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

What We’re Reading

US-Israeli/Palestinian relations

Sheldon Adelson offers to help pay for US Jerusalem embassy — report,

The Trump administration is considering an offer from Republican mega-donor Sheldon Adelson to pay for at least part of a new US embassy in Jerusalem, four US officials told The Associated Press. Lawyers at the State Department are looking into the legality of accepting private donations to cover some or all of the embassy costs, the administration officials said.

A Former Peace Negotiator Muses on Trump and the Future of the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process,

More than a year into Donald Trump’s presidency, the world has seen what seems to be a fundamental shift in U.S. policy toward Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Daniel Levy tells Foreign Policy.

Neither Israel nor Palestinians Will 'Love' Trump's Peace Plan, Says Haley,

Neither Israel nor the Palestinians will “love” President Trump’s upcoming plan for Middle East peace, according to Trump’s UN envoy Nikki Haley. In a speech Thursday at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics, Haley noted that the plan was still being written, but could be in its final stages.

Conservatives cheer Mike Pence when he mentions Trump’s Jerusalem move,

Vice President Mike Pence earned one of his biggest applause lines at an influential conservative conference when he cited President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

PA police rescue US delegation egged by protesters in Ramallah,

In the second incident of its kind in recent weeks, a US delegation visiting the West Bank had to be rescued by Palestinian Authority policemen on Thursday after being attacked with eggs by Palestinian protesters.

Occupation/Human rights

Official in Charge of Legalizing Israeli West Bank Outposts Named Judge,

The Judicial Appointments Committee approved Israel’s first female ultra-Orthodox judge on Thursday. It also bestowed a judgeship on a more controversial candidate – the woman who heads the committee for legalizing unauthorized West Bank settlement outposts.

FMEP Resources

Occupied Thoughts: ISRAELI POLITICS w/ Peter Beinart & Akiva Eldar,

In this edition of FMEP’s new podcast series “Occupied Thoughts” Peter Beinart discusses the current chaos in Israeli politics with renowned journalist and author Akiva Eldar, whose work on settlements and Israeli annexation policies is authoritative.

Settlement Report: February 22, 2018,

Welcome to FMEP’s Weekly Settlement Report, covering everything you need to know about Israeli settlement activity this week.

Gaza

Qatari envoy calls for emergency aid to Gaza,

Qatar’s point man for Gaza on Thursday urged the world to send critically needed humanitarian aid to the territory, warning that the war-ravaged coastal strip is “on the verge of collapsing,” and could plunge into a new round of fighting with Israel if conditions do not improve.

UN: Hamas could lose control of Gaza to 'radicals',

“People are not getting salaries. There is no electricity and no water. That increases the likelihood of the radicals taking over [from Hamas] with an agenda that would be more militant.”

Palestinian politics

Abbas takes to Palestinian TV to downplay health concerns,

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas appeared on local Palestinian television Friday to downplay concerns over his health after undergoing what were described as routine tests in the United States.

Israeli politics

Opinion: Netanyahu's downfall is nothing to celebrate,

“Netanyahu needs to go, but progressives are mistaken if they think that the end of his rule will halt Israel’s rightward march,” writes Michael Omer-Man.

Knesset advances 'dangerous' Jerusalem residency law,

The Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved Feb. 18 a draft law that would make it possible to revoke the residency status of Palestinians living in occupied East Jerusalem and Syrians living in the Golan Heights if they are found to be engaging in anti-Israel activities.

50 percent of Israelis believe Netanyahu should resign, poll finds,

Some 33 percent of respondents said he should remain in office, according to results of the Hadashot survey released Wednesday evening following the latest developments in the scandal known as Case 4000.