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UN: Israel failed to stop settlement activities
Israel rebuffs Trump’s push to curb settlements
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/israel-rebuffs-trumps-push-curb-settlements
The Trump administration has failed to reach agreement with Israel on curbing its construction of settlements in the occupied West Bank. On Thursday, the White House said that during four days of “intensive discussions” with the Israelis, senior US officials “reiterated President Trump’s concerns regarding settlement activity in the context of moving towards a peace agreement.” But at the end of the talks no agreement was reached on meeting those concerns. Surprise Israeli leaders had been ecstatic at Trump’s election, believing that he would give them a green light to accelerate colonization of occupied Palestinian land.
All of Israel’s settlements are illegal under international law. Settler leaders received a warm welcome at the president’s January inauguration and one of Trump’s first key nominations was for an ambassador to Israel who has personally helped raise millions of dollars to build settlements in the West Bank. David Friedman, who is currently being sued by US citizens and Palestinians for his role in this land theft, was confirmed as ambassador by the Republican-controlled Senate on Thursday. The 52-46 vote broke down largely along party lines.
But despite these signals, the administration surprised Israeli leaders just days after taking office by issuing a public warning to Israel over its accelerating settlement building. When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the White House last month, Trump reiterated that “I’d like to see you hold back on settlements for a little bit.” “We’ll work something out,” the president assured, though his first major effort to do so has clearly failed. read more……https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/israel-rebuffs-trumps-push-curb-settlements
Palestinian anti-settlement protesters clash with IDF, at least 12 injured as military opens fire
Israeli abuse of Palestinian prisoners
Israel kills three Palestinian children in one week
Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian boy and critically injured three others in the central occupied West Bank on Thursday night, bringing to three the number of children killed by soldiers in the past week. Video and photos appear to contradict Israel’s claims about the slaying of 17-year-old Muhammad al-Hattab, who was shot in the chest and shoulder. Israeli forces in a military tower opened heavy fire on the car in which al-Hattab and the other youths were traveling, Palestinian media reported. An Israeli army spokesperson told media that the youths had thrown firebombs towards a food stand near the Beit El settlement adjacent to the Jalazone refugee camp.
Soldiers in the Golani Brigade – whose fighters have incited the killing of Palestinians on social media and are suspected of perpetrating war crimes in Gaza – shot at the youths after they had exited the car next to the settlement, the army claimed. “In response to the threat, Israeli forces in the area fired towards the suspects, and several hits were confirmed. The suspects then fled the scene,” according to an army spokesperson.
But the military’s assertion that the youths were shot outside the vehicle and managed to flee appeared to be contradicted by photos and video showing the driver’s seat of the car stained with blood, shattered windows and bullet marks on the vehicle’s exterior:
Residents of Jalazone camp, where al-Hattab lived, confronted Israeli forces deployed at the entrance of the Beit El settlement after the youth’s slaying.
“Israeli forces fired live fire, rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas at protesters, while Palestinian youth threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at soldiers,” the Ma’an News Agency reported.
Thousands of Palestinians marched through Jalazone camp during al-Hattab’s funeral on Friday.
read more here……..https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/maureen-clare-murphy/israel-kills-three-palestinian-children-one-week
Palestinians hold funeral for senior Hamas militant killed in Gaza
Israeli soldier testifies about Israel’s war crimes at the United Nations