Top news stories from Israel/Palestine: May 2, 2018

What We’re Reading

Occupation/Human rights

Forget the Kotel, Amb. Friedman. Go see Jerusalem's Palestinian ghetto,

“Instead of going to the Kotel, go to the Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem and to the ghettos encircled by the separation wall. You will see a very different Jerusalem than the one you idealize,” writes Yudith Oppenheimer.

Life in the shadow of the settlement of Beit El: Going to school in a state of constant peril,

“Ever since construction on the Beit El settlement wall began, the soldiers have been closing the road and running after stone throwers. They use teargas and stun grenades, and sometimes also live ammunition and “rubber” bullets.”

B'Tselem Documentary Wins Grand Prize in Israeli Human Rights Film Festival,

‘The Boy from H2’ follows 12-year-old Mohammed Burkan, a resident of Hebron’s H2 area, which is under Israeli military control.

Palestinian politics

Mahmoud Abbas blames Jews’ ‘social behavior’ for the Holocaust,

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said that Jews caused the Holocaust with their “social behavior,” such as money lending.

Palestinians said set to withdraw recognition of Israel,

Sources close to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told the London-based Arabic daily Al-Hayat that the Palestinian National Council is expected to pass the resolution during its current gathering, and will also put on hold all other agreements with Israel

BDS and Settlement boycotts

Center for Constitutional Rights Executive Director and Board Chair Both Denied Entry into Israel,

“The Israeli government denied us entry, apparently because it feared letting in people who might challenge its policies,” said Vincent Warren.

Guatemala starts moving its embassy to Jerusalem,

Guatemala on Wednesday started to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, transferring furniture and other equipment into a yet-unfinished office in the capital’s Malha Technology Park.

US-Israeli/Palestinian relations

Trump reportedly may allow Jonathan Pollard to visit Israel for embassy dedication,

President Donald Trump reportedly is considering an Israeli request to allow convicted spy for Israel Jonathan Pollard to come to Israel.