[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Palestine and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Palestine Page Co-Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each roundup to Palestine@jadaliyya.com.]
The Occupation Forces
Israeli Propaganda Stunt Exploits Gaza Children COGAT, the Israeli military authority, recently posted on Facebook a group of twenty three children who had crossed from Gaza, depicting them as happy. It is being labeled as propaganda by the Israeli military.
Brother and Sister Slain at Checkpoint Were Executed, Palestinians Say Maram Salih Hassan Abu Ismail and Ibrahim Salih Hassan Taha, brother and sister, were executed by Israeli forces after an alleged knife attack. After both being shot, they were denied medical services.
Israel Arrests Palestinian Journalist en Route to Int`l Conference Omar Nazzal, Palestinian journalist, was arrested and has been held in custody for “security charges” based on secret evidence.
Israeli Bulldozers Level Lands in Eastern Gaza Strip Israeli bulldozers leveled land in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday.
Domestic Politics
Palestinian Astrophysicist Arrested and Jailed for Second Time in 15 Months Imad al-Barghouti, professor of space physics at al-Quds University was arrested for a second time at an Israeli checkpoint.
Abbas Inaugurates Statue of Nelson Mandela in Ramallah A statue of Nelson Mandela was erected in Ramallah, in what will be called Mandela Square.
If the Palestinians are Guilty of Incitement Then What Does Israel`s 24/7 Occupation Amount To? While Israel detains Palestinians on counts of incitement, its ongoing military occupation is usually systematically ignored.
Poll: Support for Knife Attacks Higher in Gaza than West Bank Amid Bleak Political Outlook The Jerusalem Media and Communication Center (JMCC) published a report find that forty seven percent of Palestinian youth in the West Bank support knife attacks, compared to seventy nine percent in the Gaza Strip.
Foreign Policy
Over 80 US Senators Push Obama to Increase Military Aid to Israel eighty three American senators signed a letter to President Obama urging him to increase Israel’s military aid to five billion dollars.
Settlers and Illegal Settlements
Israel to Confiscate 1,250 Acres of Palestinian Land for Illegal Outposts The villages of Kahllat al-Wusta, Shieb Khallat al-Wusta, and Abu al-Kasbar will all have their land confiscated for military settlements.
Palestinian Bus Attacked by Israeli Settlers Near Qalqiliya A Palestinian bus was attacked by Israeli settlers throwing stones in Qalqiliya.
Settlers Set Up Tents Near Jenin Settlers broke into an abandoned military compound outside Jenin and set up tents and began chanting racist slogans toward Arabs.
Israeli Settlers Beat Al-Aqsa Guards, Threaten to Slaughter Them Settlers, under the protection of Israeli military and police, threatened and beat al-Aqsa guards in front of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions
American University of Beirut Students Protest in Support of Steven Salaita as School President Intervenes to Cancel Hiring Process Students at AUB is protesting the canceled hiring of Steven Salaita.
Maryland Coalition Defeats Anti-BDS Bill in State Assembly The Freedom2Boycott coalition won big in Maryland as a no anti-boycott measure was introduced to the General Assembly.
NYU and UMass Graduate Employee Unions Vote to Divest from Israeli Apartheid Two more unions, GSOC-UAW 2110 and GEO-UAW 2322, voted for divestment from Israel.
Law
Number of Palestinian Children in Israeli Prisons Soars Dima al-Wawi, 12-years-old, was Israel’s youngest female prisoner until her release on April 24. Israel currently has over 400 children in prison.
Israel`s Silent War Against Journalists in Palestine At least twenty journalists are currently beingheld in administrative detention in Israeli jails.
Hunger-Striking Palestinian Returned to Prison After Hospitalization Sami Janazreh, who has been on hunger strike for 54 days, was recently hospitalized for head injuries in prison. After being treated, he was brought back into Israeli custody.
UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices to Visit Amman and Cairo on Annual Mission The UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of Palestinian People and Other Arbs of the Occupied Territories will be taking its annual visit to Amman and Cairo in the month of May to discuss special issues.
UN: 800 Palestinians Evicted in First Quarter of 2016 According to a UN report, over five hundred buildings have been demolished in the first quarter with 2016, which evicted eight hundred people; a 400% increase from 2015.
Economy and Development
UNESCO Slams Israeli Occupation of Palestinian Sites A UNESCO report lambasted Israel for its occupation over Palestinian cultural sites such as Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Gaza University Showcases Local Produce The Islamic University of Gaza hosted an exhibition of local produce.
Unemployment Rate in Gaza Reaches 60% The unemployment rate in Gaza has reached 60%, while 70% live in poverty.
Gaza Holds Mental Health Conference The Gaza Community Mental Health Program (GCMHP) held its sixth conference titled “Mental Health and Human Rights” in Gaza City. Numbers of attendees exceed eighty.