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  • December 15, 2022

    In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assaulted 1 Palestinian farmer tending his land near Artas. Israeli settlers also threw stones at a school in ‘Urif, damaging solar panels. Elsewhere, Israeli...

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  • September 6, 2022

    In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raided Khalayel al-Looz near Bethlehem, causing injuries and damage to property. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man and injured 16 others during a...

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  • August 22, 2022

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 8 houses under construction in al-Dyouk al-Tahta. 18 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Khader, al-Asakra, Tadduh, Burqa, Nablus,...

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  • June 29, 2022

    In the West Bank, Israeli settlers and soldiers violently dispersed Palestinian and Israel activists during a tree-planting event in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces shot and killed 1...

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  • December 22, 2021

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man in al-Am‘ari refugee camp, claiming he had opened fire at the Israeli soldiers from his car; Israeli forces subsequently...

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  • November 12, 2021

    In the West Bank, Israeli settlers from Bat Ayin attacked, with clubs and stones, Israeli activists guarding Palestinians harvesting olives in Surif; according to 1 of the activists, the Israeli...

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  • October 27, 2021

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces delivered demolition notices for 6 agricultural structures and 1 residential structure and delivered stop-work orders for 2 houses and a water well in Wadi Rahal....

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  • September 23, 2021

    In the West Bank, Israeli settlers leveled Palestinian agricultural land near Deir ‘Ammar before Israeli forces removed them from the area. Israeli forces sealed off Sabastia for the 2d day in a...

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  • September 14, 2021

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces fired tear gas and sound bombs at Palestinians near al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, leading to tear-gas related injuries. 21 Palestinians were arrested during late-...

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  • September 7, 2021

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in al-Twana, leading to tear-gas related injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif...

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  • July 26, 2021

    In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian minor succumbed to his injuries after 74 days in intensive care after being shot by Israeli forces in the neck near Ramallah on 5/14. Israeli settlers began...

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  • July 19, 2021

    In the West Bank, Israeli settlers planted trees near al-Farisya and ‘Ain al-Hilweh. Israeli forces delivered a stop-work order to 1 Palestinian for his agricultural fields and seized 1 bulldozer...

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In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assaulted 1 Palestinian farmer tending his land near Artas. Israeli settlers also threw stones at a school in ‘Urif, damaging solar panels. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian homes near Huwwara, causing damage. Israeli forces demolished 1 house under construction and 1 water well in Farsh al-Hawa. Israeli forces also issued stop-work orders for 6 homes under construction in Kafr ad-Dik. Elsewhere, Israeli forces sealed 1 water pipeline serving al-‘Awja. 24 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Beit Umar, Hebron, Beitunia, Askar refugee camp, al-Mudawwar, Ya‘bad, and Huwwara. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/15; PCHR, UNOCHA 12/22)

Members of Nizar Banat’s family called on the ICC to investigate the killing of Banat by PA security forces in June 2021. Banat was killed while being arrested by PA security officers. 14 security officers were later arrested but none of them have been convicted in relation to the killing. (AP, BBC, HA, MEE 12/15; ALM 12/20)

In an interview with NPR, Israeli prime-minister elect Benjamin Netanyahu said that he will not agree to a Palestinian state with full sovereignty. “[M]y formula is very simple . . . . The only peace that will hold is one that we can defend. And the one that we can defend is one in which the Palestinians have all the powers to govern themselves, but none of the powers to threaten our life, which means that security, in whatever political arrangements we'll have realistically will have to remain in Israel's hands.” The PA called Netanyahu’s remarks unacceptable. (NPR 12/15; MEMO, WAFA 12/17 MEMO 12/18)

Unilever said the legal dispute between it and its subsidiary Ben & Jerry’s over the sale of the license to manufacture and sell the ice cream company’s products in Israel had been resolved but did not offer any details. Ben & Jerry’s recently updated its website, removing Israel as one of the countries where consumers can buy its ice cream. (GDN 12/15; EI, MEE, MEMO 12/16)

The UN General Assembly passed the resolution, “The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination,” with 167 votes in favor, 6 against, and 9 abstentions. (UN 12/15; WAFA 12/16)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raided Khalayel al-Looz near Bethlehem, causing injuries and damage to property. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man and injured 16 others during a late-night raid in Jenin to punitively demolish the home of a Palestinian accused of killing 3 Israelis in Tel Aviv in April. The Palestinian man killed was reportedly filming the Israeli raid with his mobile phone when he was shot in the chest. The punitive demolition was carried out with explosives and Israeli forces cleared out 29 nearby buildings before blowing up the apartment. 1 other Palestinian later succumbed to his injuries on 9/11. Israeli forces also raided Jalazun refugee camp, injuring 4 with live ammunition; 4 were arrested. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in al-Arroub refugee camp, injuring 1 minor with a stun grenade to his head. Israeli forces also seized 2 caravans and building equipment and demolished 2 agricultural structures and a water well in al-Khader. 16 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Bireh, al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya, Kisan, Bethlehem, and Hebron. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian farmers east of Dayr al-Balah and Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. (AJ, AP, CNN, HA, JP, MEE, MEMO, NAT, PCHR, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/6; PCHR 9/8; HA, MEE 9/11; UNOCHA 9/16)

Israel said it had arrested some 60 Palestinians in the West Bank and Israel who Israeli police said were suspects in weapons smuggling from Jordan to the West Bank and Israel. (HA 9/7)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo. (WAFA 9/6)

In Syria, for the 2d time in a week, Israeli forces attacked Aleppo Airport, killing 3 people, wounding 5, and damaging the airstrip. The Syrian transportation ministry said the damage put the airport out of commission and that flights would be diverted to Damascus Airport. The Aleppo Airport was operating again on 9/9. (AP, MEE, MEMO, REU 9/6; MEMO 8/7; AP 9/8; AP 9/9)

Haaretz reported that the U.S. state department has ordered the U.S. embassy in Israel to investigate reports of abuse of Palestinians by the Israeli ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda battalion, including circumstances of the death of Palestinian American Omar Asad, who died in the battalion’s custody in January. (HA, MEE 9/6; MEMO 9/7)

The ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s said it would submit an amended lawsuit against its parent company Unilever after its 1st lawsuit had been rejected by a U.S. federal court. Ben & Jerry’s is suing Unilever for selling the rights to manufacture Ben & Jerry’s ice cream to an Israeli company after Ben & Jerry’s announced it would end sales of its ice cream in West Bank settlements and stop its licensing agreement with the Israeli company to produce its ice cream in Israel. (MEE, REU 9/6; HA, MEMO 9/7)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 8 houses under construction in al-Dyouk al-Tahta. 18 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Khader, al-Asakra, Tadduh, Burqa, Nablus, Zawata, and Tulkarm refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested in Bayt Hanina and the Old City. (MEMO, WAFA, WAFA 8/22; MEMO 8/23; PCHR 8/25; UNOCHA 9/2)

25 Palestinians traveled from the West Bank to Cyprus via Ramon airport in Israel. The Israeli airport authority said the flight was not part of the postponed plan for Palestinians to be able to use the Ramon airport south of the West Bank, which was shelved earlier this month. The PA urged Palestinians not to use the Ramon airport, saying Israel should allow the PA to operate the Qalandia airport. (REU 8/22; ALM, MEMO 8/23; MEMO, REU 8/24)

Thousands of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons began a protest against the Israel Prison Service, saying it had failed to ease punitive restrictions in the prisons. Prisoners refused to partake in security checks and prisoners will start refusing meals on 8/24. (JP 8/21; WAFA 8/22; MEMO 8/23; MEMO 8/24)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Türkiye for a 3-day visit, where he will meet with Türkiye president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. (MEMO, WAFA 8/21; WAFA 8/22)

The Guardian reported that a CIA study of the material provided by Israel did not amount to evidence to support Israel’s claim that 6 Palestinian rights organizations should be categorized as terrorist organizations. Israel designated the 6 rights organizations as terrorist organizations in October 2021 and raided their offices on 8/18. (GDN, TOI 8/22; MDW, MEMO, NA 8/23)

The Israeli ministry of education told the Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipality that they could not use maps that depicted the Green Line for educational purposes or as posters in classrooms. After the municipality defied the ministry’s guidance and hung the maps up in some 2,000 classrooms, the ministry ordered the municipality to take them down on 8/24. (HA, MEMO 8/23; HA, HA, HA 8/24; MEE 8/25)

It was reported that Iran had dropped some demands as the U.S. and Iran were getting closer to agreeing on reentering the Iran Nuclear Deal, through European intermediaries. Israel’s defense minister Benny Gantz said he was opposed to the nuclear deal and would travel to the U.S. this week to “exert influence on the matter.” Among the demands reportedly dropped by Iran was for the U.S. to remove the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps from its list of terrorist organizations. (AJ, AJ, AJ, MEE, REU 8/22; HA, REU 8/23; AP, AP, AP, HA, HA 8/24)

A U.S. district judge rejected Ben & Jerry’s request to prevent its parent company Unilever from selling Ben & Jerry’s ice cream in Israeli West Bank settlements. Ben & Jerry’s had sued Unilever, saying the sale of its ice cream in Israeli settlements undermined its values. (AJ, AP, HA, REU 8/22; BBC, MEE 8/23; MEMO 8/25)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers and soldiers violently dispersed Palestinian and Israel activists during a tree-planting event in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man during a raid in Jenin. Israeli forces also demolished 2 agricultural structures and razed a road used for agricultural purposes in Anzah, vending stalls near the al-Jalamah checkpoint, and 4 shacks and 3 agricultural structures in ‘Anata. Elsewhere, Israeli forces notified 6 Palestinian families in Khirbet Humsa that they must leave their homes from 7/4 to 7/7 between 7am and 11pm while Israeli forces conduct military exercises in the area. 13 Palestinians were arrested, including 12 during late-night raids in Silwad, Nablus, Jenin, and Azza refugee camp, and 1 at a flying checkpoint in ‘Azzun. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 6 nautical miles northwest of Rafah; no injuries were reported. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, MEE, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/29; PCHR 6/30; UNOCHA 7/22)

Israel’s prime minister Naftali Bennett told members of his party Yamina that he will not be running for the next Israeli elections. Interior minister Ayelet Shaked will lead Yamina in the Israeli elections in the fall. The Knesset is expected to dissolve in the coming days. (AJ, AP, AX, HA, MEE, MEMO, REU 6/29)

The parent company of Ben & Jerry’s, Unilever, said it had sold its Israeli business interests to the Israeli company American Quality Products Ltd, allowing the Israeli company to use the Ben & Jerry’s name to sell ice cream in Israel and Israeli settlements. Ben & Jerry’s released a statement saying it disagreed with Unilever’s decision. American Quality Products had earlier this year announced that it was suing Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever over Ben & Jerry’s decision to stop selling its ice cream in Israeli West Bank settlements and ending its licensing deal with American Quality Products to produce its ice cream in Israel. (AP, AX, CNN, HA, JP, MDW, MEE, MEMO, NYT, REU 6/29; AJ, HA, REU 6/30; MEE 7/1)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man in al-Am‘ari refugee camp, claiming he had opened fire at the Israeli soldiers from his car; Israeli forces subsequently violently dispersed Palestinians protesting the killing; the family of the Palestinian victim said he had nothing to do with the alleged shooting and was killed by the Israel forces at random. Israeli forces also seized vending stalls and damaged grapevines near Fawwar refugee camp. 18 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Yatta, Sa‘ir, Beit Umar, Aida refugee camp, Husan, Hizma, Ras Karkar, and Kafr Nimeh; Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian with a rubber-coated bullet during the raid in Aida refugee camp. In Gaza, Israeli forces fired tear gas at Palestinian shepherds east of Maghazi; no injuries were reported. (MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/22; HA, MEE, PCHR 12/23)

U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan met with PA president Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. The PA said that President Abbas urged the U.S. to reopen its consulate to Palestinians. PA civil affairs minister Hussein al-Sheikh later told Axios that Abbas urged the U.S. to take a more active role in reaching a 2-state solution and that the Palestinian leadership is disappointed that the Biden administration has not rolled back Trump policies. (AJ, AX, WAFA 12/22; WAFA 12/23; AX 1/5)

National Security Advisor Sullivan also met with Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett in Israel, discussing the possibility of the U.S. reentering the Iran nuclear deal. (AJ, ALM, REU 12/22)

Axios reported that U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken raised the issue of normalization between Indonesia and Israel during meetings with Indonesian officials in Jakarta. (AX 12/22)

The Illinois Investment Policy Board, which oversees the state’s employee pension fund, voted to divest from Unilever, the parent company of Ben & Jerry’s. The announcement follows several other state funds that have taken action against Unilever for Ben & Jerry’s decision in July to end sales of its ice cream in Israeli settlements. (MEMO 12/24)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers from Bat Ayin attacked, with clubs and stones, Israeli activists guarding Palestinians harvesting olives in Surif; according to 1 of the activists, the Israeli forces that arrived at the scene did not intervene until the settlers fled. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters, shooting and injuring 2 Palestinians using rubber-coated bullets in Kafr Qaddum; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Biddu, injuring 1 with a rubber-coated bullet. (HA, WAFA 11/12; PCHR 11/18)

U.S. House representative Jim McGovern (D-MA) called on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to denounce Israel’s decision to designate 6 Palestinian rights organizations as terrorist, calling the Israeli decision misguided. (HA 11/13)

The state of New York put Ben & Jerry’s and its parent company Unilever on a 90-day notice in advance of divesting from the companies due to Ben & Jerry’s decision not to sell its ice cream in West Bank settlements, ending its franchise agreement in Israel. (HA 11/12)

A UK government watchdog charged with assessing that UK companies meet OECD guidelines on human rights charged the company JBC with failing to address human rights violations in Israel’s use of its tractors to demolish Palestinian homes. (GDN, MEE 11/12)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces delivered demolition notices for 6 agricultural structures and 1 residential structure and delivered stop-work orders for 2 houses and a water well in Wadi Rahal. Israeli forces also raided Khirbet Humsa, seizing tools and tents used for agricultural purposes. 10 Palestinians were arrested, including 8 during late-night raids in and around Tuqu’, Hebron, Beit Umar, and Bir al-Basha, and 2 were arrested at a checkpoint near Jenin. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli forces confiscated 2 boats anchored 7 nautical miles from the coast. (MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/27; PCHR 10/28)

An Israeli military court convicted 1 Palestinian man of murdering an Israeli settler in the northern West Bank on 12/20/2020. (HA, JP, TOI 10/27)

Israel’s civil administration advanced, for the 1st time during the U.S. Biden administration, settlement units to be built in the West Bank. 2,860 housing units were approved in Har Brakha, Revava, Elon Moreh, Hermesh, Karnei Shomron, Beit El, Givat Ze’ev, Kefar Etzion, Alon Shvut, Teneh, Sansana, Vered Yericho, Ma’aleh Mikhmash, Efrat, Tal Manashe, Talmon, Shima’a, and Kedumim. The approval also included the retroactive approval of units in Elon Moreh, Alei Zahav, Peduel, and Eli, and the “legalization” of the Mitzpe Danny outpost and an outpost in Haroeh Haivri. The U.S. publicly criticized the move and privately asked Israel to reverse course on 10/26. (AP, HA, JP, JP, MDW, MEE, MEMO, PCN, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 10/27; AJ, ALM, CNN, HA 10/28)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh met with EU officials, including the high representative for foreign affairs Josep Borrell in Brussels. Prime Minister Shtayyeh called on the EU to take concrete steps to end Israeli settlement expansion. Shtayyeh also called on the EU to recognize the State of Palestine. Separetly, Shtayyeh called on Belgium to recognize the State of Palestine during a meeting with the speaker of the Belgian parliament. (WAFA 10/27; WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/28)

The Israeli Knesset voted down a bill that would recognize the 1956 Kafr Qasim massacre. Only 12 members voted for the bill while 93 voted against. The bill was sponsored by Aida Touma-Sliman, Ofer Cassif, and Ayman Odeh of the Joint Arab List. (HA 10/26; HA 10/27; HA 10/28)

U.S. deputy of state for management and resources Brian McKeon told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that it is his understanding that the U.S. needs Israel’s permission to reopen the U.S. consulate to Palestinians in Jerusalem. (HA, JP, MEMO 10/28)

Florida’s boycott of the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream company’s parent company Unilever went into effect after a 90-day period given to the company to reverse Ben & Jerry’s decision to stop selling ice cream in West Bank settlements and to end its franchise agreement in Israel. Florida will now stop new investments in Unilever, but its $39 million already invested in the company will not be affected. (TOI 11/26; JP 11/27; MEMO 11/29)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers leveled Palestinian agricultural land near Deir ‘Ammar before Israeli forces removed them from the area. Israeli forces sealed off Sabastia for the 2d day in a row and closed Palestinian stores. 7 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Jalazun refugee camp, Bani Na‘im, Bayt Awa, Ya‘bad, and Beit Sira. In East Jerusalem, some 600 Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. 6 Palestinians were arrested in Silwan, al-Tur, Isawiya, and at the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions and leveled land north of Beit Lahiya and east of Dayr al-Balah. Israeli forces also opened fire at Palestinian agricultural lands east of Khan Yunis and Beit Hanun; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fisherman within 3 nautical miles west of al-Sudaniyya; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/23; PCHR 9/30)

2 Palestinians who had been missing after going fishing on 9/3 off the coast of Gaza were reported detained at a prison in Egypt. (MEE 9/23)

The PA commission of detainees’ affairs said in a statement that 1 39-year-old Palestinian who died of leukemia 7 months after being released from an Israeli prison perished because of medical neglect while he was incarcerated by Israel. (AJ, WAFA, WAFA 9/23)

The PLO rejected an agreement made between the U.S. and UNRWA to keep the U.S. providing funds to the agency, saying that the agreement is an attempt to abolish the Right of Return for Palestinian refugees. (WAFA 9/23)

It was reported that Sudan had seized a number of companies and bank accounts belonging to Palestinians. According to the reporting, the assets belong to Hamas as a means to generate revenue for the organization. Later, on 9/24, Hamas said that it did not have links to the companies and individuals targeted by Sudan. 1 day later, on 9/25, the PA urged Sudan to hand over the assets to the PA. A Hamas official said the seizing of the funds by Sudan was a way for the new government to win the support of the U.S by slandering Hamas. (HA, REU, TOI 9/23; AA, HA, MEMO, REU, TOI, WAFA 9/25; ALM 9/30)

The U.S. house of representatives passed a bill 420-9-2, providing Israel with another $1 billion of military aid to allegedly restock Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system after Israel’s attack on Gaza in May. The $1 billion was removed from a stopgap government-funding bill on 9/21, prompting Democratic majority leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) to present the funding as a stand-alone bill. The 9 representatives to vote against the bill were Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), André Carson (D-IN), Marie Newman (D-IL), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Cori Bush (D-MO), And Thomas Massie (R-KY). Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Hank Johnson (D-GA) voted present. Representative Tlaib gave a speech before the vote calling Israel an apartheid state, drawing ire from several pro-Israel Democrats, including Ted Deutch (D-FL) who said that calling Israel an apartheid state was anti-Semitic. Later, Israel’s envoy to the UN Gilad Erdan said that the 9 representatives who voted against the bill were “either ignorant or antisemitic.” It is estimated that the deployment of the Iron Dome during May cost Israel a maximum of $120 million. (AJ, AP, FOX, FOX, HA, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, NYT, REU, TOI 9/23; CNN 9/24; WAFA 9/25; HA 9/26; HA 9/27; JCUR, MEE 9/28)

Also in the house of representatives, representative Andy Levin (D-MI), supported by more than 24 Democrats, introduced the Two-State Solution Act, aimed at preserving the feasibility of a 2-state solution. Among its provisions, the bill aims at distinguishing between Israel and occupied Palestinian territory, defined as the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza. The authors of the bill want the U.S. to label products from occupied Palestine as such and not as Israeli products. It also aims at pushing the U.S. administration to reopen the PLO mission in D.C. and U.S. consulate to Palestinians in Jerusalem. Lastly, the authors want the PA to end its payments to Palestinian prisoners and their families convicted of terrorism by Israeli military courts. (POL 9/22; AJ, HA, JP, MEE 9/23; TOI 9/24)

Texas’s state comptroller Glenn Hegar said that Ben & Jerry’s had been added to the state’s list of companies that boycott Israel and that Texas will start to divest from the company. Texas is the 4th state to divest from Ben & Jerry’s over its decision to stop selling ice cream in West Bank settlements and to move its franchise regional office from Israel. (NWK 9/23; JP 9/24)

Denmark and the PA signed an agreement for Denmark to provide $72 million in grants over the next 5 years to help development in, among other areas, local government, agriculture, and civil society. (WAFA 9/23; MEMO 9/24)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces fired tear gas and sound bombs at Palestinians near al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, leading to tear-gas related injuries. 21 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Sa‘ir, Harmala, al-Bireh, Kafr Ein, Ni‘lin, and Ya‘bad. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City. (WAFA, WAFA 9/14; PCHR 9/16)

The 1st hearing in the case against 14 PA security forces in the killing of PA critic Nizar Banat on 6/24 was postponed until 9/21 because the lawyer of the 14 was absent from the session. (WAFA 9/14)

Fatah condemned Facebook for suspending Al-Awda TV Facebook page. (WAFA 9/14)

Israel’s prime minister Naftali Bennett said that he opposes a Palestinian state during an interview with Israeli Kan news. Prime Minister Bennett also said he would not meet or speak to PA president Mahmoud Abbas, citing Abbas’s referral of Israel war crimes to the ICC. (TOI 9/14; ALM, JP 9/15)

Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz told Foreign Policy that Israel will accept a new Iran nuclear deal between the U.S. and Iran, but that he hopes the U.S. will make a “plan B.” Foreign Minister Gantz also said about a potential peace agreement, “Abbas is still dreaming of the 1967 lines, this won’t happen. He has to realize we’re staying here . . . We’re not taking down settlements.” (FP 9/14; ALM, HA 9/15; MEMO 9/16)

On the anniversary of the normalization deals between Israel, Bahrain, and the UAE, sponsored by the U.S., state department spokesperson Ned Price said that the U.S. is looking at advancing similar deals. Spokesperson Price also praised the normalization deal between Israel and Morocco, but did not mention the Sudan-Israel normalization deal. The U.S., during the Donald Trump administration, gave all 4 countries that normalized ties with Israel different political incentives to do so. The ambassadors of the U.S., Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain also met at an event hosted by former White House official Jared Kushner’s new non-profit organization The Abraham Accords Institute for Peace. The U.S. secretary of State Antony Blinken will host a virtual meeting on 9/17 to celebrate the normalization deals. UAE economy minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri also said on 9/13 that the UAE seeks to raise its trade with Israel to $1 trillion in the next 10 years. The bilateral trade between the 2 countries are currently around $600 million, according to Economy Minister Al Marri. (AX, HA, REU, REU, Twitter 9/14; TOI 9/15; MEMO 9/16)

Jewish Currents reported that representatives Mark Pocan (D-WI), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) were leading efforts to add an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act blocking the delivery of Boeing-made Joint Direct Attack Munitions and Small Diameter Bombs to Israel for 1 year. Both types of munitions were used by Israel during Operation Guardian of the Wall. The amendment is unlikely to be part of the bill. (JC 9/14)

The state of New Jersey sent a letter to the company Unilever that it considers its subsidiary Ben & Jerry’s decision to stop selling its ice cream in West Bank settlements a boycott of Israel and therefore will divest from the company. New Jersey is said to have $182 million invested in Unilever stock, bonds, and other securities. (MEMO 9/15; JP, NYT 9/16)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in al-Twana, leading to tear-gas related injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound; 1 Palestinian citizen of Israel was arrested after he yelled “God Is Great” at the settlers. 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home in Silwan, displacing 9. In Gaza, Israeli forces conducted air strikes in Khan Yunis, causing damage. Israel said the air strikes were a response to incendiary balloons sent from Gaza to Israel. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Gaza; no injuries were reported. In Israel, 3 people were arrested in Na‘ura under suspicion of having aided the 6 Palestinian prisoners who escaped Gilboa prison on 9/6. (AP, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/7; AJ, MEMO 9/8; PCHR 9/9)

Arizona said it had completely divested from the parent company of Ben & Jerry’s, Unilever. Arizona treasurer Kimberly Yee said that Ben & Jerry’s decision to stop selling ice cream in West Bank settlements and moving its franchise regional office from Israel violated Arizona anti-BDS legislation. Yee said that Arizona owned $143 million in Unilever bonds and commercial papers, which would all be sold off by 9/21. (HA 9/8; MEMO 9/9; AP, NPR 9/10)

In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian minor succumbed to his injuries after 74 days in intensive care after being shot by Israeli forces in the neck near Ramallah on 5/14. Israeli settlers began construction work around a spring in Wadi al-Malih. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters during a raid in Nablus, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces seized electric cables and an excavator in as-Samu. 10 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Deir Balut, Silwad, Sur Baher, al-Ubeidiya, Wadi Abu Freiha, Hebron, Qabatiya, Meithalun, and Tammun. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces dispersed Palestinian protesters in Sheikh Jarrah. 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Silwan. (AP, HA, WAFA, WAFA 7/26; WAFA 7/27; PCHR 7/29)

Kahanist Israeli lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir of the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party called the Palestinian Israeli deputy speaker of the Knesset Ahmad Tibi a terrorist before being forcefully removed from the Knesset podium he was speaking from. Ben-Gvir’s smear happened after he refused to address Tibi as “Mr. Speaker.” (HA 7/26; MEMO, TOI 7/27)

Tunisian president Kais Saied ousted the Tunisian government and froze the parliament in what was said to be a coup. Tunisian forces also stormed the Al Jazeera offices in Tunis and expelled the staff from the premises. Tunisians had taken to the street on 7/25 to protest the government after a new COVID-19 spike and continued economic difficulties. (AJ 7/25; AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, HA, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, REU, REU 7/26)

In Lebanon, Najib Mikati secured 72 of 118 votes in the Lebanese parliament to be approved as the new prime minister-elect. Saad Hariri resigned as prime minister-elect on 7/15 after failing to form a government 9 months after being picked to do so. Mikati has been Lebanon’s prime minister twice before, in 2005 and 2011-14. (AJ, REU 7/25; AJ, AJ, AP, F24, MEMO, MEMO, REU, REU 7/26)

U.S. president Joe Biden and Iraqi prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi agreed, during a meeting at the White House, that all U.S. combat troops would leave Iraq by the end of 2021, leaving only U.S. personnel for advisory roles. (HA, MEMO 7/26; MEE, REU 7/27)

4 members of congress, Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), Katie Porter (D-CA), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), and Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), urged the Biden administration to speak out against companies that sell cyber intrusion tools, such as NSO Group, and to consider sanctioning such companies and the regimes that use their tools. The members’ call follows reporting from 7/18 that NSO Group, with approval from the Israeli government, sold its Pegasus spyware to foreign governments, which have used the spyware on journalists, activists, and heads of other countries. (Tom Malinowski 7/26; HA, MEE 7/27)

Florida governor Ron DeSantis (R) urged the Florida State Board of Administration to place Ben & Jerry’s and its parent company Unilever on the state’s list of companies to be examined in relation to boycotts of Israel. The move comes as Ben & Jerry’s announced on 7/19 that it will stop selling its ice cream in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and end its licensing to an Israeli-based franchise. (HA, HILL 7/26)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers planted trees near al-Farisya and ‘Ain al-Hilweh. Israeli forces delivered a stop-work order to 1 Palestinian for his agricultural fields and seized 1 bulldozer. 9 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Tulkarm, Qalqilya, Beit Fajjar, al-Bireh, Dura, Bayt Liqya, Bayt Rima, and Jaba‘. In East Jerusalem, around 100 Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound for the 2d day in a row. 2 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Isawiya and Shu‘fat. (WAFA, WAFA 7/19; PCHR 7/29)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz spoke on the phone. According to Gantz’s office, the 2 discussed trust-building steps between Israel and the PA and Gantz gave Abbas best wishes on the occasion of Eid al-Adha. Their conversation was the 1st between Abbas and an Israeli minister since 2017, when Abbas spoke to then prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli president Isaac Herzog also called President Abbas to wish him a happy Eid al-Adha. (JP, REU, TOI, TOI, WAFA 7/19; ALM 7/22)

In Syria, Israeli forces conducted air strikes in as-Safira, south of Aleppo, killing 5 people. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, HA 7/20)

A freedom of information request revealed that the director general of the Israeli interior ministry lives in a house in the illegal settlement outpost Keida, which has had a demolition order against it since 2008. The interior ministry said in a statement that its minister Ayelet Shaked “is pleased that the director-general of her ministry lives in Keida.” (HA 7/20)

King Abdullah II of Jordan met with U.S. president Joe Biden in the White House. King Abdullah II was the 1st Middle Eastern leader to visit President Biden in Washington, as the U.S.-Jordanian relationship was tarnished during the Donald Trump administration due to the 1-sided peace proposal made by the administration. A read-out of the meeting said that the 2 discussed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and Jordan’s relationship to Israel. (AJ, HA, JP, JP, MEE, NBC, NYT, REU, TOI, TOI 7/19; MEMO, WAFA 7/20)

The ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s issued a statement declaring it will end sales of its ice cream in Israeli settlements, saying that selling its ice cream in the occupied Palestinian territory “is inconsistent with our values.” Ben & Jerry’s also announced it would not renew its licensing agreement with manufacturers of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream in Israel but that the ice cream will still be available in Israel. Israel’s prime minister Naftali Bennett said that Ben & Jerry’s had decided to brand itself as an “antisemitic ice cream.” Foreign minister Yair Lapid, who weeks ago said his government would not call all criticism of Israel anti-Semitic, said the company was surrendering to BDS and anti-Semitism and that he would ask 35 U.S. states with anti-BDS laws to enforce them against the U.S. company. On 7/20, Prime Minister Bennett called the CEO of Unilever, the parent company of Ben & Jerry’s, to criticize the decision and Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. Gilad Erdan urged states with anti-BDS laws to take legal action against Ben & Jerry’s. The Israeli president Isaac Herzog likened the Ben & Jerry’s decision to terrorism. Ben & Jerry’s is known to engage publicly on progressive issues. Both founders of the company are Jewish-Americans. (AJ, ALM, AX, BenJerry, FOX, GDN, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, NBC, REU, TOI, TOI, TOI, TOI, Twitter 7/19; AJ, AP, BBC, CNN, HA, HA, JP, JP, JP, MEE, MEE, REU, TOI, WAFA 7/20; HA, MEMO 7/21; AJ, AP, MEMO 7/22; GDN 7/23; HA 7/26; AX 7/27)