Israeli soldiers shut down a non-violent protest in Hebron June 6, declaring the area a "Closed Military Zone" and harassing international peace activists and Palestinians. The protest was against the expansion of the illegal Susya settlement of south of Hebron, which has recently added several trailer homes outside the initial settlement boundaries. Verbal clashes and heated arguments erupted as troops barred protesters from entering the area—though the soldiers claimed the area was closed because they feared violence from settlers against the protesters. (Ma'an News Agency, June 6)

The legislative committee of the Israeli cabinet on May 31 rejected a bill that would make a declaration of allegiance to a "Jewish, Zionist and democratic" Israel a prerequisite to the issuance of a national identity card. The measure was proposed last week by Knesset member David Rotem of the Israel Beytenu party, which was the only party to vote in favor of the bill. Israel Beytenu spokesman Tal Nahum criticized the vote and said that the party would continue to pursue this and similar measures. Abe Foxman, director of the Anti-Defamation League, told the New York Jewish Week last week that the proposal was discriminatory, aimed at only the Arab minority.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed at a ceremony marking the occupation and annexation of East Jerusalem in the 1967 Six Day War this week that Jerusalem would "forever" remain Israel's capital. "Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. It has always been, will remain so forever and will never be divided," Netanyahu said before thousands of supporters waving Israeli flags. Hundreds of Palestinians and Israeli left-wing activists held a protest sit-in at the Old City's Damascus gate, chanting "No to occupation, yes to peace."

It made the New York Times May 21, when Israeli security forces "dismantled" a small Jewish outpost in the West Bank—in what was seen as a gesture by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to President Obama three days after their meeting in Washington. No arrests were made at the "illegal" outpost—Maoz Esther, is in the Ramallah region—where at least four families lived in a couple of concrete structures and several temporary shacks. Hours after security forces withdrew, residents set about rebuilding the demolished structures. Israel's YNet quotes settlers who vowed to make the outpost larger. MK Michael Ben Ari (National Union) also arrived at the scene and nailed a mezuzah to the wooden structure being raised by the settlers, stating: "It's my duty as a legislator."

From Israel's YNet, April 21:

A museum commemorating the Holocaust was inaugurated on Tuesday in the Palestinian village of Na'alin, which has become a symbol for the struggle against the separation fence.

Hamas authorities should end the systematic detention, torture, and execution of political opponents and suspected Israeli collaborators in the Gaza Strip, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report issued April 20. HRW said at least 32 Palestinians have been killed and several dozen more maimed in a wave of violent persecution since the start of the recent Israeli military offensive in December.

Several hundred demonstrated in Tel Aviv April 18 to protest the killing of a Palestinian activist in the West Bank town of Bil'in the previous day. The march, attended by Hadash MK Dov Khenin, culminated across from the Ministry of Defense offices, where protesters denounced both the IDF and the government. Participants carried signs bearing slogans such as "Uniformed Killers," "Arab Blood Isn't Second-Rate" and "Blood Government, Get Out of the Occupied Territories." Said a statement from the organizers: "The occupying forces have recently escalated their attacks on demonstrators protesting the separation fence." (Haartez, April 18)

Palestinian sources reported April 17 that a local protester was killed after being hit in the chest by a tear gas canister during a demonstration against the separation wall in the West Bank village of Bilin. Village resident Bassem Ibrahim Abu-Rahma, 30, was evacuated to a Ramallah hospital, where he died of his wounds. The army confirmed the report of his death, and IDF representatives met with Palestinian officials later in the day as part of a joint investigation into the incident. (YNet, April 17).