Top news stories from Israel/Palestine: March 13, 2018

What We’re Reading

Gaza

If the White House cares about humanitarian needs in Gaza, it should support UNRWA,

“If the White House is serious about a humane future for those living in Gaza, it should end its efforts to dismantle UNRWA, which provides vital humanitarian and support unavailable from other sources,” writes Phil Wilcox.

Gaza blast targets Palestinian PM Hamdallah's convoy,

According to witnesses, a passenger on a motorbike threw an explosive device at the last car in the prime minister’s convoy shortly after it entered Gaza through the Erez Crossing with Israel on Monday morning.

Gaza bypasses Rafah crossing to import goods,

The Egyptian authorities brought in vegetables, fruits and other goods into the Gaza Strip on Feb. 23 through the Saladin gate crossing, in the southern part of Rafah city, instead of using the standard Rafah border crossing as they normally do.

Israeli politics

Elections: Good for Netanyahu, bad for Israel,

“A coalition crisis could mean elections in a matter of months. If Netanyahu wins, even a post-election indictment will not stop the slide into a darker future for Israel,” writes Dahlia Scheindlin.

Netanyahu to meet Liberman as coalition hangs in balance,

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to meet with Yisrael Beytenu head Avigdor Liberman late Monday night, in an apparent final effort to mend the coalition crisis over the ultra-Orthodox draft and stave off early elections.

Occupation/Human rights

How 'Fauda' Has Romanticized the Most Repugnant Aspects of Israel's Occupation,

When Israeli security forces, disguised as Palestinian journalists, stormed Birzeit university and arrested a student leader, the Israeli media, rather than outrage, offered its highest plaudit: “Just like ‘Fauda.'”

High Court rules squatting settlers must evacuate Hebron building,

The High Court of Justice ruled Monday that a group of settlers who have illegally been squatting in a disputed Hebron building for the past seven months must be evacuated, due to their failure to prove that they had purchased the structure.

Jerusalem: Where the occupier demands loyalty from the occupied,

Israel’s new ‘breach of loyalty’ bill is yet another sinister attempt to erase the Palestinian identity from Palestine.

Israeli troops enter Burin to 'confiscate' more land,

Yahia Kadous, head of Burin village’s municipal council, told Anadolu news agency that Israeli forces entered the village, with a view of informing the council of an Israeli decision to confiscate a parcel of land owned by a local secondary school.

Israel, Palestine & the Middle East

Jordan’s king working to revive peace bid; ex-envoy says 2-state solution ‘dead’,

As Abdullah hosts Abbas, first Jordanian ambassador to Israel Marwan Muasher says Israel doesn’t want two-state deal and US is now ‘totally biased.’

BDS and Settlement boycotts

WA Court Dismisses Seven-Year Lawsuit Over Boycott of Israeli Goods,

Today, a Washington State court ended a seven-year litigation battle against former volunteer board members of the Olympia Food Co-op over their decision to boycott Israeli goods.