PA threatens to cut ties with Israel over Wadi Hummus demolitions
J Post

“The IDF demolished 12 West Bank Palestinian buildings in Wadi al-Hummus just outside of Jerusalem on Monday. The Palestinian Authority threatened to cut ties with Israel over this action, dubbing it a ‘war crime’ and ‘ethnic cleansing.’ The PA said it will request a special meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the demolitions and lodge a complaint against Israel with the International Criminal Court. ‘The Palestinian leadership will hold a series of important meetings in the next few days to take fateful decisions regarding our relations and agreements signed with Israel,’ said the PA president’s spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudaineh. He pointed out that PA President Mahmoud Abbas had repeatedly warned that the Palestinians would not be able to continue their adherence to agreements with Israel as long as Israel insists on its noncommitment to these agreements." 

Image: A Palestinian building is demolished by Israeli forces in Wadi Hummus, which sits on either side of the Israeli barrier just outside of Jerusalem in the West Bank July 22, 2019. (Reuters/Mussa Qawasma)

International agencies call Israeli demolition of Palestinian homes illegal
Washington Post

“Israel routinely demolishes illegally built Palestinian structures in East Jerusalem and parts of the occupied West Bank under its direct control. Palestinian residents say that securing a building permit in those areas is nearly impossible and that they are forced to build illegally. Wadi al-Hummus, however, sits on land that under the terms of the Oslo accords is controlled by the Palestinian Authority. All of the apartment buildings received building permits from the Palestinian Authority’s Planning Ministry. A statement from the European Union called Israel’s actions illegal under international law and said such policies ‘undermined the viability of a two-state solution and the prospects for a lasting peace.’”

Image: Razing one of the Palestinian buildings in the West Bank village of Dar Salah, between annexed East Jerusalem and the West Bank. (Ahmad Gharabli/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images)

U.S. House passes anti-BDS Resolution in bipartisan vote
Haaretz

“The House overwhelmingly approved a resolution Tuesday opposing an international effort to boycott Israel, a rare bipartisan vote as Democrats try to tamp down increasingly heated political rhetoric over differences with the longtime U.S. ally. Democrats have been wrestling with the issue all year. Liberal lawmakers, most notably Reps. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., two newly elected Muslim Americans, have spoken out about the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement, known as BDS, as they criticize Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, particularly in the occupied territories. Republicans have amplified the views of the left flank to portray Democrats as deeply divided and at odds with Israel.” 

Image: U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) addresses reporters after the weekly senate party caucus luncheons at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., July 23, 2019. (Eric Thayer/Reuters)

Republicans sour on two-state solution
Al-Monitor

“Republicans have… accused Tlaib, a Palestinian American, of anti-Semitism, citing her support for a one-state solution and several other comments. But while Tlaib is an outlier within the Democratic Party, which still largely favors a two-state solution to the conflict, Republicans themselves are becoming increasingly skeptical of a two-state solution. That skepticism was on full display this week when Democrats on Wednesday advanced a nonbinding resolution, introduced by Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-Calif., reaffirming congressional support for a two-state solution. Although the Lowenthal resolution boasts 151 co-sponsors, not a single Republican has signed on, and several members of the caucus sharply criticized the legislation before the vote.” 

Image: US Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, arrives at Trump Tower to meet with US President-elect Donald Trump in New York, US, Nov. 29, 2016. (Reuters/Mike Segar)

HRW chief says Israel adopting Iran-like policies in treatment of NGOs
Times of Israel

“The executive director of Human Rights Watch accused Israel this week of mounting a campaign ‘not only to shut down human rights activity, including by our Israeli partners, but also to deprive Israelis of information about what is happening around them.’ Kenneth Roth told Haaretz that if Israel’s Supreme Court decides to allow the government to go through with its decision to expel HRW local director Omar Shakir, it would ‘join the likes of North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba, Sudan, and Iran, which also exclude our representatives.’ ‘That is not a club that Israel should be eager to join,’ Roth said.”

Image: Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, speaks during the annual press conference of the non governmental organization in Berlin, Germany, January 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo address Christian pro-Israel summit
Religion News

“Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo both addressed a Christian pro-Israel group Monday (July 8), lifting up the U.S. ally as a bastion of inclusivity and railing against Iran. Pence and Pompeo delivered their remarks at the annual summit of Christians United for Israel, a conservative Christian organization led by the Rev. John Hagee, which claims more than 6 million members. Both politicians used the opportunity to defend the administration and champion what they argued were President Trump’s successes. Pence spoke first, taking time to push back against recent comments by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez comparing detention facilities used to house undocumented immigrants to concentration camps.”

Image: Vice President Mike Pence, left, greets the Rev. John Hagee, founder and chairman of Christians United for Israel, before speaking at CUFI's annual summit on July 8, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)