U.S. pres. Donald Trump launches a new regional initiative in an effort to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. The Israeli govt. announces a new policy to guide settlement growth in the West Bank, and the Ramallah-based Palestinian leadership struggles to consolidate its position. Palestinians in the West Bank elect new local leaders, although the elections are compromised by disagreements among the major political parties. Approximately 1,500 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails go on hunger strike, drawing support from across the political spectrum and burnishing the reputation of their leader, senior Fatah official Marwan Barghouti. Meanwhile, the right-wing Israeli govt. continues its campaign to undermine and delegitimize its opponents, including the Israeli Left, the Palestinian minority in Israel, and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Quarterly Updates for (16 Feb 2017 — 15 May 2017)