Progressive Democrats call on Pompeo to condemn Israeli demolition of Beduin village
The Hill

“Progressive House Democrats on Tuesday called on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to condemn Israel’s demolition of a rural Beduin community, a move that displaced dozens of people, including children, in the Jordan Valley of the West Bank. In a letter to the secretary, 40 House Democrats called on Pompeo to push the Israeli government to halt any further demolitions and accused Israel of “creeping annexation,” violating international law and a grave humanitarian issue. ‘Creeping annexation cannot be a policy that the U.S. government supports if we wish to see peace in the region,’ the letter, which was led by Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.), co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), read.” 

Image: Congressman Mark Pocan and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal signed onto the letter sent to Pompeo. (AFP/File photo)

Qatar FM: Normalisation with Israel undermines Palestinian statehood efforts
Reuters

“Qatar’s foreign minister said on Monday (November 16) Arab states that establish ties with Israel undermine efforts for Palestinian statehood, but it was in their own sovereign right to do so. Three Arab countries - the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan - set aside hostilities with Israel in recent months to agree to formal relations in deals brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. Palestinian leaders have accused them of betrayal, while U.S. and Israeli officials have said more Arab states could soon follow. ‘I think it’s better to have a united (Arab) front to put the interests of the Palestinians (first) to end the (Israeli) occupation,’ Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani told the online Global Security Forum.”

Image: Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani speaks during a news conference with Iraqi Foreign Affairs Minister Mohamed Ali Alhakim, in Baghdad, Iraq January 15, 2020. (Reuters/Khalid al-Mousily)

Dozens sneak into evacuated settlement; backers urge government to let them stay
Times of Israel

“Some 20 Israeli families surreptitiously entered the evacuated settlement of Sa-Nur in the northern West Bank under the cover of darkness early Tuesday (November 17), in protest of the government’s refusal to allow them to return permanently to their homes evacuated 13 years ago. The group was made up of former residents of Sa-Nur and Homesh, which — with two other northern West Bank settlements, Ganim and Kadim — were evacuated along with the Jewish settlements of the Gaza Strip in 2005 as part of Israel’s so-called disengagement plan. The group did not coordinate its move with the military, and Israel Defense Forces troops arrived at the hilltop community Tuesday morning to alert the settlers that they were trespassing. The settlers reportedly expect to be forcibly removed later in the day."

Image: Settlers visit the evacuated settlement of Sa-Nur on July 24, 2018. (Homesh T'cheela)

Palestinian Authority announces renewal of security coordination with Israel
Times of Israel

“The Palestinian Authority announced Tuesday (November 17) that it was renewing security and civil ties with Israel, which were severed six months ago amid Israel’s plans for unilateral West Bank annexation, a move that has since been suspended. According to the official WAFA news agency, the announcement came after the Palestinians received reassurances from ‘international contacts’ that Israel would abide by previous agreements. ‘Against the backdrop of the talks [PA President] Mahmoud Abbas held about Israel’s commitment to signed agreements with us, and based on official written and oral messages we received, which prove Israel’s commitment, the ties with Israel will return to their previous state,’ said PA Civil Affairs Minister Hussein al-Sheikh.” 

Image: PA President Mahmoud Abbas heads a leadership meeting at his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, May 19, 2020. (Alaa Badarneh/Pool via AP)

Pompeo heads to Israel as Netanyahu calls Biden ‘President-elect’
Foreign Policy

“U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in Israel today as he continues his whistle-stop tour of U.S. allies. Before he heads to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, he is planning on making history. Pompeo will visit two Israeli settlements both considered in violation of international law, one in the Golan Heights and one in the West Bank. By doing so, he becomes the first U.S. Secretary of State to visit either site. His de facto endorsement of the Israeli occupation stands in contrast to the outgoing Obama administration’s moves in 2016, allowing passage of a United Nations Security Council resolution declaring Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory illegal by abstaining from (rather than vetoing) the vote.”

Image: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive wearing protective masks to make a joint statement to the press after meeting in Jerusalem, on August 24, 2020. (Debbi Hill / AFP)

Israel strikes widely in Syria, sending signal of aggressive post-Trump posture
Reuters

“Israel launched air raids against what it called a wide range of Syrian and Iranian targets in Syria on Wednesday (November 18), sending a signal that it will pursue its policy of striking across the border despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s election defeat. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said at least 10 people were killed. Syria’s state news agency reported three military personnel killed and one wounded. The Observatory said the dead included five Iranians from the elite Quds Force and at least two Lebanese or Iraqi Shi’ite militiamen. A commander of pro-Damascus forces denied Iranians or Lebanese were among the casualties.” 

Image: Warning signs are seen near the border area between Israel and Syria, in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, November 18, 2020. (Reuters/Hamad Almakt)