Update on Conflict and 16 AUGUST–15 NOVEMBER 2017

COMPILED BY PAUL KAROLYI This update is a summary of bilateral, multilateral, regional, and international events affecting the Palestinians and . More than 100 print, wire, television, and online sources providing U.S., Israeli, Arab, and international independent and government coverage of unfolding events are surveyed to compile the quarterly Update. The most relevant sources are cited in JPS’s Chronology section, which tracks events day by day. JPS Chronologies are archived on the JPS website at www.palestine-studies.org.

Highlights of the Quarter: Regional events figure heavily in developments this quarter as the Saudi Arabian crown prince steps out of the shadows of secret meetings with Israeli and U.S. officials; Lebanese PM Saad Hariri announces his resignation under mysterious circumstances in Riyadh; and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman summons Palestinian Authority (PA) pres. Mahmoud Abbas to the Saudi capital just 2 days later. These actions come soon after reps. from Hamas and Fatah sign a new reconciliation agreement in Cairo, prompting Israeli PM to threaten to upend U.S. pres. ’s peace initiative. Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition continue to quarrel internally over settlement growth and annexation. They also continue their crackdown on the Israeli opposition, Palestinian citizens of Israel, and supporters of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Earlier in the quarter, Trump asks the Palestinians to delay unilateral moves at international forums while he puts together a plan for restarting Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations.

THE PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI other country and organizational leaders, CONFLICT but they failed to produce anything concrete. ’ U.S. pres. Donald Trump continued work Jared Kushner, the president s son-in-law and on a peace initiative this quarter, without any his senior advisor, along with Dep. National resolution to lingering uncertainties on key Security Advisor Dina Powell and Special issues (e.g., whether the U.S. should move its Representative for International Negotiations embassy in Israel to ; see JPS 46 [4] Jason Greenblatt, made an unannounced visit to and 47 [1]). He and his negotiating team met Saudi Arabia on 10/25–28. The White House with Israeli and Palestinian officials, as well as declined to disclose with whom Kushner met

Journal of Palestine Studies Vol. XLVII, No. 2 (Winter 2018), p. 104, ISSN: 0377-919X; electronic ISSN: 1533-8614. © 2018 by the Institute for Palestine Studies. All rights reserved. Please direct all requests for permission to photocopy or reproduce article content through the University of California Press’s Reprints and Permissions web page, http://www.ucpress.edu/journals.php?p=reprints. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/jps.2018.47.2.104.

104 || Journal of Palestine Studies Update on Conflict and Diplomacy but media reports indicate he held talks with negotiating team consistently defended Israel’s Prince Mohammad, who had recently had installation of cameras and checkpoints under several Saudi ministers and 11 princes arrested, the guise of security at Haram al-Sharif in presumably to consolidate his power, though he 7/2017 (see JPS 47 [1]), it was clear that the claimed to be fighting corruption. Shortly Trump admin. was going to have to rebuild afterward, Lebanon’s PM Hariri visited the relationships in before moving kingdom and announced his resignation. Two forward on peace talks. days later, Prince Mohammad summoned PA Their first opportunity to do so was set for pres. Abbas (see “Regional Affairs” below) in 8/24, when Kushner was scheduled to visit what some analysts viewed as efforts to derail Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories the Hamas-Fatah unity deal and to further (oPt). In the lead-up to Kushner’s trip, some marginalize Iran. PA officials aired their skepticism publicly. After Palestinian support for Trump’sefforts Abbas reportedly told a delegation from the began to waver last quarter (see JPS 47 [1]), Israeli leftist party Meretz that he couldn’t the Palestinians shifted their focus almost understand the Trump admin.’s conduct (8/20). entirely to internal and regional issues (see “I have met with Trump envoys about 20 times “Intra-Palestinian Dynamics” and “Regional since the beginning of his term as pres. of the Affairs” below). Meanwhile, the Israeli govt. U.S. [in 1/2017],” he said. “Every time, they dealt with internal issues of its own, including repeatedly stressed to me how much they an increasingly acrimonious debate over: a believe and are committed to a 2-state solution bill that would grant Israeli sovereignty to and a halt to construction in the settlements. settlements ringing East Jerusalem, effectively I have pleaded with them to say the same annexing them into Israel, and settlement thing to Netanyahu, but they refrained. They growth, which put Netanyahu at odds with the said they would consider it but then they didn’t ultranationalists in his own ruling coalition. get back to me.” PLO Executive Comm. mbr. Ahmad Majdalani then clarified (8/22) that THE TRUMP INITIATIVE the Palestinians brought up those 2 key issues As the quarter opened, the Trump peace during a meeting in 6/2017 (see JPS 47 [1]). initiative was all but stalled. Trump maintained “Since then we haven’t heard from them,” he he was still eager to make “the ultimate deal,” as said. “We hope they bring clear answers this he referred to the prospect of a comprehensive time. If not, then the peace process cannot be peace agreement between Israel and the resumed because we cannot negotiate from Palestinians, but he rarely brought the subject scratch.” up of his own accord. Instead, he focused on The day before Kushner arrived in Israel, a confronting North Korea over its nuclear U.S. State Dept. spokesperson responded (8/23) program and overhauling the U.S. health-care to the Palestinians’ complaints. “We are not and tax systems. The Israelis, led by Netanyahu, going to state what the outcome has to be,” still supported Trump’s efforts, but were more she said, addressing the open question of concerned with countering the alleged Iranian Trump’s support for a 2-state solution. “It has threat as well as with their own internal issues. to be workable to both sides. And I think, really, The Palestinians were the least enthusiastic of that’s the best view as to not really bias one all parties. After the U.S. Middle East side over the other, to make sure that they can

Winter 2018 || 105 Update on Conflict and Diplomacy work through it.” Kushner was apparently that the subject did come up, but made no more reassuring in his meeting with Abbas on comments on the nature of the discussion. 8/24. “We know that this [U.S.] delegation is Ahead of the UNGA, Trump and his aides working for peace, and we are working with it,” lowered expectations for their peace initiative Abbas said (8/24). “We know that things are and directed the focus to the implementation difficult and complicated, but there is nothing of the 7/14/2015 Iran nuclear deal (see “Iran” impossible with good efforts.” The meeting below). “Achieving peace between the Israelis was “productive,” according to a PA statement and the Palestinians remains one of the (8/24). “Both sides agreed to continue with president’s highest priorities, but the UN the U.S.-led conversations as the best way to meetings will primarily focus on other issues reach a comprehensive peace deal.” and serve as check-in opportunities,” a senior The Kushner meeting established the U.S. official said (9/16). The Palestinians, dynamic that prevailed through the end of apparently content with the promised time the quarter. Amid a spate of rumors and frame and occupied with their own national unconfirmed reports, Israel Hayom reported reconciliation process (see “Intra-Palestinian (8/27) that Kushner pledged the Trump Dynamics” below), refrained from calling for admin. would present its peace plan, clarity from the Trump admin. on settlements including positions on all final status issues, and the 2-state solution. Netanyahu, for his within 3–4 mos. in exchange for the part, was eager to redirect the discussion as well. Palestinians indefinitely postponing their In New York, Trump met first with pursuit of statehood recognition in the Netanyahu on 9/18. “Most people would say international arena. Abbas, whose deputies there is no chance whatsoever” to reach a were threatening to resume that very strategy, peace agreement, Trump said, at a joint press reportedly agreed contingent upon Trump conference. “I actually think that with the personally backing Kushner’spledge. ability of Bibi, and frankly with the other side, According to an unnamed Palestinian official, Ireallythinkwehaveachance.” After the Kushner and Abbas sealed the deal by meeting, the White House released (9/18) a agreeing to arrange a meeting between the statement saying that the pair discussed their 2 presidents on the sidelines of the United “continuing efforts to achieve an enduring Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, the New York on 9/2017. optimism in the region about peace, and With the Palestinians mollified, the Trump expanding economic opportunities to admin. turned back its attention to the Israelis. improve conditions for peace.” No further By the end of 8/2017, U.S. and Israeli officials details were disclosed. resumed talks on Trump’spledgetomovethe Trump’s meeting with Abbas was potentially U.S. Embassy in Israel from to more critical, since Abbas was reportedly Jerusalem (Times of Israel,8/28;seeJPS 46 [4] hoping for the U.S. president’s personal and 47 [1] for background on Trump’s commitment to the pledge Kushner had made shifting position on the embassy move). on 8/24. A PA spokesperson said (9/18) that According to a U.S. source, both sides brought Abbas planned to reassess his dedication to up the issue during Kushner’s meeting with the U.S. initiative after the meeting. On 9/20, Netanyahu on 8/24. Israeli officials confirmed hours after Abbas addressed the UNGA

106 || Journal of Palestine Studies Update on Conflict and Diplomacy reaffirming his support for a 2-state solution the consensus govt. (10/17). According to a and reasserting the Palestinians’ right to pursue statement from Netanyahu’s office, the justice through international arenas such as conditions included Hamas recognizing Israel, the International Criminal Court, he met with ceasing all so-called terrorist activity, disarming Trump. The U.S. pres. told (9/20) Abbas that and dismantling its military infrastructure in this was their “best shot ever” to make the the West Bank, severing ties with Iran, returning “toughest deal of all” and reportedly repeated to Israel the remains of the 2 Israel Defense Kushner’s request for more time. According Forces (IDF) soldiers and the Israeli civilians to senior PA officials, Abbas acquiesced being held in Gaza (see “Prisoner Swap” below), (,9/24). and giving up security control of Gaza to the PA. In the aftermath of the UNGA, the A senior Israeli official said (10/17) that the Palestinians, U.S., and Israelis all displayed cabinet had also authorized Netanyahu to some optimism in their public comments impose punitive sanctions on the PA, including and actions. The Trump admin. was presumed deductions from the tax revenues Israel collects to be working on its plan; Netanyahu took on the Palestinians’ behalf and transfers to the apparent steps to limit settlement growth, PA on a monthly basis. “Any other cabinet despite pressure from his ultranationalist decision would have given legitimacy to the coalition partners (see “Settlement Growth in terror organization Hamas, which strives to the Trump Era” below); and the Palestinians destroy Israel,” Education Minister Naftali proceeded to reach a major national Bennett said (10/17). Later that same day, a reconciliation agreement (10/12), in hope of PA spokesperson said that the Israeli govt. presenting a unified front ahead of peace talks. would not be allowed to stand in the way of At the same time, there was one indication reconciliation, indicating that Abbas would that Trump was starting to feel the same kind of prioritize reconciliation with Hamas given the frustration with Netanyahu that his predecessor, choice between that and the possibility of Barack Obama, experienced. According to a another round of talks with Israel. Another Westerndiplomaton10/4,Trumphadtold senior Palestinian official accused the Israeli (9/19) UN secy.-gen. António Guterres that cabinet of falsely assuming that Hamas would both Netanyahu and Abbas were “problematic,” join the PA, and putting forth a “new excuse” but that between the two, “Netanyahu is the to back out of the process. bigger problem.” AseniorWhiteHouseofficial Two days later, Greenblatt offered (10/19) later challenged (10/4) that narrative, saying, the first official U.S. response to the “The pres. said that he feels both sides want to reconciliation deal. “All parties agree that it is make peace and he remains optimistic about an essential that the PA be able to assume full, enduring peace deal. We are focusing on our genuine, and unhindered civil and security productive conversations and not on the noise responsibilities in Gaza and that we work created by spoilers.” together to improve the humanitarian situation Although there were some early signs that the for Palestinians living there,” he said in a Palestinian reconciliation agreement of 10/12 statement. “The U.S. reiterates the importance would be a game changer, the Israeli security of adherence to the Quartet principles: any cabinet quickly imposed strict conditions on Palestinian govt. must unambiguously and Hamas before Israel would agree to work with explicitly commit to nonviolence, recognize

Winter 2018 || 107 Update on Conflict and Diplomacy the State of Israel, accept previous agreements progress...onkeyissues,” according to and obligations between the parties—including Greenblatt (10/29). Then, after mos. of to disarm terrorists—and commit to peaceful unconfirmed reports that PA Security Forces negotiations. If Hamas is to play any role in a (PASF) had resumed some coordination with Palestinian govt., it must accept these basic the IDF, the chief of the Palestinian police, Maj. requirements.” Another senior Trump admin. Gen. Hazem Atallah, confirmed the news on official offered some context on Greenblatt’s 11/8. “Everyone is coordinating now. That statement on 10/22, saying that the U.S. expected means things returned to what they were Hamas to disarm, but didn’t necessarily expect before,” Atallah said, referring to Abbas’s7/21 it to happen soon. “Egypt has helped us crack announcement of an indefinite suspension of open a door to Gaza that didn’t exist a few weeks PASF-IDF coordination in response to new ago, and we see it as a possible opportunity,” Israeli security measures at Haram al-Sharif. the official said (10/22). The suspension had been extremely popular Then two days later, Kushner, Powell, and among the Palestinian public (see “Palestinian Greenblatt made a surprise, unannounced trip Opinion” below). Atallah also said that security to Saudi Arabia (10/25–28). The White House coordination had never ceased completely, as would not disclose with whom they met but many Israeli politicians pointed out at the time. media reports indicate Kushner met with Prince “The only thing we stopped is we didn’tmeet Mohammad, who in November worked to them in the field,” he said, explaining that consolidate his power by arresting dozens of approximately 95% of coordination activities ministers, and 11 princes. While Kushner continued. returned to the U.S. on 11/28, Greenblatt As the quarter came to a close, the New York continued on to Amman, Cairo, Ramallah, and Times unearthed a few more details about the Jerusalem (Politico, 10/29/2017). Within days, Trump plans on 11/11. According to White Prince Mohammad summoned Hariri, who House officials, the plan was set to be ready in suddenly announced his resignation from early 2018, considerably later than the 3–4 Riyadh, as well as Abbas. These events had month window Kushner had promised Abbas analysts indicating that Saudi Arabia, supported on 8/24. The officials also said that Trump’s by Trump through Kushner, was working to core team—Kushner, Greenblatt, amb. to marginalize Iran’s growing power in the region Israel David Friedman, and Powell—had put and to force Abbas to accept Israel’sconditions together a series of “non-papers” covering on the unity govt. various issues related to the Palestinian-Israeli As the initial surprise of the reconciliation conflict, including settlements and the status deal wore off, both the Israelis and Palestinians of Jerusalem, over the course of Trump’sfirst continued meeting to discuss the Trump peace 10 mos. in office. “We have spent a lot of time initiative. On 10/29, Israeli minister of finance listening to and engaging with the Israelis, Moshe Kahlon met with PA PM Rami Palestinians and key regional leaders over the Hamdallah for the 2d time in 6 mos., reportedly past few months to help reach an enduring followingU.S.pressuretomakeprogresson peace deal,” Greenblatt said (11/11). “We are measures that could strengthen the Palestinian not going to put an artificial timeline on the economy. The meeting resulted in no new development or presentation of any specific agreements, but the 2 men made “important ideas and will also never impose a deal.”

108 || Journal of Palestine Studies Update on Conflict and Diplomacy

SETTLEMENT GROWTH IN THE TRUMP ERA evidence of continued Israeli efforts to augment With the Palestinians demanding that the Palestinian displacement, expropriating ever U.S.takeafirmerpositiononIsraelisettlement more Palestinian land and dividing the West growth and Trump steadfastly refusing to do Bank in such a way as to make a contiguous so, the most contentious debates this quarter Palestinian state a physical impossibility. took place within the ranks of the Israeli govt. On (10/2), Netanyahu spoke at a Party ’ — They played out similarly to other conversations meeting in Ma ale Adumim a major settlement in the that had become even more under the ambit of the aforementioned Greater heated ever since Trump assumed office in Jerusalem bill calling for the de facto annexation 1/2017. Netanyahu, wary of a notoriously of several West Bank settlements. The PM openly “ mercurial Trump blaming him for any possible supported the proposed legislation, saying, This ” breakdown in the peace process, made enough place will forever remain part of Israel. The ’ concessions to his ultranationalist coalition location of Netanyahu sremarkswasimportant ’ partners to maintain power, but not so many because of the ties between Ma ale Adumim and as to draw anything more than tepid criticism the proposed E1 settlement bloc.Together,the from the international community, including two settlements carve out a significant portion the U.S. Yet, in view of trends that transpired of the West Bank, making it more viable for full in both the Knesset and the Jerusalem annexation. The following day (10/3), Netanyahu Municipality during this quarter, it is evident indicated that he would move ahead with that Netanyahu and his far-right coalition construction of Givat Hamatos between Gilo govt. were intent on sealing Jerusalem off from and Har Homa, effectively cutting off Bethlehem the rest of the West Bank, further enclosing from Jerusalem. Strategically, Givat Hamatos Palestinians in isolated bantustans. While there has far-reaching implications, according to “ was much settlement news this quarter, five Terrestrial Jerusalem. Givat Hamatos is a specific settlement-related developments game-changer, if not a game-ender. It is not as stood out for their magnitude and implications. devastating as E1 in dismembering the West The first concerned the imminent issuance Bank, but it is equally or more devastating than of tenders for the new settlement of Givat E1 in its impact on a political division of the city,” Hamatos, which, once built, would create an Peace Now wrote in 2012 when construction impassable barrier between Bethlehem and plans were first approved. The Israeli settlement Jerusalem, effectively dividing the West Bank. watch NGO described the latest move as follows: Next, two settlement projects were announced, The preparation for a tender in Givat one establishing a strong Jewish presence Hamatos, together with Netanyahu’s state- inside the Palestinian neighborhood of Jabal ments last week regarding the construction Mukabir in East Jerusalem and the other in the of thousands of housing units in Ma’ale city of Hebron. And, lastly, the Knesset debated Adumim with heavy hints towards E1, are two pieces of legislation that would forever all a part of the govt.’s effort to create a de change the demographic makeup of Jerusalem, facto annexation and prevent the possibili- in contravention of international law, including ty for two states on the ground. Netanyahu Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. is taking far-reaching steps, which he has The five developments constituted further thus far avoided, and by doing so he risks

Winter 2018 || 109 Update on Conflict and Diplomacy

the two-state solution and the future of The above-referenced plans to transfer Israel (Peace Now, 10/16). Israeli Jews into settlements inside Palestinian neighborhoods in Hebron and East Jerusalem Although the original plans for Givat would not only greatly disrupt Palestinians’ Hamatos had been approved in 2014, they freedom of movement but irreversibly fracture were shelved under pressure from the admin. the contiguity necessary for a Palestinian state. of then U.S. pres. Obama, but the policy chaos On 10/25, the Jerusalem Municipality and and pro-settlement stance of the incoming District Council issued (10/25) building Trump admin. only emboldened the permits for 176 new residences in Nof Zion, a Netanyahu govt. settlement inside the Palestinian neighborhood ’ Under pressure from Israel s pro-settlement of Jabal Mukabir. “This is not a matter of real politicians who had been discussing annexation estate but a matter of politics and sovereignty, — as recently as 1/2017 (see JPS 46 [3]) and as the Israelis moving to homes inside ’ — with Netanyahu sblessing the Knesset planned Palestinian neighborhoods are motivated solely to vote on the Greater Jerusalem bill on 10/29. by ideology, and are trying to prevent a future Four days after informing the Knesset that the compromise in Jerusalem,” Peace Now wrote vote on the bill would go ahead, Netanyahu on 9/6/2017. Likewise, the Civil Admin.’s “ requested a delay. The current version of the . . . Licensing Subcomm. on 10/16 approved bill invites international pressure and involves 31 building permits for new housing units in c. difficult legal issues,” explained (10/29) a senior Hebron on Shuhada Street, once the main mbr. of the ruling coalition, adding that thoroughfare through the Old City. For years, Netanyahu could “not allow himself to advance the Israeli military has prohibited Palestinians this version at this time.” During a cabinet from using or crossing Shuhada Street because meeting that evening, the PM indicated that the of nearby settlements. The new construction Trump admin. had intervened. “The Americans will be the first development in Hebron in turned to us and inquired what the bill was 15 years and the first within the city itself. about. As we have been coordinating with them The announcement came a few weeks after until now, it is worth talking and coordinating Israeli DM announced with them,” hesaid.Later,aseniorU.S.official the creation of a new Israeli municipal center commented (10/29), “It’sfairtosaythatthe for settlers in Hebron, a move that will U.S. is discouraging actions that it believes will further disenfranchise Palestinians there. unduly distract the principals from focusing “The settlement in Hebron represents the on the advancement of peace negotiations. occupation in its most ugly [form]. In order The [Greater Jerusalem bill] was considered by to protect a small group of settlers, tens of the admin. to be one of those actions.” thousands of Palestinians had been forced to The Knesset’s second proposed bill called move from their homes, and roads and shops for excising from Jerusalem Palestinian ha[ve] been closed. The permits approved neighborhoods such as Kafr ‘Aqab, and the today would increase the number of settlers Shu‘fat r.c., which are inside the city’s in Hebron by 20%. . . . While doing everything boundaries but on the West Bank side of the in his power to please a small group of settlers, separation wall. At least 100,000 Palestinian Netanyahuis...crushingbasicvaluesof Jerusalemites live in these areas. human rights and dignity,” Peace Now wrote

110 || Journal of Palestine Studies Update on Conflict and Diplomacy in a statement (10/16). Netanyahu had made allies in the govt. In a closed-door meeting with clear his intention to fast-forward settlement Netanyahu on 9/26, they told the PM that he plans early on, and received little or no was not meeting their expectations, “especially pushback from the Trump admin. until the after the change in the [U.S.] admin.,” one of the Greater Jerusalem bill came up for a vote. participants said. He also reported Netanyahu In late 8/2017, after mos. of pressure from as promising that the High Planning Comm. far-right religious nationalists in his coalition, would approve thousands of new settler homes at an event commemorating the 50th anniversary at its next meeting and that he had managed of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, to convince the Trump admin. to drop its Netanyahu proclaimed (8/28), “We are here to distinction between the so-called settlement stay, forever. There will be no more uprooting blocs, which were seen as possible targets for of settlements in the land of Israel. It has been land swaps under any final agreement with the proven that it does not help peace. We’ve Palestinians, and more isolated settlements. It uprooted settlements. What did we get? We is worth noting that Yesha Council leaders had received missiles. It will not happen anymore.” met with Greenblatt, in the spring. The meeting, A senior U.S. official responded (8/29) by the first official encounter between settlers and saying that Netanyahu’s pledge would not the representatives of any U.S. pres., raised derail Trump’s peace initiative. “It is no secret concerns among the international community what each side’spositionisonthisissue,” the about the continued perception of the U.S. as official said. “Our focus is on continuing our an “honest broker” in peace negotiations. conversations with both parties and regional When the High Planning Comm. finally leaders to work toward facilitating a deal that published (10/10) its agenda, which included factors in all substantive issues.” The Trump plans to advance 3,800 new settler residences, admin. likewise proffered no criticism when Haaretz reported that the number of housing the Israeli cabinet approved (9/3) a budget for units was greatly inflated. Knesset mbr. (MK) Amichai, the new settlement due to replace Bezalel Smotrich (Jewish Home) and the illegal Amona outpost (see JPS 46 [3, 4]), Regional Council head Yossi Dagan dismissed which was forcibly evacuated months earlier. (10/11) the agenda as “spin,” and the Yesha The new budget, allotting NIS 55 m. (approx. Council released a statement expressing $15.3 m.) to the project, allowed construction disappointment: “We are aware of the pressures to resume 2 mos. after it was suspended due to being exerted on the PM, but nevertheless, as a shortfall in funds. settlement leaders it is our obligation to state Notwithstanding the PM’s aggressive the facts accurately.” statements, the pro-settlement factions within On 10/24, Dagan set up a protest tent outside the coalition govt. remained unsatisfied. In the PM’s residence in Jerusalem, and after 9/2017 and 10/2017, simmering tensions meeting with him and a group of settler leaders escalated after Netanyahu postponed a scheduled the following day, Netanyahu promised (10/25) meeting of the Civil Admin.’s High Planning investments of NIS 800 m. (approx. $228 m.) Comm. to accommodate Trump’smeetings in road construction and other infrastructure with various heads of Middle East states at the development in the West Bank, starting in 2018. UNGA (Haaretz,9/24).Thedelayenragedthe The reaction was mixed: Yesha Council head settler umbrella group Yesha Council and its Avi Roeh said it was a “significant message” to

Winter 2018 || 111 Update on Conflict and Diplomacy the settler community; others, including Dagan, part, said that Yesha Council would not be were dubious. “We are fed up with promises participating because he believed Netanyahu and spin,” Dagan said, returning to his tent. would honor his pledge. On 10/29, with the Greater Jerusalem bill on Also of note: Israeli settlement debates were hold, Dagan escalated his protest. On 11/4, he not restricted to the Far Right. On 10/16, the and his allies announced that they would be leader of Israel’s Labor Party, Avi Gabbay, said going on hunger strike until Netanyahu upheld that settlements would not necessarily need to his promise of NIS 800 m. for settlement be evacuated under a final peace agreement infrastructure. “It should not have come to this,” with the Palestinians, breaking from his party’s Dagan said. “Mr.PM,dotherightthing....Give traditional stance on the issue. Gabbay “made a real source of funding for the paving of the a deliberate decision to take the risk that his bypass roads and the means of security.” base would flee in order to wink at centrist and According to an 11/5 report in the Times of soft-right voters,” according to one source close to Israel,Netanyahu’seffortstoappeasethesettlers the Labor leader (Haaretz,10/16).Alongthose succeeded in deflating the Dagan protest effort. lines, there was some speculation in the Israeli Only 2 of the 24 local and regional council chairs press that Gabbay was attempting to woo former representing settlements in the West Bank had DM Moshe Ya’alon to defect from Likud. No joined Dagan in his tent by 11/5. Roeh, for his high-ranking Labor officials challenged Gabbay

A Palestinian child observes Israeli soldiers as they check vehicles at the entrance of Kafr Qaddum on 3 November 2017. Villagers there had been protesting further expropriation of their land by Israeli settlers from the settlement of Kedumim. The soldiers also prevented journalists from crossing the checkpoint, thereby prohibiting their access to the protests. (Jaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP/Getty Images)

112 || Journal of Palestine Studies Update on Conflict and Diplomacy on the record, but several expressed reservations one priority over the other” (Haaretz, 11/9). about his comments in private. Although the new draft was still controversial, primarily due to lingering discrimination PERSECUTING ISRAEL’S PALESTINIAN concerns, it was widely expected to pass its MINORITY AND OTHER OPPONENTS first reading on 12/12. As they squabbled over settlement growth, Also in the Knesset, the Ministerial Netanyahu and his right-wing govt. advanced Comm. for Legislation approved (11/5) an their years-long campaign to consolidate power, amendment to the so-called anti-boycott law, with a renewed push to pass the so-called nation- which passed in 7/2011 and allowed any state bill and efforts to undermine opposition to it. Israeli to sue activists calling for boycott As with the Greater Jerusalem bill (see above), campaigns against Israel or its settlements. right-wing MKs had been debating competing A version of the amendment had passed as drafts of the nation-state bill for years. Each a provision of the 2011 law, but the High one held to the same basic idea that Israel’s Court of Justice struck it down in 2015 role as the nation-state of the Jewish people because of concerns that there was no limit should be codified in the country’s Basic Law, on compensatory damages from lawsuits which serves as a de facto constitution since that did not demonstrate actual harm. Under Israel lacks one. In 5/2017, the Knesset approved the new proposal, judgements against those a preliminary amendment in one draft of the who repeatedly call for boycotts would be bill, canceling the status of Arabic as an capped at NIS 100,000 (approx. $28,000), “official language.” Members also excluded a while the maximum financial judgement controversial provision from previous drafts against people who organize systematic that would have required “that courts rule ‘in boycotts would be held at NIS 500,000 light of the principles of Jewish law’ in the (approx. $143,000). absence of clear legislation or legal precedent” Outside the Knesset, Netanyahu and his (Haaretz, 10/31). There were concerns that right-wing allies continued cracking down the bill did not contain the word “democracy,” on activists, journalists, and politicians who amid fears that Jewish religious law could replace opposed their treatment of the Palestinians. a democratic judiciary as well as discriminate On 8/16, Israel’s Govt. Press Office (GPO) against minority populations, most notably revoked the credentials of an Al Jazeera Palestinians. Throughout the summer, the reporter for allegedly acting as an “active Knesset debated various amendments and partner in Palestinian resistance.” The reporter, competing drafts. MKs from the ruling coalition a Palestinian citizen of Israel called Elias insisted upon focusing solely on the “Jewish Karram, had said in a 2016 interview that character” of the state, while left-wing and “journalistic work is an integral part of the non-Zionist parties argued that doing so would resistance.” After Karram publicly disavowed unjustly discriminate against Palestinian citizens terrorism, the GPO reversed (8/30) its decision. of Israel. By the end of the quarter, the govt. “In the months to come, the GPO will keep coalition drafting the bill conceded and amended track of the network’s reports in Israel, in wording so that “all legislation in Israel will be Arabic and in English, and will not hesitate to interpreted according to both democratic values reach the necessary conclusions after consulting and the country’sJewishnature—without giving with legal and security officials,” GPO dir.

Winter 2018 || 113 Update on Conflict and Diplomacy

Nitzan Chen said at Karram’s 8/30 hearing for boycotts, the announcement marked a new, (Haaretz, 8/30). expanded interpretation of Israel’s anti-boycott On 9/12, the Israeli press reported that the laws. According to a document produced by a Israeli govt. was planning to cancel the special senior official in the Strategic Affairs Ministry, tax status of Amnesty International (AI) in “The issue of prisoner visits was not the response to its summer campaign, titled “Israel’s responsibility of the Strategic Affair Ministry. Occupation: 50 Years of Dispossession.” Had Still, the issue of Palestinian prisoners and the govt. persevered, the measure would have efforts to delegitimize Israel are intertwined. marked a rare implementation of the 2011 The ministry’spositionistonotallowany anti-boycott law. In response, AI released (9/12) delegation mbr. to visit Marwan Barghouti, as a statement condemning the reported plans: a visit is liable to give him a tailwind.” “While we have not been officially informed of any such action by the authorities, if true, this HAMAS CRACKS DOWN ON ISLAMIST would be a serious setback to freedom of GROUPS expression and an ominous sign for the ability Hamas’s agreement with the Egyptian govt. of human rights–focused nongovernmental last quarter to increase security along Gaza’s organizations in Israel to operate freely and border with Sinai led to renewed violence without arbitrary interference.” between Hamas and the various small Islamist Although authorities abandoned plans to groups in Gaza in 8–10/2017, which in turn revoke AI’s tax status, Israeli authorities did produced multiple exchanges of cross-border deny Raed Jarrar, the Amnesty International violence with Israel. Tensions between Hamas USA advocacy dir. for the Middle East and and these groups had broken out into similar North Africa, entry into Israel on 10/30. An intermittent episodes in recent years (see JPS 45 Israeli spokesperson later confirmed that Public [1]), with the Islamists both directly attacking Security and Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Hamas personnel and baiting the IDF into Erdan, who was leading Israel’seffortsto attacking Hamas with rocket fire. This quarter counter the growing BDS movement, had was no different, and it threatened to requested Jarrar’s denial. Jarrar was reportedly undermine both Hamas’s rapprochement with attempting to visit his family in Israel after the Cairo and the 10/12 Palestinian national death of his father. reconciliation deal. Finally, the population, immigration, and The violence began on 8/17. Hamas forces border authority office of Israel’s interior were responding to a report of militants minister announced (11/13) plans to deny entry infiltrating Gaza from Sinai when they to 7 of the 20 mbrs. of a European delegation encountered 2 men carrying light arms at the set to arrive in Israel the following week because mouth of a small tunnel. As the Hamas troops of their support for BDS. Erdan explained approached, 1 of the men detonated a bomb (11/13), “We will not permit entry to those belt, killing himself and 1 of the Hamas fighters, who actively call to harm the State of Israel, and injuring 5 others. The assailant was later especially in light of their request to meet and identified as a supporter of the Islamic State offer support to the arch-terrorist [and in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The day after the attack, imprisoned Fatah leader] Marwan Barghouti.” Hamas shut down the offices of the Islamic By conflating support for Barghouti with calls State of Gaza and the Army of Islam, and

114 || Journal of Palestine Studies Update on Conflict and Diplomacy arrested dozens of their mbrs. in raids attempt. His jeep exploded as he was leaving throughout Rafah and Khan Yunis. The Friday prayer at the Abu al-Hassan Mosque in crackdown continued into 10/2017, with c. Gaza. Hamas officials initially blamed Israel Hamas announcing (10/7) the arrests of several for the attack, but later said they suspected local Islamist leaders in an overnight raid in Rafah, Islamists. The next day, Abu Naim alleged that possibly related to continuing reconciliation it was a politically motivated attempt to talks in Cairo, some analysts said. Then on undermine the reconciliation process. “The Sunday (10/8), militants, thought to be possibly objectives of those who committed this ISIS sympathizers retaliating for the arrests, despicable act will not be achieved,” he said, fired a rocket toward Israel, which landed in an affirming that Hamas was still on track to open area short of the border fence. Though meet its 11/1 deadline to hand over control of there were no casualties, an IDF tank targeted Gaza’s border crossings to the PA (see (10/8) a Hamas observation post e. of al- “Intra-Palestinian Dynamics” below). Maghazi and Israeli artillery shelled a site nr. Gaza City. (Neither attack led to any serious injuries.) OCCUPATION DATA AND TRENDS A few days after the rocket attack, Sinai After the flare-up of violence surrounding Province of the Islamic State (SPIS) fighters new Israeli security measures at Haram launched (10/15) 2 rockets from n. Sinai into al-Sharif last quarter, Israeli-Palestinian Israel. These also landed in open areas, violence returned to pre-crisis levels. As a result, causing no damage or injuries. The rockets’ targets remained unclear as it could not be the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli ascertained if Israel alone, Israel and Hamas, actions this quarter fell to 21, down from 38. or Egyptian security forces had been the The number of Israelis killed by Palestinian intended target. The attack followed a day of actions was 4, down from 6 last quarter. violence in al-Arish, Rafah, and Shaykh Therefore, the comprehensive death toll since Zuwayd, in which Egyptian forces killed at the beginning of the in 9/2000 least 24 armed fighters after SPIS mbrs. reached 10,978 Palestinians (including 64 assaulted an Egyptian soldier at a vacant Palestinian citizens of Israel and 19 cross-border “ ” church in al-Arish (see Chronology). infiltrators ); 1,270 Israelis (including at least Regardless, the Egyptian authorities decided 250 settlers and 440 IDF soldiers and other (10/15) to cancel a planned opening of the security personnel); and 73 foreign nationals Rafah border crossing on 10/16. (The promise (including 2 British suicide bombers). These of more frequent openings of the crossing numbers include individuals who died in was among Hamas’s key victories in its noncombat-related incidents if their death was agreement with the Egyptian govt. last adirectresultofIsrael’s occupation or the quarter.) ongoing conflict (e.g., ailing Palestinians who The violence in Gaza continued through the died because they were denied access to end of the quarter, with no further spillover into medical care, and Palestinians killed in Israel or Egypt. On 10/27, Dep. Minister of smuggling tunnel accidents). They do not Interior and Internal Security Tawfiq Abu Naim include the Palestinian killed in the Swedish was slightly injured in an alleged assassination town of Limmared on 8/20, despite the

Winter 2018 || 115 Update on Conflict and Diplomacy accusation made by various Palestinians that detonated a tunnel leading from Khan Yunis Israel’s Mossad agency was responsible. Also into Israeli territory on 10/30 (see “Prisoner excluded is the Palestinian killed in a firefight Swap” and Chronology). The number of with PASF troops on 9/13 (see Chronology). Gazans injured because of Israeli actions this quarter decreased substantially. According to Overview of the Violence OCHA, 52 Palestinians were injured between The number of Palestinians killed because 8/15 and 11/6 (down from 162). of Israeli actions in the West Bank and East The IDF strictly enforced the unilaterally Jerusalem decreased significantly this quarter. defined buffer zone, or so-called Access Although tensions across the oPt over Restricted Areas, along Israel’s border with longstanding issues like settlements and Gaza, as in previous quarters. Israeli troops demolitions of Palestinian property remained violently dispersed Palestinian protesters high, there were fewer protests, clashes, and gathering along the border fence on 9 different individual or so-called random attacks. Overall, occasions (down from 16 last quarter); shot only 5 Palestinians were killed in this context at Palestinian shepherds, farmers, and bird (down from 29 last quarter): 2 died (on 8/26, hunters on 2 occasions (8/18 and 10/10); and a car driven by Israeli settlers ran over 8-year- fired on Palestinian land or other property old Aseel Abu Oun, who died from her injuries 12 times (9/9, 9/16, 9/17, 10/13, 10/15, 10/22, on 8/27, and on 10/31, Israeli soldiers fired into 10/25, 11/2, 11/6 [2], 11/9, and 11/13). Israeli a car near a checkpoint, killing the driver); forces also conducted 11 limited incursions to 1 succumbed (9/3) to injuries sustained in level land and “clear sightlines” into Gaza (8/21, clashes with the IDF on 8/9; 1 was killed (8/19) 8/28, 9/5, 9/11, 9/12, 9/24, 10/10, 10/16, 10/24, after allegedly attempting to stab Israeli border 10/27, and 11/5), and arrested 9 Palestinians security guards; and 1 was killed (9/26) after attempting to cross into Israel (8/16 [2], 8/19, shooting and killing 3 Israeli security forces. 9/16 [2], 10/10 [2], and 10/14 [2]). There were far fewer Palestinian injuries as Also of note: Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai, the well. According to the UN Office for the IDF’s Coordinator of Govt. Activities in the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Territories (COGAT), said (10/11) that Hamas (OCHA), 275 Palestinians were injured between fighters had started using lasers to blind IDF 8/15 and 11/6 (down from 1,794 last quarter). troops operating along the border in recent Apart from the 1 major incident of cross- weeks. “The continuation of the provocative border violence, the number of Palestinians blinding operations . . . could lead to an killed in the Gaza Strip because of Israeli escalation at a sensitive moment for actions was comparable to totals in recent developments in the Palestinian theater,” he quarters. Overall, 16 Palestinians were killed in said. “You’ve been warned.” this context; 2 Hamas fighters died during a Although the Israeli authorities again decided tunnel collapse on 9/15; 1 Hamas fighter died to temporarily expand (10/18) the fishing zone in an unspecified “training accident” on 9/19; 1 off Gaza’ss.coast(see“Movement and Access” Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) fighter died in below), Israeli naval forces violently harassed an “accident” during an unspecified mission Gazan fishermen throughout the quarter. They on 8/28; and the remaining 12 were all Hamas opened fire on or otherwise confronted the and PIJ fighters killed when Israeli forces fishermen on at least 62 separate occasions,

116 || Journal of Palestine Studies Update on Conflict and Diplomacy up from 52 last quarter. Over the course of exit-permit applications from 24 working days, these incidents, 1 Palestinian was slightly injured COGAT put the new rules in place in 10/2017. (11/8), 8 were arrested (9/18 [2], 10/15 [4], and The maximum processing time was set at 11/6 [2]), and 4 boats were confiscated (9/18, 23 working days for non-urgent medical care 10/15 [2], and 11/6). In a related incident, Israeli cases; 50 days for applications to visit sick naval forces shot and injured a Palestinian sailing relatives or attend weddings, work meetings, off the coast on 10/19. or conferences in the West Bank or Israel; and 70 days for other commercial trips to Israel and Movement and Access higher education abroad. It’s important to The Israeli authorities again changed their note that these new maximums had no impact procedures for processing applications by on the results of individual applications. They Palestinians trying to exit the Gaza Strip this went into effect as the Liaison Office was dealing quarter, imposing yet another hurdle for with a massive backlog of permit applications— merchants conducting their business, students approximately 16,466, according to COGAT pursuing education opportunities abroad, and (9/6). “The situation assessment among the those in need of specialized medical care not relevant security agencies requires adjusting the availableathome,amongothers(seefigure1). security check process in accordance with Just 5 mos. after Israel’s Liaison Office informed developing threats,” a COGAT spokesperson the authorities in Gaza that they were planning explained (9/6). “In recent months, we have to extend the expected processing time for engaged in staff work together with the relevant

16,000

14,000

12,000

10,000

8,000

6,000

4,000 Palestinians exiting Gaza

2,000

0

4/20165/20166/20167/20168/20169/2016 1/20172/20173/20174/20175/20176/20177/20178/20179/2017 10/201611/201612/2016 Date

source: Gisha - Legal Center for Freedom of Movement reports and data. See Gisha, “Exits of Palestinians to Israel and the West Bank via Erez Crossing,” 17 November 2017, http://gisha.org/graph/2392.

Figure 1. Palestinians exiting Gaza via the Erez border crossing. Since April 2016, the number of Palestinians (merchants, medical patients, and others) able to exit Gaza via Erez, the principle means of departing Gaza apart from the frequently closed Rafah border crossing, has steadily decreased.

Winter 2018 || 117 Update on Conflict and Diplomacy security agencies, and as part of this work, we operations in the West Bank between 8/15 and set a timetable for completing the processing 11/6, or almost 10 raids per day. There were of applications to enter Israel in a way that fewer alleged stabbings, vehicular assaults, and permits a professional examination process.” other attacks this quarter, but the IDF cracked Palestinians in Gaza also had infrequent down on each one disproportionally, to the opportunities to leave via the Rafah border degree that was common at the height of the crossing with Egypt. The Egyptian authorities habba, the surge of Palestinian resistance, opened the crossing in both directions on only random attacks, and protests that began in 3 days (8/16–17 and 8/28), up 1 from last Jerusalem in 9/2015 (see JPS 45 [2, 3]). After a quarter. On 6 other days, they opened the Palestinian shot and killed 3 Israeli security crossing partially to allow Muslim pilgrims guards outside the Har Adar settlement nr. returning from Mecca to enter. Overall, 6,535 Jerusalem on 9/26, the IDF imposed (9/26) a Palestinians were able to enter Gaza and 5,203 lockdown on Bayt Surik, the attacker’s were able to leave. hometown. Over the following 2 days, Israeli It’s also worth noting that the 10/12 intra- soldiers arrested tens of Palestinians, Palestinian reconciliation deal had little effect confiscated dozens of cars, and issued stop- on Egypt’s administration of the Rafah crossing. work orders to various construction sites in The day after Hamas formally relinquished the village. They also imposed a general control of the crossing, the PA announced closure on 8 other Jerusalem-area villages (11/2) that the Egyptian authorities would open (9/26–10/1). it permanently, starting on 11/15, but that did As in previous quarters, the Israeli not happen. “We don’t have any information authorities imposed additional restrictions about when the Rafah border [crossing] will on Palestinian movement during Jewish reopen again,” said the PA’sdir.ofborder holidays. They suspended border crossings crossings, Nazmi Muhanna, at the quarter’s in and out of the West Bank and Gaza for close (AFP, 11/15). Rosh Hashanah (9/19–23), suspended As mentioned above (see “Overview of the crossings and barred Palestinian laborers Violence”), COGAT announced (10/15) that, from entering Israeli settlement on Yom starting on 10/18, the fishing zone off Gaza’ss. Kippur (9/29–30), and suspended crossings coast would be expanded from 6 naut. mi. to again around Sukkot (10/4–11). DM 9 naut. mi. for a period of 6 weeks. A similar, Lieberman pointed (10/1) to the Har Adar temporary expansion in 5/2017 reportedly incident on 9/26 to justify the exceptionally allowed Gaza’s fishermen to increase their long closure for Yom Kippur. Later, collective revenues by more than NIS 500,000 Lieberman and IDF Chief of Staff Gadi (approx. $175,000), and comparable increases Eisenkot decided (10/5) to downgrade the were expected by the end of 11/2017. 11-day closure and allow West Bank The IDF’s near-daily raids, house searches, Palestinians “employed in required sectors and mobile checkpoints again served as the of the economy” to enter Israel. principal obstructions to Palestinian movement and access in the West Bank and East Gaza Electricity Crisis Jerusalem this quarter. According to OCHA, The crippling power shortages plaguing Gaza the IDF conducted 893 search and arrest since its sole power plant was forced out of

118 || Journal of Palestine Studies Update on Conflict and Diplomacy commission in 4/2017 continued throughout the amount of electricity supplied to Gaza by the quarter. As a result, Gaza’s approximately 40% (see JPS 46 [4] and 47 [1]). Through the 2 m. residents were forced to get by on 4–6 end of the quarter, however, there were no hours of electricity per day and suffered reports of any increases to the supply of deteriorating basic services, such as access to electricity to Gaza. potable water (see figure 2). The Palestinian national reconciliation International humanitarian aid helped process offered the greatest hope for relief. improve the situation marginally in 9/2017, The day before Hamas and Fatah officials but relief efforts from Israeli and Palestinian announced that they had signed a national authorities were scant. According to a Times of reconciliation deal (see “Intra-Palestinian Israel report on 9/14, COGAT Mordechai sent a Dynamics” below), the acting dir. of the letter to PA minister of civil affairs Hussein Palestinian Energy Authority (PEA), Zafer al-Sheikh informing him that Israeli authorities Milhem, said (10/11) that the PEA had would begin deducting money from monthly already created a plan to ease the crisis, tax revenue transfers to the PA in order to fund which would be implemented once the PA increased electricity supply to Gaza. The move took control of Gaza. Specifically, he indicated was explicitly intended to alleviate the that Gaza was operating with only 147 of humanitarian crisis and reverse, at least in part, the 400–500 MW of power it needed, and the Israeli authorities’ earlier decision to that the PEA’s plan would increase the acquiesce to the PA’s 4/27 request to decrease supply to between 200 and 230 MW quickly.

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30 Liters per capita day 20

10

0 1/2017 2/2017 3/2017 4/2017 5/2017 6/2017 7/2017 8/2017 9/2017 Date

source: OCHA’s Humanitarian Bulletin - 10/2017. See UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), “The Humanitarian Bulletin,” 17 November 2017, https://www.ochaopt.org/reports/humanitarian-bulletin.

Figure 2. Gaza water supply for domestic consumption. The water Palestinians in Gaza consume at home comes primarily from municipal networks supplied by underground wells. Recent power shortages reduced the water pumped from these wells, causing individuals to have access to far less than the 100 L per capita/day World Health Organization minimum.

Winter 2018 || 119 Update on Conflict and Diplomacy

The strategy reportedly included efforts to of the day. The parents reported that the rehabilitate Gaza’s power grid and reform police presence provoked disturbances and local bill collection systems. More importantly, led to arrests and clashes on 10/16, during it also called for the PA to rescind its 4/27 which 1 Palestinian youth was seriously injured. request, which PA pres. Abbas had used to As a parents’ comm. was set to meet with the pressure Hamas into negotiating the city’s Education Office reps. and the police on reconciliation deal in the first place. Although 10/18, Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat canceled unresolved issues threatened to undermine the meeting at the last minute. “Agroupof that deal as the quarter ended, it was widely parents from the neighborhood chose to assumed that the PA intended to implement the declare a general strike in the schools, and PEA plan and bring relief to Gaza. instead of instructing their children to refrain from violence the parents decided to inflame Judaization of Jerusalem passions,” a statement from Barkat’s office Following the Palestinians’ victory on the read. “This extreme group, which was never issue of Haram al-Sharif, resulting from peaceful elected to represent the neighborhood parents, protests that made the Israeli authorities remove decided to impose the strike on the parents newly installed checkpoints and cameras at the and enforce it through intimidation and sanctuary, new Israeli efforts to dominate East threats.” Included in the statement was a Jerusalem and the Old City kept tensions high. warning from the Jerusalem police commander On 8/29, Israeli authorities temporarily lifted saying, “The police won’t speak to the strike the ban on MKs and ministers visiting Haram leaders until there is quiet in the neighborhood al-Sharif. PM Netanyahu had imposed the ban and the repeated stone-throwing stops.” Over in 10/2015 to de-escalate growing unrest across the next week, the police cracked down on the oPt. The PM agreed to a 1-day exception the neighborhood, arresting at least following mos. of pressure from leader of the 50 residents, including 23 youths (see messianic Temple Mount movement, Orthodox Chronology). rabbi and Likud MK Yehuda Glick, as well as Also of note: Israel’s High Court of Justice other ultranationalist leaders. On 8/29, Glick ruled (9/13) against the Israeli authorities in and fellow MK Shuli Moalem-Refaeli (Jewish a 10-year-old case over their attempt to revoke Home) were the only previously banned Israeli the residency status of 4 East Jerusalem officials to visit the sanctuary. A small group of Palestinians elected to the Palestinian activists protested their tour, but it proceeded Legislative Council (PLC) on a Hamas-affiliated without incident. slate in 2006. The 4 men were expelled from The constant presence of Israeli forces in Jerusalem in 2011, following years of protests Palestinian neighborhoods led to another and demonstrations against a reported controversy later in the quarter. In mid- ultimatum from the Israeli authorities: either 10/2017, the parents of approximately 4,300 resign from the PLC or give up residency Palestinian students in Issawiyya kept their status. While the court rejected the expulsions, children home from school in protest at the it put a 6-mo. stay on reversing them, allowing Israeli police’s practice of patrolling the Israel’s Ministry of Interior to push for a new neighborhood every afternoon just as children law that would retroactively justify the made their way home from school at the end deportations.

120 || Journal of Palestine Studies Update on Conflict and Diplomacy

Palestinian Prisoners of the 2 IDF soldiers allegedly being held in In the wake of the Dignity Strike, the mass Gaza, Israeli and Hamas officials resumed prisoner hunger strike last quarter, the number their intermittent indirect talks on a possible of Palestinians being held in Israeli prisons prisoner swap this quarter. However, personnel remained relatively stable. According to changes on the Israeli side and the ongoing Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Palestinian reconciliation process complicated the affair, and there was no apparent progress Rights Association, there were 6,200 made by the end of the quarter. Palestinians in Israeli prisons in 5/2017, when The Israeli official tasked with leading the the hunger strike ended, and 6,198 in 11/2017. indirect talks, Lior Lotan, resigned after 3 years The number of Palestinian administrative in the role on 8/24. Sources familiar with detainees declined slightly over the same period, Lotan’s work said (8/24) that he quit because his from 490 in 5/2017 to 463 in 11/2017. most recent initiative hit a dead end and Meanwhile, fallout from the strike continued. because Netanyahu gave his office too little On 9/4, Fadwa Barghouti, wife of imprisoned leeway (see JPS 47 [1]). His resignation sparked Fatah leader and strike organizer Marwan a fresh wave of criticism from the family of Barghouti, said she had been denied entry Hadar Goldin, 1 of the 2 IDF soldiers killed permits to visit her husband until 2019. A during the Israeli assault on Gaza in the spokesperson for the Israel Prison Service summer of 2014. “Following Lior’s resignation, then confirmed (9/4) that she was barred for we feel we have been abandoned by the govt.,” “security reasons” in connection with the strike. the family said (8/24), in a statement. In Later, Haaretz reported (9/10) that the PA response, Lieberman reaffirmed (8/27) the had suspended its funding for the Palestinian govt.’s desire to bring Goldin’s remains home. Prisoners Club (PPC), an NGO that advocates “Nevertheless, we must not repeat the mistake on behalf of Palestinians in Israeli prisons. PPC of the Shalit deal,” he said, referring to the sources said that the decision had resulted from 2011 prisoner swap that exchanged 1,027 pressure by both Israel and the U.S. over the Palestinian prisoners for IDF soldier Gilad ’ ’ PA s support for the prisoners and the PPC s Shalit, captured in Gaza in 2006 (see JPS 41 [2]). support for the strike. While the PPC receives An 8/28 report on Israel’sArmyRadio small donations and support from other illuminated the internal Israeli conflict over a institutions as well as the PA, the loss of PA possible prisoner swap. The report featured support led to speculation that the organization recordings of Lotan, allegedly made mos. would disband. The PPC insisted (9/13) that earlier: “I want [to play with] a full hand on it had no plans to do so; however, further the issue of prisoners,” Lotan could be heard reports showed that there was a power struggle saying. “If we have 1 captured [soldier], [the taking place within the organization, and its war] needs to end with 200 to 1. If it’s2 future was far from certain. [captured soldiers] then 400 to 2, if 3 then 600.” His comments were widely interpreted as an Prisoner Swap argument for the IDF to adopt a policy of With the Israeli govt. under increasing kidnapping Hamas fighters as bargaining chips, pressure from its constituents to secure the but it was unclear at the time if his superiors return of the 2 Israeli civilians and the remains found the argument persuasive.

Winter 2018 || 121 Update on Conflict and Diplomacy

After a few more weeks of rumors, sabotage efforts to restore Palestinian unity,” speculation, and some confirmed reports of and the Egyptian govt. mobilized its ongoing talks, al-Quds reported (9/14) that to prevent an escalation, according to a senior Egyptian mediators had presented a new Hamas official. PIJ mbrs. stated (10/30) they framework for a possible exchange. It would were “weighing their options,” alluding to the reportedly see Israel transferring the bodies of possibility of a counterattack. 39 deceased Palestinians to their families in It took days for the link between the tunnel exchange for definitive information on the operation and the prisoner swap talks to remains of the 2 IDF soldiers and the 2 Israeli materialize. On 11/2, COGAT released a civilians. After that initial exchange, designed to statement, saying, “Israel will not allow search be a confidence-building measure, the operations in the area of the security barrier framework reportedly stipulated that Israel in the Gaza Strip without progress on the would free 54 Hamas-affiliated prisoners who issue of Israelis kidnapped and MIAs.” Hamas had been rearrested after being freed in the had reportedly appealed to the International Shalit deal, and Egyptian intelligence officers Comm. of the Red Cross (ICRC) to pressure would mediate a new round of talks on a more Israel into allowing recovery efforts, and comprehensive swap. Two weeks after the Mordechai’s statement was in direct response al-Quds report, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, to an ICRC request. PIJ (11/2) and Hamas Yahya Sinwar, said (9/28) that Hamas agreed to (11/3) both rejected Mordechai’sposition, the new Egyptian framework. “The ball is now stating that they considered the 5 Palestinians in Israel’scourt,” he was reported as saying. missing after the tunnel explosion to be dead. Deflecting, the Israelis adopted a new An IDF spokesperson then confirmed (11/5) strategy. First, Netanyahu appointed (10/21) that the bodies of the 5 PIJ mbrs. had been Yaron Blum to replace Lotan. Blum, who had recovered. been on the team that negotiated the Shalit deal, The incident significantly escalated tensions was known for the hard-line stance he had surrounding the prisoner swap and neither side taken on the prisoner swap issue, arguing that appeared eager to make concessions as the Israel should offer fewer Palestinian prisoners quarter came to a close. for captured Israelis and that the responsibility for negotiating such swaps should be moved Settler-Related Violence from the PM’s office to the Defense Ministry. Settler-related violence increased slightly Second, in a move that was not immediately this quarter. There were 35 instances of linked to the prisoner swap issue, the IDF staged settlers attacking Palestinians or their (10/30) a “controlled detonation” of an property in the West Bank and East Jerusalem underground tunnel leading from Khan Yunis between 8/15 and 11/6, according to OCHA. into Israeli territory, immediately killing 7 Settlers also harvested and stole the produce Palestinians, all mbrs. of either Hamas or PIJ, from more than 3,000 olive trees. During the and injuring at least 18 more (see Chronology olive harvest season from mid-9/2017 to mid- and “Overview of the Violence” above). In the 11/2017, settlers damaged 5,582 olive trees, immediate aftermath of the operation, which more than triple the 2016 figure of 1,652, took place inside Israeli territory, Hamas the UN agency reported. Between 80,000 accused (10/30) Israel of a “desperate attempt to and 100,000 Palestinian families rely on

122 || Journal of Palestine Studies Update on Conflict and Diplomacy olives for income, an activity described as a wounds in an industrial area nr. Kafr Kassim in “key economic, social and cultural event for c. Israel. Israeli security sources said that the Palestinians,” OCHA said. In addition, man was killed for “nationalistic reasons,” settlers dismantled about 100 m (about and Israeli forces later arrested 2 Palestinians 330 ft.) of irrigation water pipes and threw from Qabatiya village nr. Jenin in connection them in the Jordan River, according to with the killing. OCHA. Ten of these attacks led to Palestinian injuries, Demolitions and Displacement down from 18 last quarter, and the remaining For the first time in a year, Israeli forces 25 resulted in damage to Palestinian property, demolished more Palestinian buildings in the up from 15 (see figure 3 and Chronology). A West Bank and East Jerusalem than they had in settler also ran over and killed 8-year-old Aseel the previous quarter. Between 8/15 and 11/6, Abu Oun near on 10/26 (see “Overview they demolished 69 structures, according to of the Violence” above). Agencies report that OCHA, up from 55 last quarter. This included vehicular targeting of Palestinian children is 55 in the West Bank (up from 29) and 14 in quite common but rarely investigated by Israeli East Jerusalem (down from 26). Two of the authorities. Just before the quarter began, a demolitions were carried out purportedly as settler ran his car into and injured a group of collective punishment: on 8/17, Israeli forces four 6-year-old boys. Also of note: a 70-year-old demolished the Dayr Abu Mash‘al home of Israeli settler was found dead of apparent stab 1 of the Palestinians killed during an alleged

12

10

8

6

4 Number of attacks

2

0

1/24–2/62/7–2/102/21–3/63/7–3/203/21–4/34/4–4/184/19–5/15/2–5/15 6/20–7/37/4–7/17 8/1–8/14 1/10–1/23 5/16–5/295/30–6/126/13–6/19 7/18–7/31 8/15–8/288/29–9/119/12–9/259/26–10/9 10/24–11/6 2017 10/10–10/23 Leading to Palestinian casualties Leading to Palestinian property/land damage

source: OCHA’s biweekly reports from 1/2017 to 11/2017. See UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), “Protection of Civilians,” 17 November 2017, https://www.ochaopt.org/reports/protection-of-civilians.

Figure 3. Israeli settler attacks on Palestinian farmers, drivers, and other civilians, as well as Palestinian property, over time.

Winter 2018 || 123 Update on Conflict and Diplomacy attack in Jerusalem on 6/16; and on 11/15, Abbas’s threat only led to more tension. they destroyed the Bayt Surik home (11/15) of Four days later, several news outlets reported the Palestinian killed after shooting 3 Israeli Hamas released (8/24) a statement accusing security forces on 9/26. Overall, this quarter’s the PA of carrying out politically motivated demolitions resulted in the displacement of 160 arrests of 9 of its mbrs. in the West Bank. In a Palestinians (up from 56 last quarter). separate statement, the PIJ echoed (8/24) Hamas’s claim, arguing that the arrests “signaled” the “PA’s insistence on shutting INTRA-PALESTINIAN DYNAMICS doors” to any reconciliation efforts. The first sign that those doors were still “ ” HISTORIC COMPROMISE open came on 8/26, when PA PM Hamdallah After a year of increasingly acrimonious spoke at an opening ceremony of new wards relations (see JPS 46 [3]–47 [1]), Hamas and at a Palestinian hospital in Hebron. He Fatah signed a major reconciliation agreement announced that the PA would be rehiring the in 10/2017. The deal elided several key issues 6,145 Gaza-based civil servants it had forced (e.g., the role of Hamas’smilitarywing),but into early retirement on 7/4 (see JPS 47 [1]). both parties made significant concessions and Although Hamdallah did not offer any by the end of the quarter, the process justification or reasoning for the PA’sposition, appeared to have the potential to end the the 7/4 decision was framed by PA officials decade-old rift between the govts. in Gaza and as an effort to intensify the pressure on the West Bank. Hamas. The rollback was therefore seen in In the opening weeks of the quarter, tension that context as well. between Hamas and Fatah was escalating. At a Two weeks after Hamdallah’s announcement, meeting with Knesset leaders of the left-wing Hamas took the next step forward. The Meretz party in Ramallah, PA pres. Abbas movement’sleader,IsmailHaniyeh,leda reportedly threatened (8/20) to cut off all delegation of high-ranking officials to Cairo financial support to Gaza, including the funds on 9/9 for talks with Egyptian intelligence used to buy electricity from Israel, unless officials on bilateral relations and the prospects Hamas dismantled the new administrative for Palestinian national reconciliation. In comm. it established at the beginning of the pursuit of a more stable relationship with the year. “We transfer $1.5 b. a year [to Gaza], Palestinians and border security, the Egyptians but after Hamas declared its own govt., we reportedly urged Hamas to make concessions discontinued 25% of our support,” Abbas for the sake of unity, and the Hamas officials, reportedly said (8/20). “We fear that if there hoping to see the blockade on Gaza eased, is no change soon that will gradually reach relented. On 9/11, Haniyeh said Hamas was 100%.” A complete suspension of PA support willing to dismantle its new administrative would have increased the pressure on Hamas, comm. and embark on a new round of and exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in reconciliation talks, without preconditions Gaza, resulting from the 10-year-long siege of (Hamas had previously demanded that Abbas Gaza by Israel and Egypt, and other punitive roll back the measures he had imposed earlier restrictions Abbas imposed earlier in 2017 in the year before sitting down for talks). (see JPS 46 [4] and 47 [1]). A week after Hamas’s announcement, senior

124 || Journal of Palestine Studies Update on Conflict and Diplomacy

Hamas officials met with their counterparts in According to analysts, these conditions were Fatah for 2 days of talks in Cairo. Afterward, designed to block exiled Fatah leader and Hamas leaders released (9/17) another longtime Abbas rival Mohammad Dahlan statement reaffirming their willingness to from reentering Palestinian politics. Dahlan dismantle the administrative comm. and to has lived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) carry on further reconciliation talks, as well as since 2011, amassing great personal wealth their openness to hold a new round of elections. since fleeing Ramallah under charges of The next day, Abbas called Haniyeh and told corruption and allegations he participated in him he was “satisfied with the atmosphere” targeted assassination attempts against Hamas Hamas had created. Abbas then pledged to officials. On 9/13, the New York Times reported follow up on the process after he returned from that Dahlan had secured a $50 m. pledge to the UNGA in New York. fund a program that would distribute $50,000 Momentum built through the end of 9/2017. payments to the victims of Fatah-Hamas Haniyeh invited (9/19) Abbas to send PA violence that followed Hamas’s electoral victory officials to take control of Gaza “without in Gaza in 2006. Because Dahlan has been in obstacles,” and Hamdallah said (9/26) that the exile and is seen to have “burned bridges,” this PA was planning to establish new committees to new program was perceived, in part, as an effort administer the transfer of power. Even the to rehabilitate his reputation and a way to Middle East Quartet, which includes the U.S., as return to Palestinian leadership. well as the UN, European Union (EU), and Neither Dahlan’s apparent ambition nor Russia, lauded (9/28) the process: “[We] urge Hamas’s military wing proved to be the parties to take concrete steps to reunite Gaza insurmountable hurdles. On 10/2, Hamas and the West Bank under the legitimate PA. held a formal welcome ceremony for This will facilitate lifting the closures of the Hamdallah in Bayt Hanun. “We return to crossings, while addressing Israel’s legitimate Gaza again to end the division and achieve security concerns, and unlock international unity,” Hamdallah told a crowd of at least support for Gaza’s growth, stability and 2,000. The next day, he convened the PA prosperity, which is critical for efforts to reach cabinet in Gaza for the first time since lasting peace.” 11/2014 and said he was ready to take As Hamdallah prepared to hold a PA cabinet responsibility for the administration of meeting in Gaza, there were signs the process Gaza “in full cooperation and partnership was not going as smoothly as it appeared. On with all the Palestinian factions and forces.” 9/28, senior Hamas official Musa Abu Marzuq He also said that reconciliation would put said that Hamas was not ready to discuss the pressure on international donors to make proposed disbanding of its military wing, the good on their pledges of reconstruction Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades, in the context of support, and that all administrative issues the reconciliation talks. According to a report in would be resolved “within the [framework of] al-Hayat on 9/30, the measure was 1 of the available resources.” The head of Egypt’s 3 conditions Abbas required, along with a ban General Intelligence Directorate, Khaled on foreign involvement in the administration of Fawzy, who was in Gaza on 10/3 to help Gaza and the demand that all reconstruction- mediate the process, said (10/3) that the designated funds flow through the PA. Egyptian govt. planned to invite Hamas and

Winter 2018 || 125 Update on Conflict and Diplomacy

Fatah officials back to Cairo soon for further reached and new elections were held talks and was planning to use as a framework (Raialyoum,10/5). the reconciliation deal the 2 sides had As the disagreement over Hamas’s military signed in Cairo on 5/4/2011 (see update and wing persisted, Abbas downplayed the Doc. B4 in JPS 40 [4]). reconciliation process. According to a readout While the PA cabinet was in Gaza for further of a meeting of the Fatah Revolutionary talks, Israel and the international community Council on 10/8, he said that national unity weighed in with their views. In Israel, PM would take more time, and that the PA Netanyahu condemned (10/3) the entire affair, would not be able to assume all its saying that Israel would not accept “imaginary responsibilities in Gaza absent consensus on appeasement where the Palestinian side is the agenda of the PLO agenda and the PA’s reconciling at the expense of our existence.” sole authority over security. Education Minister Bennett went further, Despite Abbas’s reservations, Hamas and calling (10/3) for Netanyahu to suspend the Fatah officials returned to Cairo the following monthly transfers of tax revenues to the PA. week and in a joint press conference on 10/12 In response, PLO secy.-gen. Saeb Erakat called they announced a new reconciliation (10/4) on Israel to fulfill its obligations under agreement. They didn’t immediately reveal past agreements now that the Palestinians had any details, but information leaked to the media made a “historic compromise.” UN special outlined the following specific provisions: the coordinator Nickolay Mladenov, on the other PA would lift all sanctions imposed earlier in hand, expressed cautious optimism (10/3) about 2017, Hamas would give up control of Gaza the process. And U.S. special rep. for to the PA by 12/1, Hamas and the PA would international negotiations Greenblatt released form a joint police force to patrol Gaza, and a statement timidly welcoming the process: Egypt would host the 11/21 round of “We will be watching these developments reconciliation talks aimed at forming a unity closely, while pressing forward with the PA, govt. While Netanyahu and other Israeli Israel, and international donors to try to officials decried the deal and uncertainty improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.” about its specifics lingered, the international What the U.S. and the rest of the world community and the Palestinian public greeted saw was more progress. On 10/5, after 4 days the announcement with fanfare. On the evening of talks between Hamas and PA officials, of 10/12, thousands of Palestinians gathered Hamas announced that the PA had officially in the streets of Gaza City to celebrate. taken over as the administrative authority in After 4 days of unbroken positivity on both Gaza. In an interview on Egyptian television, sides, a Hamas spokesperson criticized (10/16) Abbas reiterated (10/3) his demand for Hamas the PA for not prioritizing the rollback of to dismantle its military arm before the PA sanctions on Gaza. “It is not justified to lifted any of its new sanctions on Gaza, insisting continue the sanctions on Gaza, while the that he didn’t want to reproduce Lebanon’s [PA] govt. is content with talking about gaining “Hezbollah model.” Fawzy then reportedly control of border crossings and exploration informed (10/5) Abbas that Hamas would for [natural] gas in Gaza,” he said. His refuse to consider dismantling the 27,000- comments came 1 day after the Fatah Central strong force until a peace deal with Israel was Comm. met to discuss the reconciliation deal,

126 || Journal of Palestine Studies Update on Conflict and Diplomacy neglecting to debate the specific issue of came together again to take the first big step sanctions, as had been expected. Another senior toward implementing the deal. At a ceremony Hamas official commented (10/16) that “the at the Rafah border crossing on 11/1, Hamas failure of Abbas to respond to popular and formally handed over control of Gaza’s border national demands to cancel his arbitrary crossings to the PA. Hamas forces departed measures against our people in Gaza is (11/1) from their posts on the Palestinian side unjustifiable.” of the crossing and dismantled (11/1) their In addition to Egypt, the 10/12 deal won checkpoints at the Erez and Kerem Shalom the Palestinians support from other allies crossings, allowing PASF to take control. in the region. The Jordanian press reported Mladenov called (11/1) it a “landmark (10/19) that King Abdullah planned to allow development,” and both the EU (11/1) and Hamas to reopen its office in Amman the U.S. in Jerusalem (11/3) (although other news reports refuted this), welcomed the move. and the chair of Qatar’s Comm. to Rebuild Gaza, Mohammed al-Emadi, announced (10/24) that Doha would fund the PALESTINIAN OPINION construction of a new presidential residence and “the headquarters of the Palestinian The following data come from a poll conducted govt. in Gaza after the consensus govt. by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey assumes its duties fully.” Research (PCPSR) between 9/14–16/2017. Even Netanyahu reportedly saw potential The results are based on a survey of 1,270 in the deal. According to 3 Israeli sources, Palestinians from the West Bank (including despite not recognizing the agreement, the East Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip. The Israeli PM told (10/16) his security cabinet complete poll, the 65th in a series, can be that Israel should cooperate with PA found at www.pcpsr.org. officials, should they take control of Gaza, 1. When thinking about the confrontations because averting a humanitarian crisis would that erupted after the Israeli installation serve Israel’sinterest.Thesamesourcessaid of metal detectors or electronic gates at that Netanyahu had already informed both the entrance of [Haram al-Sharif] in the Egyptian and U.S. govts. that the deal Jerusalem, do you see or do not see in such would not facilitate a resumption of peace confrontations an effective means of talks with the Palestinians. The next day, resisting occupation on other issues and however, Netanyahu was apparently areas [of contention] in the occupied overruled. The security cabinet imposed Palestinian territories? (10/17) conditions on any Israeli participation in talks related to Palestinian national reconciliation (see “The Palestinian- Total West Bank Gaza Strip Israeli Conflict” above). 1) Effective 63% 65% 58% The Palestinians were undeterred. A little more than 2 weeks after Hamas and Fatah 2) Ineffective 34% 32% 37% officials stood together at the Egyptian General 3) Don’t know/Not 4% 3% 5% applicable Intelligence Directorate’s office in Cairo, they

Winter 2018 || 127 Update on Conflict and Diplomacy

2. Various parties played a role in insuring Total West Bank Gaza Strip the success of efforts to remove the electronic gates or metal detectors. From 1) Yes 22% 16% 31% among the following list of parties, which 2) No 66% 68% 63% one played the greatest role? 3) Don’t know/Not 12% 16% 6% applicable Total West Bank Gaza Strip

1) Jordan’sKing 7% 7% 8% Abdullah 2) [PA pres.] Abbas 6% 2% 12% FRONTLINE STATES 3) King Salman bin 1% 0% 3% Abdulaziz of Saudi EGYPT Arabia The Egyptian govt., particularly its 4) Jerusalem 73% 84% 54% residents who intelligence apparatus, was instrumental in took part in the brokering the new Palestinian reconciliation confrontations agreement. Dir. of Egypt’s General Intelligence 5) Religious 9% 2% 22% Directorate Fawzy mediated the Hamas-Fatah personalities representing talks in Cairo that led to the 10/12 deal, and Haram al-Sharif he was expected to broker follow-up talks and the Islamic Waqf planned for late 11/2017 as well. Egyptian pres. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi frequently framed 6) Others 1% 1% 0% Palestinian reconciliation as a prelude to a 7) Don’t know/Not 3% 3% 1% applicable broader Palestinian-Israeli and Arab-Israeli peace. On the sidelines of the UNGA in New 3. In light of the confrontations around York, he reportedly told (9/17) Israeli PM [Haram al-Sharif], [Abbas] announced the Netanyahu and a group of U.S. Jewish leaders suspension of contacts with the Israelis, that he was eager to build on the Palestinian including the suspension of security deal. “When the world sees the Palestinian sides coordination. Do you support or oppose united, this helps achieve comprehensive peace this decision? that fulfills the ambitions of our nations,” he reportedly said in a recording obtained by Total West Bank Gaza Strip al-Quds on 10/3. “We have no time to waste.” 1) Support 73% 74% 71% Meanwhile, the Israeli govt. took a major

2) Oppose 23% 20% 27% step toward rebuilding relations with Egypt. On 8/23, Israel’s amb. to Egypt David Govrin 3) Don’t know/Not 4% 6% 2% applicable led a delegation to Cairo, marking his first visit since the Israeli Embassy in Cairo was 4. In your view, in light of the [Abbas] evacuated over unspecified “security concerns” decision to suspend contacts and security in 12/2016 (see JPS 46 [3]). The following coordination with the Israeli side, did the week, Govrin and 8 staffers returned to Cairo, PA actually implement the decision and where they resumed their diplomatic duties stop security coordination? out of his suburban home.

128 || Journal of Palestine Studies Update on Conflict and Diplomacy

JORDAN quarter. It manifested in repeated IDF strikes Neither the Israeli nor the Jordanian govt. on Hezbollah targets and other sites affiliated made any effort to restore diplomatic with the Syrian govt. and in an increasingly ’ relations after an Israeli security guard killed energetic diplomatic campaign against Iran s 2Jordanianson7/23andtheIsraeligovt.’s influence in Syria. subsequent recall of its embassy staff from The IDF carried out a handful of high- Amman. In the wake of the incident, profile strikes on Hezbollah forces and Syrian govt.-controlled sites in the opening weeks of Netanyahu had welcomed the guard back to the quarter. On 9/7, the Israeli Air Force Israel, embracing him publicly, and the bombarded a chemical weapons plant nr. Jordanian authorities vetoed the return of Masyaf, killing 2 people and damaging at least embassy staff to Amman until Israel carried 5 major buildings, according to the out a full investigation into the killing, as international press. The attack, which was required under the Vienna Convention on much more destructive than earlier Israeli the Law of Treaties (see JPS 47 [1]). After mos. operations, prompted a response from both of stagnant backchannel talks, Israeli Hezbollah and the Lebanese govt. On 9/9, authorities reportedly threatened to suspend Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs the 12/9/2013 bilateral water-sharing announced plans to file an “urgent complaint” agreement, which provided for joint against Israel at the UN Security Council construction of a water desalination plant (UNSC), contending that Israeli planes on the Gulf of Aqaba and a pipeline from violated Lebanese air space. Hezbollah, for the Red Sea to the Dead Sea (see JPS 43 [3] its part, reportedly sent backchannel messages and 44 [4]), unless the Jordanian govt. to Israel expressing a desire not to escalate allowed Amb. Einat Schlein and her staff to hostilities in the wake of the strikes. However, “ return (Channel 10 [Israel], 11/13). The Israeli forces launched another assault on 9/22, position of the Foreign Ministry and the this time targeting a site outside Damascus ’ PM s office is that we cannot have a situation International Airport. Later in the quarter, a where on the one hand the Jordanians do Syrian antiaircraft battery fired on Israeli jets not allow us to reopen the embassy and on the flying in Lebanese air space (10/16), according other hand we continue to advance projects to the Lebanese and international news that are important to them as if nothing had reports. Israeli forces then targeted the battery happened,” said an unnamed Israeli official with an air strike, causing a disputed amount (11/13). In response, Jordan reportedly of damage (the IDF said the battery was threatened to proceed on the project alone destroyed, while the Syrian army said it only or to bring Saudi Arabia on as a substitute suffered minor damage). After the exchange, partner. the Syrian army warned (10/16) Israel of “dangerous consequences” should Israeli forces SYRIA continue their forays into Syria. The Israeli govt.’s discontent with last Amid the escalating tension over Israel’s quarter’s U.S- and Russia-backed cease-fire in intervention in the Syrian civil war, there southwestern Syria, which went into effect on were numerous reports of increasing Iranian 7/9 (see JPS 47 [1]), persisted throughout the involvement in s. Syria. These reports, which

Winter 2018 || 129 Update on Conflict and Diplomacy detailed alleged Iranian plans to build an airfield Meanwhile, the Israelis were appealing to nr. Damascus where its Islamic Revolutionary both the U.S. and Russia to alter the terms of Guard Corps (IRGC) could establish a more the 7/9 cease-fire so as to marginalize Iran formal presence, played to Israeli govt. fears and its allies, to little avail. On 11/11, meeting about Iran’s intentions in the region and lent on the sidelines of an economic conference in credence to complaints about the 7/9 cease-fire Da Nang, Vietnam, U.S. pres. Trump and (see JPS 47 [1]), with Iranian statements Russian pres. Vladimir Putin issued a joint underscoring the tension. On a visit to statement. They reaffirmed the 7/7 agreement Damascus on 10/18, Iranian gen. Mohammad that had resulted in the 7/9 cease-fire, decided Baqeri said, “We are in Damascus to assert and to “maintain open military channels of coordinate and cooperate to confront our communication,” agreed to continue their common enemies, the Zionists and terrorists.” efforts “until the final defeat of ISIS is achieved,” Furthermore, the Associated Press reported and, in the closest provision to a concession (9/23) that the Iranian govt. and Hezbollah to the Israeli position, they called for “the were working together to broker a reduction, and ultimate elimination, of rapprochement between Hamas and the Syrian foreign forces and foreign fighters” in Syria. govt., its former patron (Hamas was based in With conflicting reports and wide-ranging Syria until the outbreak of war in 2011). speculation surrounding the statement, it Two bouts of cross-border violence was unclear exactly what such a reduction ratcheted up tensions even more. On 10/19, would entail. Some reports stated it applied a mortar fired from inside Syria landed in the to Iranian-backed groups. Others suggested Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, causing no those groups would have to shift positions. damage or injuries. Israeli tanks then fired One Israeli official said what had been agreed (10/19) on a Syrian army position nr. the was that the groups in question would be Israeli-occupied town of Qunaytra. Two days permitted to maintain positions as close as later, 5 projectiles fired from s. Syria landed 5–7 km from the border with Israel. “Even in an open area in n. Israel, again causing no though we view favorably the agreement on damage or injuries. The IDF then shelled 3 the need to eliminate the foreign forces— Syrian army targets nr. the border area. “Even namely, the Iranian forces, Hezbollah and if this is just spillover, this is an exceptional the [Shi‘ite] militias from the area, the test incident and the continuance of such events will be on the ground, not in words but in will be met with a more fierce Israeli deeds,” Israel’s intelligence minister Yisrael Katz response,” the IDF said (10/21). The Syrian commented (11/13). That same day, Netanyahu govt. filed a complaint with the UN, accusing said that the IDF would continue operating in the Israelis of coordinating with local “terror Syria “in accordance with our security needs” groups.” In an unusual escalation, Israeli and with “the right combination of firmness DM Lieberman accused (10/23) Hezbollah of and responsibility.” As a U.S. delegation perpetrating the 10/21 attack. Later, Israeli arrived (11/14) in Israel for talks on the Trump- defense sources said (10/23) that they could Putin statement and the future of Iran-backed not certify Lieberman’s claim. “The remarks groups in Syria, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov reflect the minister’s best judgment,” one responded to Netanyahu. Iran had a official said. “legitimate” presence in Syria, he said, and

130 || Journal of Palestine Studies Update on Conflict and Diplomacy

Russia would not commit to the removal of REGIONAL AFFAIRS Iranian forces or Iran-backed groups. The growing rift between Iran and its growing sphere of influence, on the one hand, LEBANON and the Saudi-led so-called Sunni axis, on Internal Lebanese politics became the focal the other, escalated further this quarter, point of longstanding regional tensions at the with unresolved tensions over the previous “ ” end of the quarter (see Regional Affairs quarter’s Saudi-led boycott of Qatar, which ’ below). But before PM Hariri s unexpected had repercussions as far away as Lebanon. resignationinRiyadhon11/4,tensionsin‘Ayn As in previous quarters, the Saudi-Qatari al-Hilweh, the largest Palestinian refugee camp conflict marginalized and divided the in the country, again broke out into full-fledged Palestinians and even threatened to upend violence. the faltering U.S. peace initiative and the Earlier in the year, UNRWA had been Palestinian reconciliation process. forced to temporarily suspend (2/25) services Despite continued mediation efforts, the in the camp amid weeks of deadly clashes boycott persisted throughout the quarter. between Fatah security forces and armed In mid-8/2017, after a mbr. of the Qatari ruling Islamists led by Bilal Badr (see JPS 46 [4]). family, Sheikh Abdullah al-Thani, met with For 4 mos., an uneasy calm held in the camp. Saudi crown prince Mohammad, the Saudi Then, on 8/17, armed fighters affiliated govt. announced it would make a partial with Badr opened fire on a force of joint exception to the boycott and allow Qatari Lebanese-Palestinian security troops that citizens to make the annual pilgrimage to was established after the previous round of Mecca. However, as al-Thani was part of a clashes. Six Palestinians were killed and at branch of the ruling family that had been least 17 were injured in 1 week of fighting ousted in a 1972 coup attempt, the Qatari (8/17–23), prompting Hamas and Fatah establishment appeared to interpret the officials to hold an emergency meeting on concession as a threat. Days later, Qatar’s 8/22. According to Lebanon’sNational Foreign Ministry announced (8/24) that the News Agency (NNA), there were more talks emirate was reestablishing full diplomatic on a potential cease-fire on 8/23. By the relations with Iran. The Qatari amb. returned end of that day, however, a “cautious calm” to Tehran soon after the announcement, ending had returned to the camp, with only a few the diplomatic impasse that had resulted from breaches from occasional shelling and bursts Saudi Arabia’s execution of a prominent Shi‘ite of gunfire (NNA, 8/23). There were no further reports of violence in religious figure in 1/2016 (see JPS 45 [3]). the camp through the end of the quarter, but By mid-9/2017, there were signs that the there was 1 more noteworthy development: on Qataris were interested in rolling back the 11/13, Badr’s brother, Kamal Badr, turned tension. Two days after U.S. pres. Trump himself into Lebanese armed forces at the s. offered (9/7) to mediate in the crisis, Qatari entrance of the camp. It was unclear why he did emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani called so or if his incarceration would have any effect (9/9) Prince Mohammad and expressed the on the unrest in ‘Ayn al-Hilweh. desire to see the dispute between the 2 countries resolved, in a gesture that marked the first

Winter 2018 || 131 Update on Conflict and Diplomacy high-level direct contact between the 2 sides take steps.” Third, in a surprise move, Lebanese since the boycott went into effect on 6/5. PM Hariri announced his resignation from However, any gains made by the call were lost Riyadh, saying he was afraid for his life and by the end of the day. The Saudi Press Agency accusing Iran of meddling in Lebanon. initially reported that Mohammad “welcomed” “When I took office, I promised you that I the emir’s sentiment. But after the state-run would seek to unite the Lebanese and end Qatar News Agency reported that the 2 men political division . . . but I have been unable to stressed the need to resolve the crisis by way of a do so. Despite my efforts, Iran continues to face-to-face “dialogue to ensure the unity and abuse Lebanon,” Hariri said, pointing to the stability” of the Gulf states, the Saudi position growing influence of Hezbollah. changed. An official at the Saudi Foreign Hariri’s resignation sent shockwaves across Ministry accused (9/9) the Qataris of the region. As the announcement was made misrepresenting Prince Mohammad’sposition. in the Saudi capital and it aired on a Saudi “This proves that the authority in Qatar is television network, it sparked a wave of notserious...andcontinuesitsprevious speculation about the possibility of Saudi policies,” the official said. “The Kingdom of coercion. After Lebanon’s pres. Michel Aoun Saudi Arabia declares that any dialogue or initially requested (11/4) that Hariri stay on communication with the authority in Qatar until a replacement could be found, his aides shall be suspended until a clear statement said (11/5) that the pres. would not accept explaining its position is made in public.” Hariri’s resignation until he returned to Beirut As the boycott entered its fifth mo., 3 to explain his reasons in person. Hezbollah developments on 11/4 significantly ratcheted secy.-gen. Hasan Nasrallah went further, up tensions across the region. First, Crown describing (11/4) the speculation over Saudi Prince Mohammad was appointed by his father, coercion as “legitimate” and suggesting that Saudi monarch King Salman bin Abdulaziz, to Hariri, a dual Lebanese-Saudi citizen, might lead a new Supreme Anti-Corruption Comm., have been caught up in the so-called anti- which resulted in the detention of more than corruption crackdown. One Iranian 200 mbrs. of the royal family, top officials, spokesperson denied (11/4) Hariri’s accusations leading business figures, and other potential as “unreal and baseless” and another echoed rivals in a campaign that commentators (11/4) Nasrallah: “Hariri’s resignation was described as a major effort to consolidate the done in coordination with Trump and crown prince’s own power base. Second, Houthi Mohammad bin Salman to foment tension in fighters in Yemen fired a missile at Riyadh’s Lebanon and the region.” international airport, and although Saudi Both the Palestinians and Israelis were forces intercepted the missile before it could quickly embroiled in the evolving crisis. Israeli cause any damage or injuries, they launched a PM Netanyahu, a de facto Saudi ally against series of air strikes on Sanaa, causing unverified Iran, said (11/4) that Hariri’s resignation was a damage and injuries. “We see the [missile] as an “wake-up call” to the international community act of war,” Saudi FM Adel al-Jubeir explained to take action against Iran, “which is turning (11/6), accusing both Iran and Hezbollah of Syria into a second Lebanon.” According to a supporting the attack. “Iran cannot lob missiles report on Israel’s Channel 10, Israel’s Foreign at Saudi cities and towns and expect us not to Ministry instructed (11/5) its

132 || Journal of Palestine Studies Update on Conflict and Diplomacy around the world to lobby their host govts. in By the end of the quarter on 11/15, Hariri had favor of the Saudi position. “[Recent events] still not returned to Lebanon and was invited by should cause [the world] to increase the the French pres., Emmanuel Macron, to come pressure on Iran and Hezbollah on a range of to France. issues, from ballistic missile production to its efforts at regional subversion,” the memo IRAN reportedly stated. After mos. of prevarication on the fate of the The Palestinian leadership in Ramallah also 7/14/2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action toed the Saudi line. Days after Hariri’s (JCPOA), Trump took his first major step to resignation, PA pres. Abbas flew to Riyadh and abandon the Iran nuclear deal this quarter. The met with both King Salman (11/7) and Prince Iranian govt., for its part, continued to fulfill its Mohammad (11/8). “The Palestinian obligations under the JCPOA while exploring leadership, as well as the Palestinian people, new strategies to counter Trump’ssaber stand alongside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in rattling. the face of attacks,” he said (11/8). King Salman Under U.S. law passed during the reaffirmed (11/7) his support for the Palestinian negotiations to the JCPOA, the president was cause and his commitment to do “all that is required to certify to Congress every 3 mos. that required to bring about the establishment of an Iran was upholding its commitments. Not independent Palestinian state with East doing so would trigger a 60-day congressional Jerusalem as its capital.” However, Abbas’strip review period, during which lawmakers would to Riyadh drew comparisons to Hariri’s have to decide whether or not to reimpose predicament, prompting speculation about sanctions on Iran, a move with the potential to Saudi intentions for the aging Palestinian leader. significantly increase tensions in the Middle A senior White House official lent credence to East and internationally. (Despite Trump’s the rumors, saying that Abbas was told to either frequent promises on the campaign trail in 2016 “accept Trump’s peace plan or quit,” according to dismantle the deal, U.S. secy. of state Rex to an 11/12 report on Israel’sChannel10.PLO Tillerson made the required certifications to Executive Comm. mbr. Majdalani rejected the Congress on 4/18 and 7/17—see JPS 46 [4] and report, calling the alleged ultimatum 47 [1]). As the quarter opened, however, Trump “fabricated, false, and untrue,” but his denial did was increasingly dissatisfied with his admin.’s nothing to quash the speculation that Abbas approach and it remained unclear how he would be the next Arab leader pushed aside in would play his hand ahead of the next the Saudi campaign for regional dominance. certification deadline on 10/15. Through the end of the quarter, Hariri’s In the opening weeks of the quarter, Trump predicament, and with it the future of Lebanon and his deputies tested out some new lines of and the broader conflict between Saudi Arabia attack to undermine the JCPOA. Ahead of a and Iran, was in flux. “Everyone, I am just fine,” meeting with International Atomic Energy Hariri tweeted (11/14). “Inshallah, I will return Agency (IAEA) officials on 8/23, U.S. amb. to in 2 days.” It was still unclear, however, what the the UN Nikki Haley said (8/22) that the Trump Saudi intentions were for Lebanon, how admin. was interested in inspections being Hezbollah and Iran might respond, or whether carried out at specific Iranian military sites. Hariri would follow through on his resignation. “There were already issues in those locations, so

Winter 2018 || 133 Update on Conflict and Diplomacy are they including that in what they look at to Netanyahu-Trump meeting, Tillerson said make sure that those issues no longer remain?” (9/20) that the U.S. pres. had come to a decision she said. No details of the 8/23 meeting were about the 10/15 certification deadline. made public, but an Iranian spokesperson With the U.S. on a certain, yet undisclosed, dismissed U.S. “dreams” of increased path, the Iranians opted for a show of force. inspections on 8/29: “We will not accept In his address to the UNGA, Pres. Hassan anything outside [the JCPOA] from the Rouhani called (9/20) Trump’srhetoric Americans—especially visits to military sites.” “ignorant, absurd, and hateful” and said it A few weeks later, IAEA chief Yukiya would be a “great pity” if the JCPOA was Amano again verified (9/11) that Iran was “destroyed by rogue newcomers to the world adhering to the JCPOA, and Reuters reported of politics.” Two days later, in a speech at a (9/12) that Trump was considering a new, military parade, Rouhani pledged to strengthen more aggressive strategy for dealing with Iran. Iran’s ballistic missile program. “We will Defense Secy. James Mattis, Tillerson, and increase our military power as a deterrent,” National Security Advisor H. R. McMaster he said, as Iranian forces were showing off reportedly formulated a package of measures, (9/22) a new ballistic missile with a purported including plans to counter alleged Iranian range of 2,000 km, far enough to reach Israel. cyberattacks,aswellasIran’ssupportfor The next day, the Iranian press reported that so-called terrorist groups, and purported Iranian forces had conducted a successful nuclear proliferation, and presented it to the test firing of the missile. In response, Israeli pres. on 9/8. Trump deflected and revisited DM Lieberman called (9/23) the test a the “waive and slap” approach he had used “provocation and a slap in the face for the several times earlier in 2017. On 9/14, his U.S. and its allies,” and Trump tweeted (9/23), admin. extended the suspension of nuclear- “Iran just test-fired a Ballistic Missile capable related sanctions on Iran in compliance with of reaching Israel. They are also working with the JCPOA, and had the Treasury Dept. North Korea. Not much of an agreement we announce (9/14) new sanctions on 11 have!” individuals and other entities alleged to be After the Washington Post reported (10/5) supporting the IRGC, or cyberattacks that Trump was finally planning to “decertify” against the U.S. the deal, there were signs that Tehran was While Trump deliberated, Netanyahu interested in de-escalating the situation. reportedly presented a different proposal during According to Western and Iranian officials, a meeting with the U.S. pres. on the sidelines of the Iranian govt. was open to talks on its the UNGA on 9/18. While details were not ballistic missile program (Reuters, 10/6). made public, Netanyahu had said in Buenos “During their meeting on the sidelines of the Aires on 9/12, “Our position is straightforward. UNGA last month, Iran told members of the This is a bad deal. Either fix it or cancel it.” [international community] that it could discuss Netanyahu found particularly problematic the the missile program to remove concerns,” an JCPOA’s sunset clause, which he said (9/17) Iranian official said. A former U.S. Defense would “soon” allow Tehran access to “uranium Dept. official said, “Iran has put feelers out enrichment on an industrial scale for an arsenal saying it is willing to discuss its ballistic of atom bombs.” Three days after the missile program and is using contacts . . .

134 || Journal of Palestine Studies Update on Conflict and Diplomacy officials who were ‘holdovers’ from the Obama group had restored relations with Iran. admin.” Later, an Iranian spokesperson “The relationship today is developing and dismissed (10/6) the story and insisted the returning to what it was in the old days,” he missile program was “nonnegotiable.” said, referring to Iran’spatronageofHamas The following week, after the IAEA’s before differences over the civil war in Syria Amano again confirmed (10/9) that Iran was caused their estrangement in 2011. Neither complying with the JCPOA and UK PM Sinwar nor Iranian officials offered any details Theresa May implored (10/9) Trump to on the nature of Iranian support for Hamas. defend it, Trump announced (10/13) that he Later in the quarter, after Israel conditioned would not certify the deal by 10/15, triggering its participation in any new negotiations with the abovementioned congressional review the Palestinians on Hamas giving up its ties period. “I am directing my admin. to work with Iran (see “The Palestinian-Israeli closely with Congress and our allies to address Conflict” above), a Hamas delegation arrived the deal’s many serious flaws so that the Iranian (10/20) in Iran. One Hamas delegate said regime can never threaten the world with (10/20) that the group hoped to increase nuclear weapons,” he said. Trump also cooperation with Tehran and to “secure announced (10/13) “tough” new sanctions on Iranian financial and logistical support.” the IRGC and urged U.S. allies to “join us in taking strong actions against Iran’s dangerous TURKEY behavior, including sanctions outside the The Turkish-Israeli rapprochement, which [JCPOA] that target their ballistic missile was sealed with the 2 countries’ 6/27/2016 program.” agreement to normalize relations (see Congress was largely occupied by other JPS 46 [1]), suffered a setback this quarter issues through the end of the quarter, but a because of the 9/25 Kurdish independence high-profile debate over the future of the referendum. After 92% of Kurds voted in JCPOA was expected before the end of the favor of independence, photos of Israeli flags 60-day review period. Meanwhile, Rouhani being waved at events celebrating the vote threatened (10/13) to expand Iran’s ballistic proliferated in the media. Turkish pres. Recep missile program. Netanyahu said (10/15) that Tayyip Erdoğan, who called the referendum Trump’s decision presented an opportunity to a “threat to national security” for its potential “fix” the JCPOA. May, Macron, and German to embolden the Kurds in Turkey, threatened chancellor Angela Merkel issued a statement to suspend (9/26) relations with Israel if saying that they “stand committed” to the Netanyahu did not abandon his support for JCPOA (10/13). And finally, the IAEA an independent Kurdish state. He also alleged published (11/13) its quarterly assessment of (9/30) that the presence of the Israeli flags Iranian adherence to the JCPOA, finding showed “one thing, that [the Kurdish again that Tehran remained in compliance. leadership] has a history with Mossad, they are hand-in-hand together.” Netanyahu denied Rebuilding Relations with Hamas (10/1) the accusation: “Israel played no part Following talks on a potential in the Turkish referendum, aside from the rapprochement last quarter, leader of Hamas natural, deep and long-standing sympathy the in Gaza Sinwar announced (8/23) that the Jewish people have for the Kurdish people

Winter 2018 || 135 Update on Conflict and Diplomacy and their aspirations.” Erdoğan repeated the secret “intelligence/security” coordination claim a few times, but took no further action with Israel, but that he opposed the prospect against Israel this quarter, opting instead to of commercial relations with Israel until the work with Iran and the Iraqi govt. to confront establishment of an independent Palestinian Kurdish separatists directly. state (Haaretz, 4/8/11).

BAHRAIN Amid the shifting regional dynamics, INTERNATIONAL there were signs that Bahrain was ready to UNITED STATES normalize its relationship with Israel. On ’ 9/13, after Rabbi Marvin Hier had visited Trump s on Settlements Bahrain, Prince Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, U.S. amb. to Israel Friedman and his the son of Bahrain’s monarch, visited the explicit pro-settlement views threatened to Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC) in Los undermine Pres. Trump’s relationship with Angeles. The center was holding an event, the Palestinians and his broader peace initiative titled “This Is Bahrain,” celebrating religious in 9/2017. When Friedman described Israel’s freedom and coexistence. There, SWC leaders occupation of Palestinian land as “alleged” in Hier and Rabbi Abraham Cooper recounted an interview with the Jerusalem Post on 9/1, a meeting they had held with King Hamad it threw into question the Trump admin.’s bin Isa Al Khalifa earlier in 2017. They stated position on a key aspect of the Palestinian- that Al Khalifa had denounced the Arab Israeli conflict, and drew harsh criticism from boycott of Israel and decided to allow the Palestinians. The controversy grew until a Bahraini citizens to visit Israel, despite the State Dept. spokesperson clarified (9/7) that absence of Israeli-Bahraini diplomatic ties. Friedman’s comments “do not represent a Of particular interest is the fact that Hier shift in U.S. policy.” Later in the mo., however, and SWC helped build the Museum of Friedman made (9/28) another egregious Tolerance in Jerusalem, amid years-long assertion about the “alleged” occupation in an protests and court cases: it was built atop the interview with the Israeli television channel, Mamilla Cemetery, a Muslim site so old some Walla. “I think the settlements are part of contemporaries of the Prophet Muhammad had Israel,” he said. “The existing borders, the reportedly been buried there before their tombs 1967 borders, were viewed by everybody as were moved to make way for the museum. not secure, so Israel would retain a On 9/23, Bahraini and Western officials said meaningful portion of the West Bank, and it that Israel and Bahrain were on the verge of would return that which it didn’tneedfor normalizing their relationship, in part, due to peace and security. So, there was always their shared antipathy toward Iran. supposed to be some notion of expansion into This was not the first time King Hamad the West Bank, but not necessarily expansion signaled a desire for better relations with intotheentireWestBank.” Hours later, a Israel. According to cables published by State Dept. spokesperson disavowed Friedman WikiLeaks in 2011, Hamad reportedly told again. “His comments—and I want to be the U.S. amb. to Bahrain in 2005 that he crystal clear about this—should not be read would be willing to move beyond the then as a way to prejudge the outcome of any

136 || Journal of Palestine Studies Update on Conflict and Diplomacy negotiations that the U.S. would have with the work were relatively infrequent until this Israelis and the Palestinians.” By the end of the quarter, when controversy broke out in Texas in quarter, however, it was reported that Trump the wake of Hurricane Harvey, a massive storm had appointed Friedman to the small group in that devastated Houston in late 8/2017. charge of drafting his plan for peace between Starting on 10/20, dozens of U.S. media the Palestinians and Israelis (see “The Trump outlets picked up on the story that the city Initiative” above). of Dickinson, a suburb of Houston, required hurricane victims applying for emergency Legislative Backlash against BDS relief grants to sign a waiver stating that The highest-profile battles over the growing they do not support boycotts of Israel. City BDS movement primarily played out at state officials explained that the following and municipal levels this quarter. In Maryland, provision was added to the application forms where activists defeated anti-BDS proposals in to accommodate Texas’snewanti-BDSlaw, the state legislature in 2015, 2016, and earlier which passed on 5/2/2017 (see JPS 47 [4]): this year, Gov. Larry Hogan signed (10/23) an “By executing this Agreement below, the executive order barring the state from entering Applicant verifies that the Applicant: (1) does into contracts with companies unless they not boycott Israel; and (2) will not boycott certified in writing that they were not engaged Israel during the term of this Agreement.” in a boycott of Israel. He also called on the The ACLU was quick to condemn the move. trustees of the Maryland State Retirement and “The First Amendment protects Americans’ Pension System to divest from any companies right to boycott, and the govt. cannot with holdings in entities that participate in BDS. condition hurricane relief or any other “The goals of [the BDS] movement run counter public benefit on a commitment to refrain to the strong economic relationship that from protected political expression,” said the Maryland has sustained with our friends and organization’s Texas Legal Dir. Andre Segura partners in Israel,” Hogan said (10/23). The (10/20). Phil King, the Texas state legislator next week, Wisconsin gov. Scott Walker who spearheaded the anti-BDS legislation, followed suit (10/27), signing an executive said (10/21) that Dickinson officials were order barring state agencies from contracting likely misreading the law, which barred with companies that boycott Israel. With state entities from contracting with businesses Walker’s order, Wisconsin became the 24th that boycott Israel. After 4 days of outcry state with an anti-BDS law or executive order and debate over the rights of BDS activists, the on the books. Dickinson City Council voted (10/24) to Since the legislative crackdown on BDS remove the anti-BDS requirement from the began in 2014, activists have argued that the application. measures being used against individuals and Likewise, a development in the race for the entities participating in BDS infringe on the governorship of Illinois threw the debate over First Amendment right to free speech (e.g., the BDS into the spotlight once again. On 9/6, American Civil Liberties Union [ACLU] filed a Democratic candidate and State Sen. Daniel lawsuit challenging the new anti-BDS law in Biss announced that he had made the “difficult” Kansas on 10/11). However, broader public decision to drop Chicago alderman Carlos conversations over how these measures actually Ramirez-Rosa from his ticket over his support

Winter 2018 || 137 Update on Conflict and Diplomacy for BDS. “While I was honored to be chosen Egyptian FM Sameh Shoukry and Kushner, as Sen. Daniel Biss’s gubernatorial running Trump’s senior advisor and son-in-law, who mate, it became clear over the past few days that was in Cairo for talks on the Trump peace while we share a total commitment to peace, initiative. “Egypt sees [the aid reduction] as security, and statehood for the Israeli and reflecting poor judgment of the strategic Palestinian people, and both oppose pursuing relationship that ties the 2 countries over long BDS at the state level, the difference of opinion decades and as adopting a view that lacks an we have on the role the BDS movement plays accurate understanding of the importance of at the federal level would make it impossible supporting Egypt’s stability,” the Foreign ” to continue moving forward as a ticket, Ministry in Cairo stated (8/23). However, Ramirez-Rosa wrote (9/6) on Facebook. Biss Kushner still met with al-Sisi later that day, had chosen Ramirez-Rosa, a Bernie Sanders and Trump personally called al-Sisi the next delegate in 2016 and a mbr. of the Democratic day to reaffirm “the strength and friendship Socialists of America, as his running mate only between Egypt and the U.S.,” according to a a week earlier, and the selection galvanized statement from al-Sisi’soffice. progressives in Chicago. Over the course of The next mo., the tension was all but gone. that week, however, pro-Israel and anti-BDS On the sidelines of the UNGA in New York, forces rallied against Ramirez-Rosa. On 9/3, Trump had a friendly meeting with al-Sisi on for example, Illinois congressman Brad 9/20 and said he would “consider” unfreezing Schneider withdrew his support from the Biss the $195 m. At the same time, a White House campaign over Ramirez-Rosa’s support for the official said (9/20) that $20 m. of withheld BDS movement. payment to Egypt was redirected to the PA Aid to Egypt for wastewater projects.

Since the ouster of Egyptian pres. Hosni UNITED NATIONS Mubarak in 2011, U.S. aid to Egypt has been UNHRC in flux. This quarter, as Congress was deliberating 2018 humanitarian and economic As the quarter opened, it had been more aid to Cairo, the Trump admin. took its first than a year since the UN Human Rights step toward establishing its position on the Council approved a resolution calling for “ ” issue. On 8/22, 2 U.S. sources said the Trump the creation of a database, or blacklist, of ’ admin. had decided to withhold approximately companies that operate in Israel s settlements $290 m. in aid because the Egyptian govt. had (see JPS 45 [4]). UN High Commissioner for failed to make adequate progress on democratic Human Rights Zeid Ra‘ad Al Hussein had reforms ($195 m. was reportedly suspended, already delayed publication of the so-called while $95.7 m. was cut altogether). The decision blacklist once in 2017, in part due to U.S. was partly a response to Egyptian pres. al-Sisi’s pressure, according to Western diplomats decision to approve a law imposing additional (Washington Post,8/21),buthewas restrictions on NGOs on 5/30/2017, they said. reportedly intent on publishing it by the The decision led to a brief period of tension end of the year. In preparation, Al Hussein between Egypt and the U.S. On 8/23, the sentoutadraftlisttothegovts.ofcountries Egyptian govt. canceled a meeting between where listed companies were based in 8/2017,

138 || Journal of Palestine Studies Update on Conflict and Diplomacy seeking their comments by 9/1. According suspension of services, calling (8/14) on to a report in Haaretz on 9/28, Al Hussein UNRWA to keep the hospital open “as sent similar letters to the listed companies required by international laws and themselves in mid-9/2017. Senior Israeli resolutions.” The suspension also sparked a officials and Western diplomats said (9/28) wave of protests from the Palestinian public. that 150 companies were contacted, including For weeks after it went into effect on 8/21, approximately 30 based in the U.S. and 75 in Palestinians gathered outside the hospital for Israel, including global firms such as sit-ins and other demonstrations. Although Caterpillar, Priceline.com, TripAdvisor, and UNRWA had not reversed its decision by Airbnb. quarter’s end, the agency repeatedly reaffirmed As the end-of-year publication deadline (8/21) its commitment to “delivering health approached, both the U.S. and Israel ramped and other services to Palestine refugees . . . up their efforts to scuttle the project. including those residing in .” They were likely motivated by the fact that the blacklist was already having an effect. UNIFIL Senior Israeli officials said (9/28) that the The Israeli effort to undermine Hezbollah Office of Strategic Affairs at Israel’s Ministry in the diplomatic arena took on a new for Economic Affairs had learned that several dimension this quarter. Israeli officials were of the companies included on the draft list already calling for international attention to had already informed Al Hussein of their Hezbollah’s alleged arms stockpiling and its intentions not to renew contracts or sign new construction of a new weapons production ones in Israel. “Foreign companies will not facility in s. Lebanon, allegedly with Iranian invest in something that reeks of political support. In 8/2017, Israeli and U.S. leaders problems,” one Israeli official said (9/28). cited these issues in a campaign to alter the “This could snowball.” mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), giving the 10,500-strong UNRWA peacekeeping force more authority to police At the end of the previous quarter, on Hezbollah. 8/14, the United Nations Relief and Works As the 8/31 UNSC deadline to renew Agency (UNRWA) announced an indefinite UNIFIL’s annual mandate approached, UNIFIL suspension of intakes of new patients for ear, commander Maj. Gen. Michael Beary rejected nose, and throat treatments, cold ailments, (8/23) the allegations that Hezbollah was and childbirths at its hospital in Qalqilya, stockpiling weapons, explaining that his troops pending an investigation into the recent death had not come across any evidence to support of a Palestinian child at the facility. “Intense the claims. In response, U.S. amb. to the UN efforts to reform the Qalqilya hospital have Haley accused (8/25) Beary of ignoring the not been successful in the past years and the problem, and Israeli PM Netanyahu raised the Agency is no longer able to ensure that issue of Hezbollah with UN secy.-gen. Guterres medical services provided in the hospital meet during a meeting on 8/28. the required health care standards,” an 8/14 The UNSC ultimately renewed (8/30) statement from UNRWA read. The PA UNIFIL’s mandate for another year with new Ministry of Health strongly condemned the language authorizing more joint border patrols

Winter 2018 || 139 Update on Conflict and Diplomacy with Lebanese armed forces and requiring Palestinians decided to suspend their bid after UNIFIL to file “prompt and detailed” reports U.S. officials insisted that it violated PA pres. whenever its troops encounter Hezbollah Abbas’s pledge to refrain from unilateral moves roadblocks. Israel’s amb. to the UN Danny at international forums (see “The Palestinian- Danon welcomed (8/30) the decision, and Israeli Conflict” above). Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked the Trump admin. for its “leadership” in pushing INTERNATIONAL SOCCER for the change. It was later reported (9/5) that International soccer’s governing body, Russian diplomats were instrumental in the Fédération Internationale de Football countering the U.S. and Israeli efforts. They Association (FIFA), delivered its final ruling reportedly secured the removal of large portions on the Palestinian attempt to get Israel of Israel- and U.S.-proposed text that would suspended from international competition have expanded UNIFIL’s mission further. this quarter. For years, the Palestinians had pushed for FIFA to enforce its own rules that UNESCO bar one national association from holding On 10/12, a State Dept. spokesperson matches on the territory of another without announced that the U.S. was withdrawing from permission, citing the presence of 6 Israel the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Football Association (IFA)-sanctioned teams Organization (UNESCO). The announcement in Israel’s West Bank settlements. On 10/27, came 6 years after U.S. pres. Obama had however, the FIFA Council decided that presided over an indefinite suspension in U.S. any “interference” might “aggravate” the support for the organization, triggered by a U.S. situation. “Given that the final status of law barring support for UN agencies and bodies the West Bank territories is the concern of that admit Palestine as a mbr. (UNESCO voted the competent international public law to admit Palestine in 10/2011; see JPS 41 [2]). authorities, the FIFA Council agrees that Explaining the withdrawal, the spokesperson FIFA, in line with the general principle cited (10/12) the $550 m. that the U.S. owed in established in its Statutes, must remain unpaid dues and UNESCO’s alleged anti-Israel neutral with regard to political matters,” bias. Shortly after the announcement, the Council ruled, according to a 10/27 Netanyahu praised (10/12) the move as “brave statement. and moral” and pledged to withdraw Israel At the same time, the Council decided (10/27) from UNESCO as well. that its monitoring comm., which was established as a compromise measure in 2015 World Tourism Organization (see JPS 45 [1]), would continue working to The UN’s World Tourism Organization “facilitate the movement of players, officials, (WTO) announced (9/13) that a vote on the and football equipment in, out of, and within Palestinian bid for membership, which was Palestine.” submitted in 9/2016 and on the agenda for the IFA pres. Ofer Eini, who orchestrated the WTO’s 9/2017 general assembly in Chengdu, Israeli efforts to undermine the Palestinian was being delayed until the next WTO meeting campaign, celebrated (10/27) the decision as due to be held in 2019. According to senior a “significant achievement.” The Palestinian Israeli and U.S. officials on 9/13, the Football Association (PFA) criticized the

140 || Journal of Palestine Studies Update on Conflict and Diplomacy decision, but had already escalated the dispute nonbinding, and each mbr. has the authority to the relevant international court. After FIFA to decide how to respond to them. yielded to Israeli pressure and removed a debate on the Palestinian complaints from the FIFA EUROPE Congress’s agenda in 5/2017 (see JPS 46 [4]), Following persistent reports of Israeli forces the PFA filed an appeal with the Court of confiscating EU-funded construction Arbitration for Sport (CAS). On 11/6, the CAS materials and demolishing EU-supported announced that its panel would hear the case on infrastructure projects in the West Bank, 11/27, and a final ruling was expected in early 8 European govts. signed onto a letter 12/2017. demanding that the Israeli govt. pay them more than €30,000 (approx. $35,400) in INTERPOL compensation, according to Palestinian and Despite Israeli and U.S. pressure to delay or EU officials (10/19). The Belgian govt. suspend the vote, Interpol’s general assembly reportedly orchestrated the effort, with approved Palestine’s petition for full France, Spain, Sweden, Luxembourg, Italy, membership on 9/27, with 75 mbr. states in Ireland, and Denmark participating. favor, 24 against, and 34 abstaining. PA PM European diplomats coordinated the measure Hamdallah lauded the decision as a “victory for after their Israeli counterparts rejected an the Palestinian people,” and the PA put out a informal request for compensation during a statement saying, “The State of Palestine meeting in 9/2017. The Israelis reportedly considers this membership and the argued that the Europeans were facilitating responsibilities that it entails as an integral part illegal development in Area C of the West of its responsibility towards the Palestinian Bank, and that their support did not people and a moral commitment to the citizens constitute humanitarian aid (Haaretz, 10/19). of the world.” However, there were indications that the U.S., AFRICA Israel, and their allies in the international Netanyahu’s outreach efforts on the African community would still be able to obstruct continent suffered a setback this quarter. Palestinian participation in the international On 9/11, the Jerusalem Post reported that police organization. U.S. sen. Ben Cardin the Africa-Israel , which in many (D-MD), the top-ranking Democrat on the ways was the culmination of Netanyahu’s Senate Foreign Relations Comm., said (9/27) diplomatic campaign, had been indefinitely that he was concerned that the Palestinians postponed. The summit’sorganizers would be able to issue Interpol “red notices,” expected the heads of state from more than which function similarly to international arrest 24 countries and representatives from warrants. The U.S., Israel, and many other approximately 150 Israeli companies to countries would not recognize the Palestinian come together in Lomé, the capital of Togo, red notices, according to Cardin. In a statement on 10/23–27. While Israeli news outlets and responding to Cardin, Interpol pointed out key some Israeli officials pointed to political differences between red notices and arrest unrest in Togo, the postponement came warrants. The notices are merely meant as alerts amid a growing pushback on the Israeli to other countries, the statement said. They are outreach efforts. Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia,

Winter 2018 || 141 Update on Conflict and Diplomacy

Mauritania, Sudan, and South Africa had had agreed to provide $15 m. per mo. to fund announced they would be boycotting the projects improving humanitarian conditions summit in solidarity with the Palestinians. in Gaza. He said that the money would be Although the summit was a failure, the administered by a new body, known as the Israelis were undeterred from pursuing their Palestinian Joint Liability Comm., under broader goals. In an interview with the Times of Egyptian supervision, and that the comm. was Israel on 9/14, the dir.-gen. of Israel’sMinistry established in the wake of the agreement of Foreign Affairs, Yuval Rotem, said that between Hamas and exiled Fatah leader postponement actually showed that the Israeli Dahlan in 6/2017 (see JPS 47 [1]). Separately, efforts were working. “This is actually a Saudi Arabia transferred (8/21) $30.8 m. to paradox: if [our journey] wasn’t so successful, the PA to cover its monthly aid obligations from [the opposition] wouldn’t be so significant” (see 4/2017 to 7/2017. The EU made its quarterly JPS 46 [1] and 47 [1] for more on Israel’s payment of €20 m. (approx. $23.4 m.) to the outreach to Africa). PA to impoverished families in the oPt. UN secy.-gen. Guterres released (8/30) $4 m. from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund DONORS to support ongoing UN operations in Gaza. Japan agreed to give $3.2 m. (10/9) to the The Ad Hoc Liaison Comm., the main World Food Program projects in Gaza and policy-level coordination mechanism for $1 m. (10/5) for the construction of 2 waste development assistance to the Palestinians, disposal stations in the West Bank. convened on the sidelines of the UNGA in As in previous quarters, many New York on 9/18. Hosted by UN undersecy.- announcements of new aid for the Palestinians gen. Jeffrey Feltman, the attendees included came via UNRWA. The U.S. made (8/18) its representatives from the PA, Israel, the annual pledge of $2 m. to the agency. The International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Kuwaiti amb. to Jordan handed over (8/18) a and the Middle East Quartet, as well as UN check worth $200,000, fulfilling a pledge Special Coordinator Mladenov. In conclusion, made on 5/21/2017. The development arm of the meeting’s chair and Norwegian FM Børge the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Brende called for “concerted action” in 3 key Countries (Fund for International areas: fiscal sustainability, economic Development) committed (9/13) $1 m. to development, and reconstruction and UNRWA’s education system in East Jerusalem. recovery efforts in Gaza. He also specifically TheEUagreedtoprovide(10/10)€9.5 m. welcomed the Egyptian govt.’seffortsto (approx. $11.1 m.) as an emergency supplement facilitate the return of the PA to Gaza (see to its €82 m. (approx. $99 m.) pledge for the “Intra-Palestinian Dynamics” above). agency’s core programs earlier this year. There were announcements of new Austria contributed (9/22) €1.5 m. (approx. international aid allocations to the Palestinians $1.8 m.) to support the agency’s health programs throughout the quarter, but no major increase in in the oPt. Japan gave approx. $10.2 m. (9/27) to associated dollar amounts. The biggest came on a variety of programs across the oPt and $3 m. 8/17, when a Palestinian official said that the (9/8) to the agency’s humanitarian response UAEandanumberofotherdonorcountries efforts following the clashes in Lebanon’s

142 || Journal of Palestine Studies Update on Conflict and Diplomacy

‘Ayn al-Hilweh r.c. (see “Lebanon” above). There were a handful of boycott-related Finally, the UK-based Al-Khair Foundation developments elsewhere in the world as well. donated (11/13) $40,000 to fund psychosocial On World Photography Day (8/19), a group activities for individuals traumatized by the 3 of more than 40 Portuguese photographers as Israeli assaults on Gaza since 2008. well as photography teachers and students took a pledge not to accept professional invitations or financing from Israel and to BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT, refuse partnerships with Israeli cultural SANCTIONS institutions complicit in the occupation. On 9/25, the Palestine Support Network Australia Over 170 Palestinian civil society groups (PSNA) announced that the Royal Flying launched the Boycott, Divestment and Doctor Service South Eastern Section, which Sanctions (BDS) movement in 2005. Its aim is delivers health care in the Australian outback, to create an international campaign of boycotts, canceled a planned partnership with Elbit divestments, and sanctions against Israel “until Systems, an Israeli arms maker, following an it complies with international law and 18-mo. PSNA-led boycott campaign. Leading Palestinian rights.” up to the Round Tables culinary festival (11/ 5–10), which features internationally BOYCOTT renowned chefs cooking in Tel Aviv Canada was a hotbed of boycott-related restaurants, Irish chef JP McMahon and activity this quarter. Unifor National, the Peruvian chef Mitsuharu Tsumura withdrew country’s largest private-sector trade union, from the event following appeals from BDS endorsed BDS at its annual convention in activists not to participate in “culinary Winnipeg on 8/18–20. The organization propaganda.” Finally, Jordan BDS reported specifically called for BDS actions with regard to (10/3) that the local branch of UN Women “sectors of Israel’s economy and society [that] wasdroppingitscontractswithG4S,making profit from the ongoing occupation of the it the 5th UN agency based in Jordan to cut occupied Palestinian territories.” Then, on 11/5, ties with the UK security contractor. the Canadian BDS Coalition announced that Air Canada’s “five-year, multi-million-dollar DIVESTMENT contract with Israel Aerospace Industries Bedek The University of Michigan’s(UM)central Aviation Group for heavy maintenance on Air student govt. passed (11/15) a resolution calling Canada Boeing 767 jets was terminated in ‘early on the Board of Regents to assemble a comm. to 2017,’ with 2 years remaining.” According to a investigate the university’s investments in 3 report at the Electronic Intifada, the contract was companies complicit in Israel’s occupation of worthtensofmillionsofdollars,andthe Palestinian lands—Boeing, Hewlett Packard #AirCanadaComplicity campaign won the Enterprise, and United Technologies. BDS support of trade unions and Palestinian solidarity activists at UM have been pushing for a groups across Canada. Air Canada, the country’s divestment resolution since at least 2014. Each largest airline, reportedly told the activists that previous attempt failed, in part, because of the work was being transferred to another intervention from pro-Israel groups outside the contractor, but didn’t offer an explanation. school.

Winter 2018 || 143 The Journal of Palestine Studies (ISSN 0377-919X, online ISSN 1533-8614) is published quarterly by the University of California Press, 155 Grand Avenue, Suite 400, Oakland, , forCA the94612-3764 Institute for Palestine Studies. See www.ucpressjournals.com/journal.php?j=jps for single issue and subscription orders, and claims information. Periodicals postage paid at Oakland, CA, and additional mailing o ffices. Postmaster: Send all address changes to Journal of Palestine Studies, University of California Press, 155 Grand Avenue, Suite 400, Oakland, CA 94612. Please direct all questions regarding subscriptions to University of California Press at the address above or by email at [email protected]. Domestic claims for non-receipt of issue must be made within 90 days of the mail date, overseas claims within 180 days. Mail dates can be checked here: http://www.ucpressjournals.com/ucpress.asp? page=ReleaseSchedule. UC Press does not begin accepting claims for an issue until thirty (30) days after the mail date. Canadian GST 89626 2698 RT0001. Correspondence with the editors should be directed to the Journal of Palestine Studies, 3501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007, [email protected], (202) 342-3990. Opinions expressed in the Journal of Palestine Studies are solely those of their authors and do not reflect the opinions of the Insti - tute for Palestine Studies. Quotations from articles and other passages from the Journal may not be reproduced for sales or advertising without the prior written permission of both author and publisher. Copying notice: Permission to distribute electronically, republish, resell, license, or otherwise repur- pose material from JPS, as well as requests for offprints, reprints, or photocopies for classroom use may be submitted through the University of California Pressw ebsite \ at www.ucpress.edu/journals/rights. htm. Articles appearing in the Journal of Palestine Studies are abstracted and indexed in the following select databases: Alternative Press Index; America: History and Life; Arts & Humanities Citation Index; CSA Political Science & Government; CSA Worldwide Political Science Abstracts; Current Contents; Ethnic NewsWatch; Geographical Abstracts; Index to Jewish Periodicals; International Bibliography of the Social Sciences; International Development Abstracts; International Political Science Abstracts; Middle East Abstracts; PAIS International; ProQuest Research Library; Social Sciences Citation Index; Social Services Abstracts; Sociological Abstracts. For complete abstracting and indexing information, please visit www. ucpress.edu/journals/jps......

Design: Orcada Media Group Composition:d iacriTech Printing: Sheridan Press

Printed by The Sheridan Press on Forest Stewardship Council®–certified paper.