vjp-global

http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-phone-call-netanyahu-thanks-abbas-for-pa-help-battling-nationwide-blazes/ PM notes appreciation for Jews, Arabs who opened their homes to those affected by blazes; Herzog says tragedy shows 'glimmer of hope that things can be different.'   Posted by Judith Ferster, AIME member

http://972mag.com/no-fires-or-inciting-politicians-can-destroy-our-shared-society/123351/ The wildfire that struck Neve Shalom-Wahat al-Salam left our Jewish-Arab village more resilient than ever before. We invite Israel's politicians to learn from us on how to heal our society's wounds.   Posted by Judith Ferster, AIME member

https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/charlotte-silver/hague-prosecutor-updates-palestine-war-crimes-probe   The prosecutor's office at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has just released a report on the status of its preliminary examinations into possible war crimes, including allegations against Israel.  Palestine is one of 10 situations the court is currently examining. A preliminary examination is the first step in the court's process to decide whether or not to open a full investigation that could lead to indictments and prosecutions.   All parties – the Israeli government and Palestinian armed groups – have been accused of war crimes and any act committed after 13 June 2014 is subject for review. This includes Israel's summer 2014 assault on Gaza that left more than 2,200 Palestinians dead… Posted by Judith Ferster, AIME member

https://electronicintifada.net/content/are-palestinians-ready-trump/18651   …Palestinians are uniquely unprepared for this moment, mostly as a result of a lack of direction and leadership.   This is as true of Fatah in the occupied West Bank under Mahmoud Abbas' increasingly autocratic ways , as it is of Hamas , boxed in on all sides in the Gaza Strip.   But where Fatah's leadership succession is causing a host of problems for the party of the late Yasser Arafat, at least Hamas seems on track for a smooth process to replace Khaled Meshaal . .… A renewed role for the PLO is vital to include Palestinians in the diaspora, who, after all, make up a majority of all Palestinians yet have found themselves with almost no say in Palestinian decision-making.   It could also see Palestinian political leaders take advantage of and lend their weight to global initiatives like the growing boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, BDS, that are gaining in momentum…Som...

https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/charlotte-silver/new-lawsuit-challenges-us-weapons-sales-israel The US government is being sued for authorizing massive weapons deliveries to Israel…A new lawsuit notes that the State Department approved the export of more than 47 million rounds of ammunition to Israel between 2007 and 2009. That was enough to "injure or kill every Palestinian living under occupation 10 times over,"…the complaint argues that by sending military aid and approving weapons sales to Israel, the US is violating its own legislation…One of the lawsuit's objectives is to uphold the so-called Leahy law, an amendment to the 1961 Foreign Assistance Act… Posted by Judith Ferster, AIME member

http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=773995 French Consul-General Pierre Cochard signed a funding agreement on Wednesday with Palestinian Finance Minister Shukri Bishara, to support the Palestinian Authority (PA) with 8 million euros ($8.55 million)...   Posted by Judith Ferster, AIME member

http://972mag.com/trump-is-the-president-settlers-could-only-dream-of/123148/ Although U.S. policy toward Israeli settlements has fluctuated over time, successive American officials have consistently taken a dim view of the settlement movement. Trump and his advisors may change all that very soon… On Thursday, Jason Greenblatt, co-chairman of the Trump campaign's Israel Advisory Committee, told Israel's Army Radio that "it is certainly not Mr. Trump's view that settlement activities should be condemned and that it is an obstacle for peace..." Later, Israeli Science Minister Ofir Akunis… "called for a renewed wave of settlement construction…." Posted by Judith Ferster, AIME member