Trump’s Deal of the Century Leaves Many Israeli Heritage Sites in PA Hands

By Israel Today— President Donald Trump’s Deal of the Century peace plan leaves hundreds of Israeli heritage and archeology sites under the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) jurisdiction, possibly endangering their existence. Hundreds of Israeli and Jewish heritage and archeology sites in Judea and Samaria would be removed from Israeli control and transferred to the PA, according…

Experts: Israeli sovereignty not expected to cause massive violence or backlash

By Israel Kasnett, JNS— As reports and discussions rev up concerning Israel’s plan to apply sovereignty to parts of Judea and Samaria, as well as the Jordan Valley, concern is being increasingly raised by detractors of the plan over fears concerning potential fallout, including frayed relations with international and regional allies, an end to prospects…

Netanyahu, Gantz, Ashkenazi meet US envoy, amid differences on annexation

By Times of Israel Staff— Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sat down Sunday with US Ambassador David Friedman, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin to discuss plans to unilaterally annex parts of the West Bank in accordance with the Trump administration’s peace plan. Friedman has met with all the…

Annexation vs. Sovereignty: Words Matter

By Arsen Ostrovsky and Richard Kemp, JNS.org— Words matter. They drive narratives. They influence policy. And they shape people’s perceptions. The current debate over whether Israel’s proposed actions in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) — in accordance with President Donald Trump’s “peace to prosperity” plan — amount to “annexation” or the “application of sovereignty”…

Report: Chief ICC prosecutor clears way for war crimes investigation against Israel

By ILH Staff— International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has reportedly told the ICC’s Pretrial Chamber that a war crimes investigation against Israel over its policies regarding the Palestinians can proceed despite the continued application of the 1993 Oslo Accords. Israel and its allies have argued that the Oslo Accords, on which the regional peace…

The Palestinian Issue: a Core Cause of Middle East Turbulence?

By Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger, “Second Thought: a US-Israel Initiative” Why is the red carpet, which welcomes Palestinian leaders to Western capitals, exchanged for a shabby rug when they land in most Arab capitals?B2020, the widely-disseminated Arabic hashtag, “Palestine is not my cause,” reflects the growing Arab disdain toward Palestinians. It is consistent with the…