Related Quarterly Updates

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.

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. At the same time, Israeli and Palestinian leaders negotiate new economic and security arrangements but direct negotiations on final status issues remain at an impasse. The French peace initiative gathers momentum and support, except from the Israeli government. Palestinian national reconciliation founders and Pres. Mahmoud Abbas struggles to consolidate his power amid rising challenges.

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.

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.

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.

U.S. pres. Donald Trump continues working on a largely undefined peace initiative with little success. Violence in the Old City of Jerusalem interrupts U.S. diplomatic efforts and the Israeli govt. imposes new security measures at Haram al-Sharif. These restrictions spark a wave of unrest across the occupied Palestinian territories and a Muslim boycott of the sanctuary, testing the nascent U.S. initiative. Palestinian Authority pres. Mahmoud Abbas increases pressure on Hamas to relinquish control of Gaza to the PA. The 1,500-plus Palestinian prisoners who declared a mass hunger strike last quarter (the “Dignity Strike”) secure key concessions from the Israeli authorities and bring their strike to a close. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates enact a diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar.

Regional events figure heavily in developments this quarter as the Saudi Arabian crown prince steps out of the shadows of secret meetings with Israeli and U.S. officials; Lebanese PM Saad Hariri announces his resignation under mysterious circumstances in Riyadh; and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman summons Palestinian Authority (PA) pres. Mahmoud Abbas to the Saudi capital just 2 days later. These actions come soon after reps. from Hamas and Fatah sign a new reconciliation agreement in Cairo, prompting Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to threaten to upend U.S. pres. Donald Trump’s peace initiative. Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition continue to quarrel internally over settlement growth and annexation. They also continue their crackdown on the Israeli opposition, Palestinian citizens of Israel, and supporters of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Earlier in the quarter, Trump asks the Palestinians to delay unilateral moves at international forums while he puts together a plan for restarting Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations.

Quarterly Updates for (1 Jan 1970 — 1 Jan 1970)

Regional events figure heavily in developments this quarter as the Saudi Arabian crown prince steps out of the shadows of secret meetings with Israeli and U.S. officials; Lebanese PM Saad Hariri announces his resignation under mysterious circumstances in Riyadh; and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman summons Palestinian Authority (PA) pres. Mahmoud Abbas to the Saudi capital just 2 days later. These actions come soon after reps. from Hamas and Fatah sign a new reconciliation agreement in Cairo, prompting Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to threaten to upend U.S. pres.