The phase of violence that began in Jerusalem in 9/2015 continues to dissipate while the Israeli govt. further expands and extends its crackdown on the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt), as well as on the Palestinian minority in Israel and left-wing Israeli activists. Multilateral initiatives designed to address the violence breakdown, contributing to fears of resurgence, particularly along the Gaza border, and also in Jerusalem at the approach of the Jewish holidays.
Palestinians continue a diplomatic offensive in anticipation of the 9/2011 target for de facto statehood; Israel launches a counteroffensive; Fatah and Hamas sign a unity agreement; the U.S. vetoes a UNSC resolution on Israeli settlements (Obama’s first veto); ongoing Obama-Netanyahu tensions over the stalled peace process, with each weighing the launch of new initiatives; Richard Goldstone “reconsiders” conclusions of the UN’s “Goldstone Report” on Operation Cast Lead; U.S. special envoy George Mitchell resigns; Palestinian refugees stage a “March to Palestine” to commemorate the Nakba; new Israeli legislation targets Israeli Palestinians and the Israeli Left; U.S. universities charged with tolerating anti-Semitism under Title VI; ongoing antigovernment protests and government crackdowns regionwide (the Arab Spring), including the spiraling events in Syria of particular importance for the Palestinian-Israeli situation.