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Israeli Investigation of Shiren Abu Akleh’s Death Fails to Convince Key U.S. Lawmakers, Haaretz
The Israeli military released earlier this month a summary of its investigation into the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, but key U.S. lawmakers remain dissatisfied with the Israeli findings and demand the Biden administration to take further action on the subject. Democratic Senators Chris Van Hollen and Patrick Leahy are attempting to require an independent State Department investigation into the matter. The two have introduced an amendment, along Senators Dick Durbin, Chris Murphy, Jeanne Shaheen and Jeff Merkley, which includes unprecedented language calling on the U.S. to see “whether section 620M of the FAA applies” to Abu Akleh’s case within 180 days.
Ben & Jerry’s Founders Accuse Unilever of Breaking Deal in Israel, The Guardian
The founders of Ben and Jerry’s have accused the UK consumer giant Unilever of violating a 22-year-old agreement that could lead to the sale of the ice-cream in the occupied West Bank. Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, who founded the company in Vermont in 1978 with a mission to “advance human rights and dignity”, said they could no longer “sit idly by” after Unilever sold its interest in the ice-cream to an Israeli licence holder. The founders claim the sale breaches an agreement signed when Unilever bought the ice-cream brand in 2000 for $326m.
Relatives of Soldier Whose Body Is Held in Gaza Strip Impede Gazans Entering Israel, The Times of Israel
The family of an IDF soldier whose remains are being held by the Hamas terror group in the Gaza Strip impeded workers from the Palestinian enclave from entering Israel on Sunday by blocking an access road.
Israeli Airstrike on Damascus Airport Kills Five Syrian Troops, The Guardian
An Israeli airstrike near Damascus airport has killed five Syrian soldiers, according to state media in Syria. “The aggression led to the death of five soldiers and some material damage,” Syria’s official news agency Sana quoted a military source as saying on Saturday.
Iran ‘Must Cooperate’ on Nuclear Probe, French Envoy Says, Al-Monitor
Iran’s latest position in talks to revive the nuclear agreement has taken the process backwards, the French ambassador to the United States told Al-Monitor, adding that Iran “must cooperate” with an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) investigation into Tehran’s undeclared nuclear materials.
Joint List ‘Won’t Recommend’ Lapid or Gantz for Premiership in Upcoming Israeli Election, Haaretz
The chairman of the Hadash-Ta’al political alliance (known as the Joint List when running with Balad in previous elections), Ayman Odeh, said on Sunday that Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz will not get a recommendation from his party to form Israel’s next government unless they change their attitude towards the Arab public.
PA Not Interested in Military Showdown With IDF – Ex-PA Intel Commander, The Jerusalem Post
Palestinian Authority security forces are not headed toward an armed confrontation with the IDF, in spite of the involvement of some PA officers in recent attacks in the West Bank, a former senior Palestinian intelligence officer said on Sunday.
Killing of Young Gunman Highlights Shifts in Fast-Changing West Bank, The New York Times
Patrick Kingsley writes, “The life of Ibrahim al-Nabulsi, the son of a Palestinian security official, reflects some of the dynamics at play as leaders jockey to succeed Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president.”
