Top news stories from Israel/Palestine: January 30, 2018

What We’re Reading

Occupation/Human rights

Israeli Army to Take Control of Palestinian Neighborhoods in East Jerusalem,

The Israeli military is to take security control of neighborhoods over the security barrier in East Jerusalem as part of its redeployment to the area known as the “Jerusalem envelope.” The principal change will be in Kfar Akab, but it says that it intends for its activities in the Shuafat refugee camp to be carried out by police.

Sorry, Naftali Bennett: ‘Normal’ Democracies Don’t Ban Nonviolent Resistance,

“[Israeli Member of Knesset Naftali] Bennett claims the purpose of the [BDS] ban is to target those who support BDS. But its real goal is to isolate the work of people like me. Regularly in Hebron and across the West Bank, I along with others engage in nonviolent direct actions to change the situation on the ground,” writes Issa Amro.

Israel's Shin Bet to face first-ever torture probe,

For the first time in its history, an interrogator from Israel’s secret police agency, the Shin Bet, is to face a criminal investigation over allegations of torture.

Netanyahu inaugurates West Bank bypass road, vows more projects to come,

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu inaugurated a new bypass road for Israeli settlers in the northern West Bank on Tuesday and pledged to continue developing the Israeli-held territory.

Israeli Settler Admits to Targeting Palestinians in String of Attacks,

Israel Police arrested on Monday a 25-year-old Israeli suspected of trying to hit a Palestinian man with his car.

US-Israeli/Palestinian relations

Irish bill to boycott Israeli settlements runs afoul of US laws,

A bill to be considered by Ireland’s Senate on Tuesday would criminalize trade with Israeli settlements. If enacted, it could put leading U.S. companies with Irish subsidiaries to a choice between violating the Irish law or violating the U.S. Export Administration Regulations, which require U.S. firms to refuse to participate in foreign boycotts that the United States does not sanction.

Palestinians see opportunity in American division over Israel,

Palestinians have taken an interest in a new study that shows Americans are more divided on Israel than “any point” in recent history, believing its findings present an opportunity to present their case to the US public.

US delegation flees Bethlehem as Palestinian protesters storm workshop,

A delegation of US diplomats had to cut short an event in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Tuesday, an attendee said, after protesters stormed their meeting. The angry protesters, who were objecting to US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, also threw tomatoes at the delegation’s car as they left, a video posted online showed.

Palestinian politics

PLO Urges Arab-Israelis To Unite With Palestinians,

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is urging Arab-Israelis to march in their villages, cities and at nearest checkpoints against the Trump administration’s positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In first since US Jerusalem move, top Israeli, PA officials to meet — report,

Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon will reportedly meet with the Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah next week, in the first meeting between senior Israeli and Palestinian officials since the US recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Israeli politics

West Bank sovereignty push continues in Knesset with higher education bill,

The “Ariel bill,” proposed by Bayit Yehudi faction chairwoman Shuli Moalem-Refaeli and Knesset Education, Culture and Sport Committee chairman Ya’acov Margi (Shas) expands the Council of Higher Education’s authority to include the West Bank, canceling the current, separate council for the region.

Gaza

Hamas official in Gaza dies three weeks after unexplained shooting,

Hamas said on Tuesday that one of its senior officials had died, three weeks after accidentally shooting himself while cleaning his weapon in Gaza.