Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman prompted the Palestinian mission to walk out of the UN General Assembly by calling for an “exchange of populated territory” on the West Bank.
Israeli commandos intercepted a boat carrying Jewish activists who hoped to breach the blockade of the Gaza Strip, using a Taser gun against well-known refusenik Yonatan Shapira.
Human Rights Watch called on Israel to make permanent and total the partial “freeze” on construction in West Bank settlements, asserting that continued construction would have severe consequences.
Several thousand Israeli settlers and supporters celebrated to mark the end to a 10-month moratorium on new construction in their West Bank enclaves—as deadly unrest rocked Jerusalem.
The US joined with other Quartet members in calling for Israel to extend the settlement freeze, but brought pressure to defeat a resolution demanding Israel join the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Israel’s interception of a Gaza-bound flotilla violated international law, according to a report released by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
The UN panel tasked with assessing investigations into the 2008-2009 Gaza Strip conflict issued a report criticizing the investigations carried out by both Israel and Hamas.
Before Hamas resumed armed attacks this week, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced plans to “hermetically seal” the Gaza Strip—to little media attention.
Hamas claimed credit for killing four Israeli settlers near Hebron, as Israel’s right-wing Shas party—which opposes any settlement freeze—said that Hamas terror would sabotage the peace process.
European Union’s top diplomat criticized Israel over the conviction of Abdullah Abu Rahmeh, a leader of Palestinian protests against the West Bank separation barrier in Bil’in village.
The UN has issued an urgent call for the lifting of Israeli military restrictions on civilian access to Gaza Strip lands, finding they have dramatically affected the livelihoods of farmers and fishermen.
Israeli soldiers used force to shut down weekly non-violent anti-wall protests in villages across the West Bank, with clashes and tear gas reported in Nil’in and al-Ma’sara.
