Israel has a long history of holding Palestinians responsible for their own deaths. Most famously, Golda Meir’s “we can never forgive them for forcing us to kill their children”... to "Palestinians have a culture of death" that explains their readiness to die in Gaza ... ... to Bennett now saying “it appears likely that armed Palestinians – who were indiscriminately firing at the time – were responsible for the unfortunate death of the journalist.”

1. This morning, @amnesty published a report concluding that “Israel has perpetrated the international wrong of apartheid”, building on decades of Palestinian activism, work by @alhaq_org and @AlMezanCenter and recent landmark reports published by @btselem and @hrw. 2. Through extensive analysis, Amnesty demonstrates how Israel has developed a system to exercise control over the Palestinian people, through segregation and institutionalized laws, policies and practices intending to oppress and dominate.

1. A few other thoughts on Israel’s criminalization of human rights defenders. #thread 2. Israel’s effort to silence defenders of Palestinian human rights (Israeli, international and Palestinian), is systematic and strategic. This does not begin nor does it end with Gantz. See @YousefMunayyer thread.

https://twitter.com/YousefMunayyer/status/1451551832497602572

Some lessons and reflections while observing Sheikh Jarrah from afar this past week // Thread 1. The quiet on the Palestinian street that international observers are fond of pointing to – using terms like apathy, indifference, and pacification - are not signs of stability, acceptance, acquiescence or defeat. They are an indication of wishful thinking not of reality.

1. A few initial thoughts, in no specific order, on the UAE-Israel announcement. Thread// 2. This is not a “historic peace agreement” but a repackaging of an ongoing reality of normalisation between the UAE and Israel against the backdrop of de facto annexation and occupation of Palestinian territories.

The first two cases of COVID-19 were announced in the Gaza Strip last night - beginning a nightmare scenario for many. Some initial thoughts. #thread on #Gaza. 1/ No one knows how many people catch COVID in any one area. Estimates have suggested that at least 25-50% of a population will. That’s 0.5-1m people in Gaza. 20% of those will have to be hospitalized; 100-200K. Gaza’s hospitals have 2,600 beds.

1/ Reacting to Trump’s vision, the Palestinian leadership has pursued some good tactics alongside misguided ones. How should they really respond? My latest piece for @ForeignPolicy – and additional reflections below. foreignpolicy.com/2020/02/18/the… @ForeignPolicy 2/ The PLO mobilized at the UNSC but failed to secure their resolution. Documents show the diplomatic battle the Palestinians face, with the US literally track-changing international law out of the draft resolution. foreignpolicy.com/2020/02/14/whi…

Broad thoughts on Trump’s plan, while awaiting the details. (thread) 1. Palestinian absence from negotiations that shape their fate is nothing new. With the expulsion of the PLO mission from DC, this is a contemporary manifestation of pre-Oslo American-Israeli dealings to design Palestinian autonomy. (Also of past colonial practices).

1. The #Gaza ceasefire broke this morning after barely a few hours. Over the past two days, Israeli fire has killed 34 Palestinians, and counting, including 6 children. 2. This escalation began with Israel’s assassination of Islamic Jihad leader Baha’ al-Atta, which ended a period of calm that has been in place since at least September.

Apparently it’s official: #Israel to prevent the entry of @IlhanMN and @RashidaTlaib for their tour of #Palestine next week. Beyond disappointment at not being able to talk to them about #Gaza, a few thoughts. 1/ The very basic fact that Israel can prevent American congresswomen from touring the Palestinian territories is all the evidence one needs to show that Palestinians are living in a one-state reality under absolute Israeli control and sovereignty.

A story: this week’s dramatic battle over Area C in #Israel and #Palestine. Israel’s Higher Planning Council for Judea and Samaria approved 2,304 new settler homes and “legalized” outposts, many of which are deep within the territories, entrenching control and strategically expanding its settlement enterprise.

A few thoughts on the economic plan released by the Trump administration last night, despite my instinct to avoid giving this any more air time. Thread. #PeacetoProsperity #Trump #DealOfTheCentury 1/ The 40p doc. is little more than glossy repackaging of recycled economic projects, including the Kerry initiative, that have been in the public sphere for years. Even by the lowest threshold of anticipation – offering innovative economic prospects – this plan fails to impress.