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Israel approves steps to ease Gaza Strip blockade, AP
Israel on Wednesday approved a series of measures easing its blockade of the Gaza Strip, including opening the main commercial crossing with the Palestinian enclave to imports. The announcement came a day after Israeli officials allowed the import of crucial construction material needed for the Gaza Strip’s rebuilding following the recent conflict in May. Tensions have run high in recent weeks as Hamas activists have launched incendiary balloons into Israel, sparking a number of wildfires across the border, and staged a series of sometimes violent demonstrations along the border fence with Israel.
Biden plan to reopen Jerusalem consulate for Palestinians a “bad idea”, Israeli FM says, Reuters
Israel believes the Biden administration’s plan to reopen the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem to provide diplomatic outreach to the Palestinians is a “bad idea”, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said on Wednesday. The previous administration of President Donald Trump signalled support for Israel’s claim on Jerusalem as its capital by moving the U.S. embassy there from Tel Aviv and subsuming the consulate in that mission.
Democratic Senators Head to Israel, West Bank in First Visit Since Bennett Took Charge, Haaretz
A group of leading Democratic senators will visit Israel and the West Bank later this week as part of a Middle East trip covering regional security and democracy, the first such visit since Prime Minister Naftali Bennett took office in June. Sen. Chris Murphy, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee that deals with the Middle East, is leading the group, which also includes Sens. Jon Ossoff, Chris Van Hollen and Richard Blumenthal.
In Israel, Being Fully Vaccinated Now Means Three Shots, Wall Street Journal
Israel is upping the vaccine ante, pressing citizens to get Covid-19 booster shots and saying those who don’t will face restrictions on traveling, dining out and other activities. Holders of Israel’s vaccine passports must get a third dose of the Pfizer -BioNTech vaccine within six months of their second dose, or lose the so-called green pass that allows them more freedom.
Israel extends Gaza fishing zone, lets in more workers despite border riots, Times of Israel
Israel announced it was rolling out a series of goodwill gestures toward the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, expanding its fishing zone to its furthest point in years and allowing into Israel thousands more workers from the enclave, despite ongoing nightly riots along the border. “These civil steps were approved by the political echelon and are dependent upon the continued preservation of security stability for an extended period. An extension of them will be considered in accordance with a situational assessment,” Israel’s military liaison to the Palestinians said in a statement.
Israel watchdog criticizes Netanyahu’s handling of pandemic, AP
Israel’s official government watchdog on Tuesday criticized former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the coronavirus crisis, finding shortcomings in his administration’s decision making and a failure to implement safety restrictions. The State Comptroller’s report said Netanyahu’s government did not adequately learn from its mistakes after the country’s first wave of infections in early 2020.
West Bank anger boils as Jenin becomes hotbed of resistance, Al Jazeera
Palestinian armed groups are increasingly becoming more visible as frustration with the Israeli military, violent settlers, and the Palestinian leadership – whose authority continues to wane – intensifies. […] PA security forces are afraid to go into Jenin refugee camp and have been unable to control the camp. Israeli special forces raided it several weeks ago and arrested a wanted Palestinian but in a subsequent gunfight between resistance fighters and the soldiers four Palestinians were shot dead.
Israel to issue no further permits for terrestrial oil exploration, Times of Israel
Palestinian armed groups are increasingly becoming more visible as frustration with the Israeli military, violent settlers, and the Palestinian leadership – whose authority continues to wane – intensifies. […] PA security forces are afraid to go into Jenin refugee camp and have been unable to control the camp. Israeli special forces raided it several weeks ago and arrested a wanted Palestinian but in a subsequent gunfight between resistance fighters and the soldiers four Palestinians were shot dead.
Palestinian With Israeli Citizenship Shot Dead in West Bank, Haaretz
Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian holding Israeli citizenship in the West Bank overnight, the Palestinian health ministry said on Wednesday. Village residents said there were no disturbances or clashes in the area at the time of the shooting, which occurred at a checkpoint near the village of Beit Ur Al-Tahta, west of the city of Ramallah.
On DC trip, Bennett’s approach to Iran – and governing – took amorphous shape, Times of Israel
Lazar Berman writes, “Avoiding dramatic moves might seem like the right approach for the anti-Netanyahu coalition governing the country. But real threats and problems will arise, and playing small ball for two years is no way to solve them. The ‘new spirit’ of cooperation is nice, but Bennett will have to start expressing his government’s principles and goals if he wants to be a leader worthy of the name.”
Restoring Palestinian-Israeli trust, Christian Science Monitor
The Christian Science Monitor Editorial Board writes, “The issues between the two sides are so huge that trust-building is the first requirement. For Israel, which now faces a more serious threat from Iran, the time is ripe to lift up the expectations of West Bank Palestinians for a better life. Within Mr. Bennett’s eight-party coalition, a few politicians such as Mr. Gantz see it that way. And in the prime minister’s meeting last week with President Joe Biden, the United States reaffirmed that ‘a negotiated two-state solution is the only viable path.’”
Israel Must Take in Afghan Refugees Fleeing the Taliban, Haaretz
Yossi Melman writes, “America has declared its longest war, in Afghanistan, is over, but the humanitarian crisis is far from resolution. It’s time for Israel to play its role, and contribute its moral share, in alleviating the Afghan refugee disaster. Israel must join the international community in its efforts to help Afghans fleeing the Taliban regime.”