Sunday, November 24, 2013

In the West Bank at night, IDF troops conduct house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 2 nearby villages; Jenin, Jenin r.c., and 1 nearby village; 2 villages nr. Bethlehem; and Balata r.c. nr. Nablus. IDF troops also patrol in Tulkarm in the morning, in 3 villages nr. Tulkarm in the afternoon, and 3 villages nr. Jenin, 2 villages nr. Hebron, and 1 village nr. Tulkarm at night. (PCHR 11/28)

Reps. from Iran and the P5+1 reach a deal in Geneva. The “Joint Plan of Action” establishes a 6-mo. interim period, in which the 2 sides swap confidence-building measures to facilitate negotiations over a long-term agreement. Specific measures include a 5% limit on Iran’s uranium enrichment, well below the level required for weapons-grade material, and approximately $4.2 b. in sanctions relief. (To read the full text of the agreement, see document A1 in JPS 171.) The interim deal is endorsed by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Pres. Hassan Ruhani, while U.S. Pres. Barack Obama says the agreement cuts off Tehran’s possible routes to a nuclear bomb. Separately, reports surface in the media that the U.S. and Iran had been holding secret talks since 3/2013, away from the P5+1 track, reportedly led by Dep. Secy. of State William Burns. It is also reported that Obama advised Netanyahu of these talks in 9/2013. (AP, HA, REU 11/24; AP 11/25)