Sunday, June 26, 2016

Israel’s Public Security Minister Erdan decides to permit Jews and other nonMuslims to visit Haram al-Sharif in the last 10 days of Ramadan, marking a deviation from Israeli policy in recent years. Many Palestinians see Erdan’s decision as a breach of the status quo at the sanctuary. Meanwhile, Israeli forces raid Haram al-Sharif in the morning before a right-wing Jewish activist tour of the site, arresting 2 Palestinians, and sparking clashes with worshippers; 12 Palestinians and 1 Israeli police officer are injured. (HA, MNA, TOI 6/28)

In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 8 Palestinians during late-night raids and house searches in and around Hebron, Nablus, and Bethlehem; and patrol during the day nr. Hebron and Salfit. Off Gaza’s coast late at night, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Jabaliya r.c., causing no damage or injuries. The Israeli authorities reduce the fishing zone off of Gaza’s s. coast to 6 naut. mi., having temporarily extended it on 6/19 for Ramadan. (JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 6/26; MNA 6/27; PCHR 6/30)

The Israeli press reports that Israel and Turkey have finalized agreements on all remaining sticking points in their negotiations over reconciliation, and that they plan to announce a final deal on 6/27. An Israeli official says that Turkish pres. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan agreed to an additional document that will renew Turkish efforts to negotiate with Hamas to secure the release of the remains of 2 IDF soldiers who died in Gaza during Israel’s 2014 Operation Protective Edge. (HA, YA 6/26)