[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
Israeli Warplanes Strike Several Targets in Khan Younis Israeli warplanes and drones on January 25 carried out multiple airstrikes targeting several locations in the southern Gaza Strip district of Khan Younis, said WAFA correspondent. Drones struck with three missiles two locations east of Khan Younis city.
Israeli Forces Demolish Water Well Near Salfit Mohmoud Muqdadi, head of al-Zawiyah village council, told WAFA that Israeli Forces accompanied by bulldozers raided Sirisya quarter in the village and proceeded to demolish the well, owned by a local Palestinian villager, on the pretext of being built without an Israeli permit.
Families of Three Slain Gaza Teens Say They Were Having Campfire in Buffer Zone The teenagers’ families have vehemently rejected the accusations by the Israeli government that they had crossed the barrier in an attempt to carry out an attack, as they seek to understand what happened to their sons, whose bodies Israel is now withholding. “It was about an hour before sunset, and they decided to go to some farmland owned by Salem’s family,” an anonymous friend stated, reiterating the family’s narrative that the three kids had gone to relax before the high stress tawjihi exams.
Israeli Forces Storm Al-Aqsa Mosque Israeli police on Friday stormed Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa complex on Friday, attempting to clear its grounds after the morning prayer and arresting at least thirteen, according to eyewitnesses, Anadolu reports.
Israel ‘has uncovered Hamas spy cell’ in Tel Aviv Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet, claimed on Monday to have uncovered and arrested members of a Hamas spy cell operating in Tel Aviv. The group is accused of recording military and Iron Dome missile defense locations, Israeli media reported.
Domestic Policy
Palestinians Threaten to Give Up Oslo Accords Over US-crafted Deal of Century Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization Saeb Erekat said on Sunday that his organization reserves the right “to withdraw from the interim agreement” if Trump announces his plan. Erekat added that the Trump initiative will turn Israel’s “temporary occupation (of Palestinian territories) into a permanent occupation.”
Suspected Arson Attack at East Jerusalem Mosque Israeli police have launched a manhunt after an apparent arson attack, accompanied by Hebrew-language graffiti, on a mosque in occupied East Jerusalem. Nobody was injured in the incident, police said. There was damage to an interior prayer room, but the structure was unharmed.
Trump Middle East Plan's Effect on Israel Election Campaign US President Donald Trump's Middle East plan is already having an impact on the final weeks of Israel’s election campaign. Benjamin Netanyahu is presenting it as a victory for his premiership. His main rival, Benny Gantz, is promising to bring Trump's proposal to a vote in the Israeli parliament.
President Abbas: We Will Start Measures to Change The Function of the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the leadership will start immediate measures to change the functional role of the Palestinian Authority as called for by the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Central Council. In a meeting with all factions’ present, Abbas stressed that the Palestinian strategy is based on continuing the struggle to end the Israeli occupation until independence and the establishment of the Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Palestinians Observe General Strike in Gaza in Protest of US Plan Palestinians today observed a general strike in the besieged Gaza Strip in protest of US President Donald Trump’s Mideast plan. The strike was called for by the Higher Follow-up Committee of the National and Islamic Factions in Gaza in protest of the US plan designed to liquidate the Palestinian question.
Hamas Calls on PA to Stop Manipulating General Election Issue Spokesman Hazem Qasim said in a statement to Safa news agency: “Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas talks about holding general elections without taking any practical step…” Member of Fatah’s Central Committee, Azzam Al-Ahmad, recently said that “it is difficult to hold Palestinian local elections during this period”, explaining that the Israeli elections are due to be held in March, and Palestinians must await their results.
Foreign Policy
UN Reject US President Donald Trump’s ‘deal of the century’ United Nations has rejected US President Donald Trump’s ‘deal of the century’ and reiterated that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be solved based on UN resolutions and international law. Stephane Dujarric, a spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, reiterated the UN’s support for a two-state solution framework.
Trump's Plan Last Chance For a Palestinian State, Says Kushner Donald Trump's Middle East plan is the last chance for the Palestinians to have a state, Jared Kushner, the US president's son-in-law and special adviser, has said. However, Palestinians have already rejected it saying it only favors Israel.
In a late-night Meeting, President Abbas Urges France, Europe to Salvage the Peace Process President Mahmoud Abbas received late on January 22 at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah French President Emmanuel Macron during which he called on France and the European Union to salvage the peace process.
Palestine Requests Urgent Arab League Session Over US Mideast Deal Palestinian ambassador to Cairo Diab al-Louh announced that Palestine has requested the Arab League to convene an urgent extraordinary session at the ministerial level with the attendance of President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss means to face the US-touted Mideast plan.
Pro-Israel Super PAC is Spending Big Money to Defeat Bernie Sanders in Iowa With the Iowa caucus just days away, Democratic Majority for Israel’s PAC has launched a 700,000 dollars negative ad in the state targeting presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders.
Settlers and Illegal Settlements
Palestinians in Occupied Jerusalem Ordered to Leave Their Building And Turn it Over to Israeli Settlers An Israeli court yesterday ruled in favor of evicting a Palestinian-owned building in Silwan neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem and turn it over to an Israeli settler organization, according to Wadi Hilweh Information Center.
Israeli Settlers Set Fire to Classroom Near Nablus Israeli settlers in the middle of the night set fire to a classroom in a local school in the village of Einabus, located to the south of the occupied West Bank city of Nablus. They also spray-painted in Hebrew anti-Palestinian graffiti.
Jewish Settlers Burn Down Palestinian Churches And Mosques Israel’s Tag Meir organization revealed on Monday that extremist Jewish settlers have carried out arson attacks on forty-six mosques and twelve churches in the occupied West Bank and Israel over the past decade, Al Sabeel has reported.
Boycott, Divest, and Sanction Movement
Meet the Muslim, Palestinian-rights Advocate Who is Trying to Upend An 85-year Political Dynasty The Dingell family has controlled Michigan’s 12th district for eighty-five years. Rep. Debbie Dingell has held the congressional seat since 2015, but a twenty-seven-year old medical student named Solomon Rajput says he’s up for it. In addition to backing progressive policies like the Green New Deal and Medicare for All, Rajput is also a BDS supporter and has entire section of his campaign website dedicated to the subject of Palestinian rights.
New York Democrat Defends Decision to Back Republican-led anti-BDS Bill Late on Monday, Democrat Tom Suozzi said during a Q&A with his constituency in New York's third district, that it was perfectly legal to prevent Americans from exercising a boycott against Israel. The bill was introduced in Congress last week, and Suozzi has been the only Democrat to sign on so far.
Law
EU Funding Conditions Violate Palestinian Law: PNN Report The European Union is still fixed on its position regarding the conditions it set regarding its funding of Palestinian projects for private institutions. These policies include labeling a number of Palestinian political and resistance factions, such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Al-Aqsa-Brigade-Fatah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Popular Front – General Command as terrorist groups and organizations.
Netanyahu Drops Request For Immunity on Corruption Charges Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he is withdrawing his bid for parliamentary immunity from prosecution on corruption charges, paving the way for a trial to begin. The Knesset was widely expected to reject the request, which would have dealt Netanyahu a blow ahead of a parliamentary election scheduled for March 2 - the third national vote in less than a year.
Netanyahu Formally Indicted in Court on Corruption Charges Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been formally indicted in court on corruption charges. Netanyahu could face up to ten years in prison if convicted of bribery and a maximum three-year term for fraud and breach of trust.
Dutch Court Dismisses Case Against Former Israeli Generals The Hague District Court said on Wednesday it was not competent to rule in a civil case brought by a Dutch-Palestinian man against Gantz and a codefendant, Amir Eshel. A judge told the court that Gantz and Eshel "enjoy functional immunity" because they acted in an official capacity and that "the Dutch court does not have jurisdiction" in this case.
Environment, Economy, and Other
Missing Boy in Jerusalem Dies in Hospital After Being Found in Water-filled Ditch An eight-year-old child who went missing on January 24 died in hospital after being found the next day in a ditch filled with rainwater in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina. Governor of Jerusalem, Adnan Ghaith, held the Israeli Occupation Authorities fully responsible for his death, stressing that the authorities should have sealed the open water ditches to prevent children's access to them.
Premier: No Case of Coronavirus in the Occupied Palestinian Territories Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said today that there are no cases of the new coronavirus epidemic in the occupied Palestinian territories. Speaking at the cabinet session held in Ramallah, Shtayyeh said that the Ministry of Health has raised the level of alertness at its facilities and deployed a medical team at the border crossing with Jordan to identify persons coming from infected counties in case they are infected with the deadly virus.
Israel to Seize $1.2m in Assets From the Palestinian Authority Israel’s acting Justice Minister Amir Ohana last night issued an order to seize 4.2 million shekels in assets from the Palestinian Authority “as compensation for terror victims”. A further report noted that eight Palestinians convicted by Israeli occupation authorities between the period 2014 and 2017 were specifically “named in the decision”.