Friday, November 20, 2020

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers leveled Palestinian-owned land near Kisan. Israeli forces detained and severely beat 3 Palestinians at a flying checkpoint near Bayt Fajjar; all 3 were later taken to a hospital in Bayt Jala. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Malik during an anti-settlement demonstration, injuring 1 Palestinian with a tear-gas canister; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters during the weekly anti-settlement protest in Kafr Qaddum; 1 Palestinian was hit with a rubber-coated bullet to his face. Israeli forces also seized construction materials in al-Walaja. 8 Palestinians were arrested, including 1 paramedic during the protest in Kafr Malik, 1 during a raid in Hebron, and 6 at checkpoints near Nablus, Qalandia, and Bethlehem. (WAFA, WAFA 11/20; WAFA 11/21; PCHR 11/26)

The U.S. department of justice said that the Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard finished his parole and is now free to move to Israel. It had been uncertain if Pollard would have his parole extended since U.S. national security officials have objected to allowing Pollard’s parole to expire. Pollard was arrested in 1985 for spying on the U.S. on behalf of Israel and was handed a life sentence. He was released in 2015 but with limitations on his movement and he was banned from making public statements as part of his parole. Pollard was given Israeli citizenship in 1995 and Israeli prime ministers have long sought to have him released to Israel, where he is perceived as a hero. (NYT 11/20; HA, REU 11/21; HA, HA, HA, LAT 11/22)