August 14, 2012

After 3 days of a partial opening of the Rafah border (see 8/10/12), Egypt allows the crossing to open in both directions. Around 20% of smuggling tunnels along the Rafah border have resumed operations. No Israeli-Palestinian violence is reported. (PCHR 8/16; OCHA 8/18)

Israel reports that since 2009, 8,217 men and women from abroad have opted to move to Israel and become full or dual citizens in order to serve in the IDF. Of the 8,217, 1,661 came from the U.S. and 1,685 from Russia. Most have come through Garin Tzabar, a diaspora Israeli Scouts program that prepares willing scouts for immigration over a series of weekend workshop. (NYT 8/15)