Quarterly Updates for (16 Nov 2016 — 15 Feb 2017)

Neither the Palestinians nor the Israelis make any effort to resume peace negotiations this quarter. The Palestinians work with the outgoing U.S. admin. on a new UN Security Council (UNSC) res. condemning Israeli settlements; and the Israelis liaise with incoming U.S. pres. Donald Trump on a new regional peace approach to Middle East peace. Before Trump takes office and begins backpedaling on his pledge to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, U.S. secy. of state John Kerry lays out 6 principles for a Palestinian-Israeli peace deal, and the French govt. hosts what is touted as an international peace conference in Paris. Meanwhile, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu continues his efforts to marginalize the Palestinian minority and his political opponents in Israel, to placate the right-wing elements of his ruling coalition upset about the evacuation of Amona, an illegal settlement outpost. Settler leaders and their allies in the Knesset use their leverage to pass a sweeping new bill retroactively authorizing illegal settlement outposts.