Pence Says U.S. Embassy to Move to Jerusalem by End of 2019
In a speech to the Israeli parliament today, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence reiterated the Trump administration’s plans to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, saying that the new embassy would open before the end of next year (Reuters)
U.S. Withholds $65 Million in Aid to Palestinians
The United States announced yesterday that it will provide only $60 million of an expected $125 million to the UN Relief and Works Agency, which supports schools and health centers for displaced Palestinians. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “very concerned” about the U.S. decision (Wall Street Journal)
Palestinian Leader Says Israel ‘Killed’ Oslo Accord
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in a Sunday speech, rejected the United States as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and said that Israel has “killed” the 1993 Oslo Accords (New York Times)
A top decision-making body of the Palestinian Liberation Organization voted yesterday to suspend recognition of Israel and back an international movement to boycott the country (Middle East Eye)
Israel’s Knesset Votes to Tighten Control Over Jerusalem
Israel’s legislature passed an amendment today that increases the number of votes needed to cede control over any section of Jerusalem to a “foreign party,” potentially complicating any future peace deal that involves handing over territory to Palestinians (Reuters)
Second Nation to Move Embassy in Israel
Guatemala announced it will follow the United States‘ lead and move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem (New York Times)
128 States Vote Against U.S. Jerusalem Position at UN
The UN General Assembly backed a nonbinding resolution calling any decision on the status of Jerusalem “null and void,” following the United States‘ announcement that it would recognize the city as Israel’s capital (BBC)
U.S. Vetoes UN Resolution on Jerusalem
The United States used its veto in a UN Security Council vote yesterday that would have rejected a move by any state to change the status of Jerusalem (BBC)
Security Council to Vote on Jerusalem Resolution
The UN Security Council will vote today on a resolution drafted by Egypt that declares actions by any country to alter the status of Jerusalem “null and void;” the United States is expected to veto the resolution (Reuters)
Four Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli security forces last Friday, as thousands demonstrated across Gaza and the West Bank (Washington Post)
Pence Postpones Trip to Israel
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has postponed an upcoming visit to Israel amid growing protests over the Trump administration’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The Palestinian Authority said it is “no longer coordinating” with Pence and the city of Bethlehem announced it will not accept the vice president (Haaretz)
Islamic Nations Rebuke U.S., Israel Over Jerusalem
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has condemned Israel and the United States following the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital last week and threatened to cut diplomatic ties with Israel at a meeting of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul yesterday (Al Jazeera)
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas rejected a role for the United States as a mediator for the region, saying the decision by U.S. President Donald J. Trump was a “crime” (Guardian)
Protests From Europe to Asia Over Jerusalem Recognition
Demonstrators in Egypt, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, and Turkey took to the streets over the weekend to denounce the United States‘ recent decision to recognize the city of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital (Al Jazeera)
Hamas Calls for Uprising Over Jerusalem Recognition
Backlash over U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital intensified today, as clashes between Israeli soldiers and protesters broke out in the city of Ramallah and other areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Gaza-based militant group Hamas called for a new uprising and the Palestinian Authority backed a general strike in East Jerusalem and the West Bank (Washington Post)
U.S. to Recognize Jerusalem as Israeli Capital
U.S. President Donald J. Trump is expected today to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, going against seven decades of U.S. policy toward the region. The administration called the move a “recognition of reality” that the city is the seat of Israel’s government (New York Times)
Jordan Warns U.S. Against Tel Aviv Embassy Move
Jordan’s foreign minister said he has warned the United States that recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel by moving the U.S. embassy there would “fuel tension” and jeopardize peace efforts in the region. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said such a move would be “unacceptable” (Guardian)
Israel Approves Major Settlement Expansion
Israel has approved 176 new homes for Jewish settlers in East Jerusalem. The additional housing would make the settlement, Nof Zion, the largest in the city. Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state (BBC)
Hamas, Fatah Announce Reconciliation Deal
The Gaza-based militant group Hamas and Western-backed ruling Fatah party have signed a reconciliation agreement in Cairo, a move that could end a decade of fissure between the Palestinian factions. The groups are expected to reveal more details at a news conference today, though the deal reportedly includes integrating Hamas officials into Palestinian Authority ministries, rebuilding Gaza’s police forces, and negotiating management of the strip’s crossings (BBC)
Palestinian Gunman Kills Three Israelis
A Palestinian gunman shot and killed three members of Israel’s security forces at a settlement northwest of Jerusalem (BBC)
Hamas Invites Palestinian Authority Back to Gaza Strip
The militant group Hamas invited West Bank-based Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday to send authorities to the Gaza Strip to resume control there as Hamas disbands the committee that has controlled the area in recent months (Associated Press)
Hamas Says Ready to Reconcile With Palestinian Authority
The Palestinian militant group Hamas announced that it is ready to accept conditions to reconcile with the West Bank-based ruling Fatah party after a decade of division. Hamas said it would dissolve its administrative commission ruling the Gaza Strip, hold elections, and begin direct talks with Fatah (Financial Times)
Chinese Ambassador Pushes for Two-State Solution
The Chinese ambassador to the United Nations urged member states to back a Chinese plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace that includes a two-state solution based on 1967 borders. Chinese President Xi Jinping met Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Beijing in July to outline the plan (Voice of America)
Jerusalem Mosque Officials Lift Boycott
Religious authorities of Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque called on worshippers to return to the holy site for prayers after Israel removed gates and security cameras it installed in mid-July, measures that led to protests by Palestinians (CNN)
Israel Removes Al-Aqsa Metal Detectors
Israel said it will remove metal detectors it had placed at Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque following days of protests against the new security measure. The mosque’s director said security cameras that were also installed following an attack at the holy site earlier this month remain in place (Al Jazeera)
Israel-Jordan Tensions Rise After Amman Attack
Two Jordanian men were killed and an Israeli wounded in a confrontation at the Israeli embassy in Amman. Israel said one of the men attacked an Israeli guard with a screwdriver, and that the guard shot the assailant and a bystander. Jordanian police demanded to interrogate the guard, whom Israel says is protected by diplomatic immunity (BBC)
Palestinians Angered by New Security Measure at Temple Mount
Violent protests have erupted in East Jerusalem after the Israeli government installed metal detectors at the Temple Mount. The government implemented the new security measures after an attack at the holy site on July 14 (Reuters)
UN: Conditions in Gaza Deteriorating
A new report by the United Nations says conditions in Gaza have become “more and more wretched” after a decade of Hamas rule and blockades by Israel and Egypt (Washington Post)