Heads of Jerusalem Churches hold prayer rally in protest of Jaffa Gate properties case
Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem

“On Thursday, July 11, 2019, the Heads of Jerusalem Churches held a prayer rally near Jaffa Gate’s Imperial and Petra Hotels, in protest of Israel’s Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the appeal made by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate against the sale of three of its properties to settlers’ group. The rally was attended by Patriarchs, Bishops and priests from the different religious denominations of Jerusalem such as Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilus III, Archbishop Aba Embakob, Archbishop Suheil Dawan, Bishop Boulos Marcuzzo, Bishop Yaser Ayyash, Bishop Ibrahim Sani Azar and Fr. Francesco Patton." 

For further information, see this article from the Times of Jerusalem.

Image: Heads of Jerusalem Churches hold a prayer rally outside the Petra hostel at Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem's Old City on July 11, 2019. (Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem)

Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu vows to retain every West Bank settlement
Straits Times

“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged on Wednesday (July 10) not to dismantle even the remotest Jewish settlement in the West Bank, in a message to settlers ahead of September's general election. Israeli media had speculated that after US President Donald Trump handed Netanyahu valuable political prizes by recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital and its annexation of the Golan Heights, Trump might expect concessions in return when he finally unveils his long-awaited proposals for Israeli-Palestinian peace. ‘We shall not allow the dismantling of any settlement in any peace plan,’ Netanyahu told an audience at the settlement of Revava in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.’”

Image: Netanyahu attends an event in the Jewish settlement of Revava in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, July 10, 2019. (Reuters)

The Wadi Hummus demolitions: unlike anything witnessed to date
Terrestrial Jerusalem

“On June 11, the High Court of Justice rejected a suit filed by the residents of the East Jerusalem Palestinian neighborhood of Sur Bahir that moved to forbid the demolition of 13 buildings located in Wadi Al Hummus, on the southern perimeter of the neighborhood. The area in question differs from the other sections of Sur Bahir. Unlike the rest of the neighborhood, the buildings are located in the West Bank, beyond Jerusalem municipal boundaries, as defined by Israel, but on the Jerusalem (not West Bank)  side of the security barrier.” 

In other news, the UN called on Israeli authorities to halt plans for demolitions in Sur Bahir. Read the statement here.

Image: An Israeli police vehicle is seen driving past Palestinian buildings slated for demolition, seen here from the Beit Sahur in the West Bank. (Hazem Bader/AFP)

Senior Hamas official calls on members of Palestinian diaspora to kill Jews
Times of Israel

“A senior Hamas official has urged members of the Palestinian diaspora to kill Jews around the world. Fathi Hammad, a member of Hamas’s politburo who is considered a hard-liner and is known for his fiery rhetoric, made the statement in a speech at a protest in the border region between the Gaza Strip and Israel on Friday. ‘Our patience has run out. We are on the verge of exploding. If this siege is not undone, we will explode in the face of our enemies, with God’s permission and glory. The explosion is not only going to be in Gaza but also in the [West] Bank and abroad, if God wills,’ Hammad said, referring to significant Israeli restrictions on the movement of people and goods between Israel and Gaza.” 

Image: Senior Hamas official Fathi Hammad speaking to Palestinians in the border region between Israel and the Gaza Strip on July 12, 2019. (Screenshot:Youtube)

27 Republicans just joined Democrats to block Trump from going to war with Iran without congressional approval
Business Insider

“Over two dozen House Republicans joined Democrats to vote for a measure blocking President Donald Trump from taking military action against Iran without congressional approval. In total, 27 Republicans voted in favor of the measure as it passed 251-170. The measure, introduced by Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna and Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, would prohibit federal funds from being used for a military action against Iran without the blessing of Congress.”

Image: President Donald Trump holds up a memorandum that reinstates sanctions on Iran in the Diplomatic Room at the White House May 8, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

In contrast to the army's announcement, nine-year-old 'Abd a-Rahman a-Shtiawi was shot in the head with live ammunition
B'Tselem

“B'Tselem today (July 18, 2019) published an investigation proving that a soldier fired live ammunition and hit the head of 9-year-old 'Abd a-Rahman a-Shatiwi when he was playing at the entrance to one of the houses of Qadum village during the weekly demonstration in the village last week. A-Shatiwi is the last victim of the open-fire policy of opening fire, in which soldiers fire live ammunition even in situations where no danger is posed to them or to any other person.”

Image: 9-year-old 'Abd a-Rahman a-Shatiwi. (Eyal Sagiv, B'TSELEM)