US-Israel relations
Is Bernie Sanders a Lefty on Everything Except for Israel?, The Forward
The scene at the town hall in the village of Cabot, Vermont last summer was chaotic : First came a question about Israel’s ongoing bombings in Gaza; then an interruption from audience members angry at Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians. Another interruption followed. And then, onstage, Senator Bernie Sanders, sleeves rolled to his elbows, shouted at a constituent to shut up.
White House, Prime Minister's Office, deny report of Obama invitation to Netanyahu, The Jerusalem Post
Both the White House and the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied on Tuesday morning a report in the Israeli media that US President Barack Obama invited Netanyahu for talks in Washington in July.
Occupation/Human Rights
It's Israelis, not BDS, who must end the occupation, Ha'aretz
“It’s easy to give in to the sense that the increasing deterioration in Israel’s international standing is some kind of cosmic punishment being imposed on the right-wing government for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s electoral victory. Easy, but foolish,” writes Iris Leal.
Israel said to allow 70 Hebron shops to reopen after 15 years, The Times of Israel
Israel has approved the reopening of around 70 Palestinian shops, which it closed 15 years ago in the flashpoint West Bank city of Hebron, its mayor announced on Monday.
Illegal house demolished for second time, despite Arab MKs' pleas, Ha'aretz
A large police force on Monday carried out a second demolition order issued against a private residence built without a permit in the Arab town of Kafr Kana, despite pleas by Israeli Arab lawmakers to forgo its implementation.
Gaza and Hamas
Israeli Government Cartoon Mocks Foreign Coverage of Gaza, The New York Times
As part of Israel’s intensifying effort to undermine potential criticism from the United Nations of its military assault on Gaza last summer, the country’s Foreign Ministry released an animated YouTube video on Monday mocking coverage of the conflict by Western reporters as absurdly inaccurate.
Hamas officials arrive in Qatar to discuss potential long-term truce with Israel, The Jerusalem Post
Hamas officials arrived in Doha, Qatar to formulate a long term five-year cease-fire plan with Israel, Israel Radio said Monday. Among the officials reportedly involved in the negotiations is Hamas deputy leader Mussa Abu Marzouk, who flew to Qatar on Saturday.
Gaza pullout commander says settlers will return to the Strip, The Times of Israel
The newly retired Israeli general who served as the commander of the withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 came out strongly on Monday against the notion of a two-state solution, saying that the demographic reasoning behind the removal of Jewish settlers “was a manipulation” and that Israel would yet build settlements in the Strip.
Israeli politics
Likud Central Committee win gives Netanyahu chance to breathe, Al-Monitor
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s win at the Likud Central Committee has granted him some political recovery time after the battle to compose the government and ahead of the vote over the state’s budget.
Palestinian politics
Hamas working to lower tensions in Lebanese camps, Al-Monitor
With security tensions escalating in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, Hamas and Lebanese officials are discussing ways to avoid the camps being turned into arenas for settling regional scores.