Today’s Top Stories
1. According to Maan News, Mahmoud Abbas will declare at the UN that Palestine is a “state under occupation,” annulling the Oslo Accords. The Times of Israel reports that Saeb Erekat is masterminding this maneuver.
. . . the resignation threats were no more than a diversion ahead of a dramatic move planned by the Palestinians: declaring Palestine a state under occupation and reneging on their obligations as detailed in the Oslo Accords.
It’s not the first time we’ve heard rumors that Oslo will be voided, that the PA will be dismantled, or that Abbas will resign. It always seems to come back to Israeli-Palestinian security cooperation that keeps Fatah cadres from being chucked off Ramallah rooftops by Hamas.
2. Reham Dawabshe, who was severely burnt in the Duma arson attack, succumbed to her injuries last night. Her husband and 18-month old son died in July.
Sheba Medical Center officials said that the last survivor, her four-year-old son Ahmed, is improving. The Palestinians say they will hold a “Day of Rage” on Friday.
3. Faiz Abu Hamadiah, the Palestinian who saved five American Jewish students from a Hebron lynch mob last week, is getting death threats from other Palestinians.
Israel and the Palestinians
• By the numbers: Palestinian refugees fleeing Syria, based on Jerusalem Post coverage.
500,000: Overall Palestinians who fled homes in Syrian refugee camps
200,000: Palestinian refugees still in Syria
100,000: Palestinian refugees who have fled to Europe
2,300: Palestinian refugees drowned en route to Greece
1,000: Palestinian refugees drowned en route to other places in Europe
• Insisting that Paris doesn’t support boycotts of Israel, French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron told AFP that France does support labeling settlement products.
• The African National Congress is considering banning dual citizenship to block South African Jews from serving in the IDF. News sites like iAfrica cited a paywalled Johannesburg Sunday Times report:
The Sunday Times newspaper is reporting that ANC also wants to crackdown on private sector ties with Israel.
However, this move would also affect others, who hold dual citizenship with countries besides the Jewish state.
• I got a few emails all wondering why the heck the BBC’s sports section plugged its Israel-Wales coverage with a Palestinian flag. Here’s the screengrab that lit up my inbox. (The game ended in a scoreless draw).
• The Palestinians are preparing to host their first ever World Cup qualifier. According to AP, a Tuesday game against the visiting United Arab Emirates is the first of a series of high profile match ups in the West Bank.
• Notwithstanding some errors, check out YNet‘s profile of Eugene Kontorovich and his fight against the boycott movement.
• Syrian Druze stand between Islamic State and Israeli border, Druze sheikh warns.
If Islamic State gets past Sweida, it puts Jordan and the Israeli border areas at risk, Israeli Druse spiritual leader Sheikh Maufak Tarif told the Post.
The Druse in Sweida are preparing for war and will fight if they have to, he said.
• Israel began working on a fence along the Jordan border. The defense ministry advanced the time table for construction because of the Islamic State threat.
Around the World
• Hate crimes against London‘s Jewish community surge by 93%
• Controversial statue at the Palace of Versailles defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti.
• Elderly Jewish couple subjected to anti-Semitic abuse in Amsterdam robbery.
• North Korea’s reportedly helping Tehran thwart nuclear inspections in Iran.
• Reuters takes a closer look at Lebanon’s garbage crisis.
Commentary/Analysis
• Should Israel take in Syrian refugees? Seth Lipsky argues yes, while Dan Margalit argues no.
• Here’s what else I’m reading today . . .
– Amos Harel: Putin’s military build-up in Syria a game-changer for Israel?
– Judith Bergman: Who gains from BDS?
– Elliott Abrams: Was Bibi right to fight the Iran deal?
Featured image: CC BY-SA flickr/Estitxu Carton with additions by HonestReporting
For more, see yesterday’s Israel Daily News Stream and join the IDNS on Facebook.
Before you comment on this article, please remind yourself of our Comments Policy. Any comments deemed to be in breach of the policy will be removed at the editor’s discretion.
