Top news stories from Israel/Palestine: May 9, 2018

What We’re Reading

BDS and Settlement boycotts

Israel Orders Human Rights Watch Official Deported,

Israeli authorities on May 7, 2018, revoked the work permit for Omar Shakir, the Human Rights Watch Israel and Palestine director, and ordered him to leave Israel within 14 days. The government said it was because of Shakir’s alleged support for boycotts of Israel.

Azealia Banks Rips Into 'Racists' in Israel, Says She Will 'Never Ever Ever Ever Ever Go Back',

American rapper Azealia Banks heavily criticized “racists” in Israel after her performance in Tel Aviv, saying she will “never ever ever ever ever” visit the country again.

Israeli politics

Netanyahu: Israel ‘fully supports’ Trump’s ‘bold’ pullout from Iran deal,

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday led a chorus of effusive Israeli praise for US President Donald Trump’s decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal and reinstate the “highest level” of US sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

Occupation/Human rights

Israeli forces expel Palestinian families from homes in Jordan Valley for army training,

The Israeli army forcefully expelled five Palestinian families from their homes on Tuesday in order to carry out military training in the small village, which is located in the Jordan Valley area of the northern occupied West Bank.

Holy Land Christians feel abandoned by U.S. evangelicals ,

“These so-called Christians are causing us more damage than help.”

Palestinian politics

PLO official calls for demonstrations against US Embassy relocation to Jerusalem,

Ahmad Majdalani, Executive Committee Member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), has called on Palestinians to protest against the relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, declaring a “day of rage.”

What's behind Hamas' offer of cease-fire to Israel?,

“Paradoxically, Israel has become Hamas’ only option to save the movement and the Gaza Strip from total collapse,” writes Shlomi Eldar.