Top news stories from Israel/Palestine: June 18, 2018

What We’re Reading

Occupation/Human rights

Filming Israeli soldiers in action could soon become a crime,

“If the government finds the occupation too embarrassing to even be visibly documented, it should work to bring it to an end — not go after photographers,” a B’Tselem spokesperson told The Washington Post.

Israel lifts last veil disguising its West Bank planning policy,

On 17 June 2018, a new military order (Order No. 1797) will enter into effect. The order removes any option for Palestinians to challenge demolition orders that the Civil Administration issues for new structures, allowing Israel to demolish homes summarily.

Israel's different responses to Jewish and Palestinian stone throwers,

Jewish settlers who throw stones at Israeli forces hardly face serious consequences. For Palestinian stone throwers, the consequences can mean death.

Palestinian stories are reconstructed through films, photographs and artefacts confiscated by Israel ,

As Palestinians die protesting for the right to reclaim property and other freedoms they lost when Israel was founded 70 years ago, an Israeli art historian is giving them access to the photographs, films and other materials that have been taken from them over the decades.

Shin Bet Uncovers West Bank Hamas Cell That Planned Attacks in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem ,

The Shin Bet security service announced Sunday that it had uncovered a ring of Hamas operatives in Nablus that had been working since October to plan terror attacks in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and elsewhere.

FMEP Resources

Gaza

“This year, we skipped importing specialty chocolates, so as to avoid losses”,

Gaza’s shrinking purchasing power has had an acute impact on demand for luxury items like chocolate.

Gazans challenge Israel’s high-tech defenses with flaming kites,

Outfitted with rags dipped in gasoline, smoldering embers, coals and, more recently, lightweight explosive devices, the kites are the latest weapon used by Palestinians against Israel.

US-Palestinian/Israeli relations

Palestinian Authority says US peace efforts 'doomed to fail',

“Without respect for Arab summit resolutions and those of the UN Security Council… and especially without the accord of the Palestinian people… [US peace efforts] will be doomed to fail and will destabilise the region.”

US said seeking to raise $500 million for Gaza from Gulf states,

The United States is reportedly seeking to raise over $500 million from Gulf states to fund energy and economic development projects aimed at improving the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, as a prelude to revealing President Donald Trump’s plan for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.