[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Palestine and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Palestine Page co-editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each roundup to Palestine@jadaliyya.com.]
The Occupation Forces
At least 40 Palestinians Injured in Gaza Protests Spokesperson of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, Ashraf al-Qidra, confirmed that forty injuries arrived at hospitals for treatment. Palestinian protesters had arrived at the eastern fences of the Gaza Strip to take part in protests of the thirty-fourth Friday of return and breaking the siege protests. Israeli soldiers deployed at the fence opened live fire at protesters in the return camp of eastern al-Breij refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip, and in return camps in eastern Rafah of the southern Gaza Strip.
Dozens Injured During 16th Naval March in Gaza Twenty-five Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces during the sixteenth naval march setting off from the Gaza seaport in an attempt to break the nearly twelve-year Israeli siege, on Monday. According to local sources, Israeli forces opened fire, as well as fired tear gas towards large Palestinian crowds gathered at the northern borders of the besieged Gaza Strip, in order to participate in the sixteenth naval march against the Israeli siege.
Israel Breaks Truce Only Hours in, Kills Fishermen Israeli occupation forces has broken the cease-fire in the Gaza Strip hours after declaring it. Gunboats fired on Wednesday afternoon a Palestinian fisherman who was working in the sea, killing him instantly. The Palestinian Ministry of Health declared the death of Palestinian young man Nawaf Ahmad al-Attar in the northern Gaza Strip, hours after the Israeli occupation declared a cease-fire after the attack Israel has been launching since last Sunday evening.
Domestic Policy
Registration In Social Security Fund Not An Obligation Until January 15, 2019 Registration in the social security fund for the private sector will not be required until 15 January 2019, but registration remains open for those who want to go ahead and register, according to the outcome of a meeting held on Tuesday at Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah’s office. A statement from the prime minister’s office added: “It was unanimously agreed to continue the dialogue, taking into account that registration in the law will not be obligatory until 15 January 2019, while keeping registration open to those who wish.to do that. During the dialogue period, all the issues and requested changes will be discussed to reach the amendments that will be agreed upon and to apply them retroactively.”
Key Israel Minister Slams Netanyahu, But Won't Quit Government In a dramatic press conference on Monday, Bennett, who heads the far-right, pro-settler Jewish Home party, slammed the record of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but stopped short of resigning. Bennett had last week threatened to withdraw from the coalition to protest a ceasefire in Gaza agreed between Israel and Hamas-led factions on Tuesday.
Massive Protests Set Off Against Gaza Ceasefire in Tel Aviv Hundreds of Israelis from Israeli communities surrounding the besieged Gaza Strip, participated in a protest in Tel Aviv, in central Israel, on Thursday, against "a weak reaction" on the part of the Israeli government after agreeing to a ceasefire with the Hamas movement.
Palestinian MP Calls to Expel Israel From the International Federation of Journalists A Palestinian lawmaker has called on Tuesday for the expulsion of Israel from the International Federation of Journalists for targeting Palestinian media headquarters. “Israel has committed a crime against international laws and the Geneva Conventions by destroying the headquarters of the Al-Aqsa TV channel” Hamas’s deputy in the Gaza Strip, Ahmed Bahar told reporters in Gaza.
Israel Refuses to Sign International Migration Pact Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that Israel would not sign the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, a statement said. The statement added: “We are committed to maintaining our borders against illegal infiltrators. That’s what we did, and that’s what we will continue to do.” In recent years, Sputnik news agency said, Israeli authorities have reduced to zero the flow of migrants from Africa and are now looking to expel about forty thousand undocumented immigrants.
Dahlan Calls For Abbas to visit Gaza And Announce Unity Government The leader of the political trend calling for the reformation of Fatah, Mohammed Dahlan, called on Tuesday for Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization's President Mahmoud Abbas to visit Gaza and announce a unity government, Safa news agency has reported.
Foreign Policy
Kuwait to Contribute $50 Million Grant to PA Budget The Palestinian Ambassador to Kuwait, Rami Tahboub, announced, on late Sunday, that the government of Kuwait would contribute fifty million dollars grant to support the Palestinian Authority’s budget. Following the announcement, Tahboub thanked Kuwait for its support of the Palestinian government and praised Kuwait’s continuous support for Palestine at all levels and in all fields.
UNGA Votes in Favor of 8 pro-Palestine Resolutions The United Nations General Assembly voted, early Saturday, in favor of eight resolutions on Palestine and a ninth on the Syrian Golan Heights. Palestine's Permanent Observer to the United Nation Riyad Mansour commented that the votes are proof that the international community stands behind and supports the Palestinian cause despite vetoes by the United States.
Human Rights Council Gives Israel 60 Days to Respond to “racist nation-state law” Four special rapporteurs of the Human Rights Council have given the Israeli government sixty days to respond to comments and questions about the “Racist Nation-State Law” passed by the Israeli Knesset on 19 July 2018. The special rapporteurs expressed “deep concern” that the Israeli law seems to be “discrimination in nature and in practice against non-Jewish citizens and other minorities,” which contradicts democratic principles.
World Bank Will Continue to Provide Budget Support to PA The World Bank Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa Ferid Belhaj said on Wednesday after completing a three-day visit to the occupied West Bank that the World Bank will continue to provide budget support to the Palestinian Authority. The World Bank has dedicated a significant portion of its financial assistance and operations to supporting vulnerable people, including in Gaza, and ensuring the provision of basic services, including in water, sanitation and energy, explained a press release from the organization.
US Warns of ‘consequences’ As Palestine Joins International Bodies The United States has threatened “consequences” as Palestinians step up efforts for statehood demanding accession to almost a dozen international bodies and conventions. Washington has asked the Palestinians not to join international agencies, citing laws dating to the early 1990s that require the United States government to cut off funding to any United Nations organization that grants the Palestinians full membership.
Washington Opposes UN Resolution on Syria's Israeli-occupied Golan The United States opposed on Friday for the first time an annual draft resolution at the United Nations calling on Israel to rescind its authority in the occupied Golan Heights, drawing praise from Israeli officials. The Golan Heights, Syrian territory illegally occupied and subsequently annexed by Israel, forms a strategic plateau between Israel and Syria of about twelve hundred square km.
Settlers and Illegal Settlements
Israeli Forces Stand Idly By As Settlers Attack Ambulance in Hebron Extremist Israeli settlers late Saturday night attacked with stones a Palestinian Red Crescent Society ambulance in Shuhadaa Street, in the city of Hebron, in the southern West Bank, according to local sources. Eid Abu Monshar, a paramedic with PRCS, told WAFA extremist settlers attacked the ambulance he was driving while going to the aid of a patient in Shuhadaa Street, with stones, smashing all the windows.
Israeli Minister, Dozens of Settlers Storm Al-Aqsa The Israeli Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Uri Ariel, stormed the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem, on Sunday. Firas al-Dibs, head of the Public Relations and Media Department at the Islamic Endowment (Waqf), said that Ariel along with dozens of Israeli settlers stormed the al-Aqsa Mosque compound under the heavy protection of Israeli forces.
Boycott, Divest, and Sanction Movement
Airbnb to Remove Listings From Illegal Israeli Settlements Global online rental marketplace Airbnb says it will remove its listings in the illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, in a move that comes after years of pressure from Palestinian organizations, BDS activists, and human rights groups. The decision on Monday will lead to about two hundred listings being removed from the popular accommodation website, which allows home-owners to rent out rooms, apartments and houses to people.
Queer Activists to Protest Israel’s Eurovision winner Netta at London LGBT nightclub Queer pro-Palestine activists will lead a colorful karaoke protest outside famous London LGBT nightclub Heaven on 21 Wednesday November when controversial Eurovision 2018 winner for Israel Netta Barzilai performs. Organized by London Palestine Action, the musical protest led by LGBT activists and supported by allies will also feature dabke–a Palestinian folk dance–and Palestine solidarity version of gay anthems with lyrics re-written to criticize Israel’s violations of human rights.
Quakers First UK Church to Boycott Companies Profiting From Israeli Occupation Britain's Quakers announced on Monday that they will not invest any of their centrally held funds in companies that are profiting from Israel's occupation of Palestine, making it the first church in the United Kingdom to do so. “Our long history of working for a just peace in Palestine and Israel has opened our eyes to the many injustices and violations of international law arising from the military occupation of Palestine by the Israeli government," Paul Parker, recording clerk for Quakers in Britain, said in a statement.
In Support of Palestinians, Jewish Students in South Africa kneel as Israel Anthem plays Disciplinary action is being taken against two Jewish students in South Africa who kneeled down while the Israeli anthem played instead of standing in a display of support for Palestinians. The grade nine students, who attend the United Herzlia Middle School in Cape Town, South Africa, knelt down in support of Palestinians and in protest against Israel’s continued persecution of Palestinians and its violations of international law, mirroring Colin Kaepernick’s action taken to protest police brutality.
Canada Student Organization Endorses BDS The Canadian Federation of Students made the announcement at its general meeting in the Canadian capital Ottawa on Monday, condemning Israel’s ongoing occupation of Palestine and its violations against Palestinians. The CFS–which consists of more than half million members and oversees sixty-four member unions across Canada–denounced Israel’s “atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza and reaffirmed the Federation’s commitment to BDS and anti-war organizing,” the Jerusalem Post reported.
Law
Palestinian Prisoner to be Released After 30 Years of Imprisonment The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society confirmed on Wednesday, that Palestinian prisoner, Samir Saleh Sirsawi, fifty-two, from Haifa district, in northern Israel, will be released after thirty years of imprisonment.
Israel Police to Recommend Netanyahu be Tried For media Corruption Israel Police are willing to submit their recommendations to the Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding their investigation into allegations of corruption against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli media revealed on Friday.
PPS: Israel Detained Over 900 Palestinian Children in 2018 Israel detained 908 Palestinian children since the beginning of 2018, according to Palestinian Prisoners’ Society. Palestinian Prisoners' Society said in a statement yesterday that of the nine hundred and eight Palestinian children detained since January to the end of October, 270 are still held in detention in various Israeli prisons.
Environment, Economy, and Other
Environmental Conference: “a crime against the environment is a crime against a human being”
The ninth Palestinian Environmental Awareness and Education Conference, an initiative funded by the Evangelical Lutheran Church responsible for bringing pilgrims and visitors to the Holy Land, held in Jacir Palace spanning over two days attended by approximately one hundred participants. The conference was a continuation and commitment to the Palestinian environmental strategic plan, which hopes to improve environmental regulations and empower municipalities to achieve a cleaner environment by 2022.