserved a bullet to the kneecap, “at the very least.”