The dominant issue this week has been the proposed amendment to Israel’s Basic Law: whether to change the definition of Israel from ‘Jewish and democratic state’ to ‘the national homeland of the Jewish people?’ (i.e. all Jews). Netanyahu favours the change, President Rivlin is against it. The cabinet is split.
‘An imaginary and abstract nation’
Ruling clique splits over defining Israel
The arson attack on a children’s unique Arab-Jewish school in Jerusalem had just occurred as we completed this week’s postings. Palestinian and Israeli commentary has yet to come in. but the wide international coverage of the event reveals an increasing ‘distaste’ at the burgeoning racist violence in Israel and the particular chaos in Jerusalem.
Jewish horde continues hate-rampage in Jerusalem
Marwan Barghouti, the imprisoned and unofficial Palestinian leader, has broken with his past and called for armed resistance by Palestinians. Whether he is leading a trend or following one is not clear.
Marwan Barghouti calls for armed resistance
The EU continues its dithering over Israel, partly because of political pro-Israel and pro-Palestine conflict, partly because of the value of Israeli trade (EU imports only) with the EU.
EU parliament delays vote on Palestinian state
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