Quarterly Updates for (16 Aug 2016 — 15 Nov 2016)

The surge of violence (habba) that began before the Jewish High Holidays in 9/2015 continues to subside, and this year’s holidays pass without any major incidents. The Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israeli govt. reach deals on electricity and postal service, but neither alters their positions on a return to final-status negotiations, despite the international community’s recent efforts. The Palestinian leadership instead advances initiatives in international institutions, including the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The recently reshuffled Israeli govt. launches a new “carrot-and-stick” policy for administering the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt), while also struggling with internal differences over Amona, an illegal Israeli settlement outpost, as well as with the settlement enterprise itself. Donald Trump is elected president of the United States, ushering in a Republican-dominated U.S. govt. that portends significant changes to U.S. positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.