Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on July 22 ordered the demolition of eight Palestinian villages in the hills south of Hebron because the Israeli military needs the land for training exercises. A total of 1,500 residents will be evicted from their homes and have their lands confiscated in the villages of Majaz, Tabban, Sfai, Fakheit, Halaweh, Mirkez, Jinba and Kharuba. Evacuation orders were first issued in 1999, but were frozen by an injunction from the Israeli High Court of Justice.

No surprises here. A bomb goes off in a tour bus in the Black Sea resort city of Burgas, Bulgaria, killing five Israelis and wounding some 30. Netanyahu wastes not a minute: "All signs point to Iran. In just the past few months we've seen Iran try to target Israelis in Thailand, India, Georgia, Cyprus and more. The murderous Iranian terror continues to target innocent people. This is a global Iranian terror onslaught and Israel will react forcefully to it." Probably not coincidence that the attack comes on the 18th anniversary of the AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires, the world's most deadly attack on Jews since World War II, which has been linked to Hezbollah. More Netanyahu (apparently trying to set a record for number of uses of the word "terror" in a single press release): "Eighteen years exactly after the blast at the Jewish community center in Argentina, murderous Iranian terror continues to hit innocent people. This is an Iranian terror attack that is spreading throughout the entire world. Israel will react powerfully against Iranian terror."

A panel commissioned by the Israeli government recommended July 9 that the state "legalize"* dozens of unsanctioned West Bank settlements. The government has not yet endorsed the recommendations, which include facilitating settlement construction by annulling orders of the Supreme Court of Israel and other legal rulings. The Palestinians, 2.5 million of whom live in the West Bank, claim the West Bank for a future state and have refused to continue peace negotiations with Israel until settlement construction is frozen. A 2004 World Court ruling held all Israeli West Bank settlements "illegal." There are currently over 200 settlements and outposts in the West Bank, home to more than 500,000 Israeli settlers. Last week the Israeli Supreme Court postponed the demolition of "illegal" West Bank settlements at Ulpana, with 30 apartments having had been scheduled for demolition on July 1.

A delegation of senior British jurists last week released a report finding Israel's treatment of Palestinian children in custody violates international law. The report charges that Israel is in violation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on at least six counts and of the Fourth Geneva Convention on at least two counts. The study, "Children in Military Custody," was funded and backed by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and written by an ad hoc group including a former attorney general, a former court of appeal judge and several prominent attorneys.

Police detained 89 demonstrators after more than 6,500 people flooded Tel Aviv's Habima Square the night of June 23 to protest the arrest of Daphni Leef, a leader of last summer's mass movement against inequality and the high cost of housing in Israel. Tel Aviv's district police commander Aharon Eksel told newspaper Haaretz, "Protesters crossed the line. They set out to clash with the police." Police also said the protest was illegal, because no permit had been applied for. Protesters responded that the lack of a permit was intentional, to make the point that permits are difficult to obtain. Clashes were reported from nearby Rabin Square, where protesters attempted to break into banks, and broke the window of one. The elite police "Special Forces" riot squad was mobilized to the scene. The gathering was publicized as an attempt to reboot last year's movement, under the slogan, "Emergency protest! Returning power to the people!" (Allison Kilkenny on The Nation blog, June 25; Haaretz, June 23)

Iran announced June 12 that it plans to build its first nuclear-powered submarine—days before talks with world powers on its nuclear program were set to begin. "Preliminary steps in making an atomic submarine have started and we hope to see the use of...nuclear submarines in the navy in the future," deputy navy commander Abbas Zamini was quoted as saying by Iran's Fars News Agency. (Reuters, June 12) Last month, Israel received its fourth German-made submarine—capable of launching nuclear warheads. Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that the submarine would increase Israel's capabilities "in the face of the growing regional challenges." The Dolphin-type military submarine is one of six Israel has ordered from Germany, which subsidizes the sales. (AP, May 3) Germany's Der Spiegel newspaper, citing unnamed sources, said it has learned that Israel is arming the submarines with nuclear-tipped cruise missiles. Officials said the German government has known about Israel's nuclear weapons program for decades, despite official denials, and assumed nuclear arms would be used on the subs. (Der Spiegel, June 3)

Amnesty International on May 5 urged Israel to release all prisoners of conscience and administrative detainees or immediately try them under international fair trial standards. In a new report, "Starved of Justice: Palestinians detained without trial by Israel," Amnesty states that Israel has been using a number of measures—such as Military Order 1651 of 2010, the Internment of Unlawful Combatants Law of 2002, and the Emergency Powers (Detention) Law of 1979—against Palestinian residents in the West Bank. Although the laws officially apply to everyone, AI reported that the laws are being used to detain only Palestinians. Additionally, AI found that most of the detainees were never informed of the evidence presented against them although they have the right to appeal and are entitled to legal counsel of their choice. With its report, AI concluded that injustice against detainees is still ongoing.

A new law granting Israeli authorities the power to detain "illegal migrants" for up to three years took effect June 3, following a wave of Tel Aviv protests over the influx of African migrants who cross into Israel along its border with Egypt. The law even makes asylum seekers liable to imprisonment—without trial or deportation—if caught staying in Israel for long periods. Additionally, anyone found to be aiding migrants or providing them with shelter could face up to 15 years in prison. The law amended the Prevention of Infiltration Law, passed in 1954 to prevent the entry of Palestinians.