Common Grounds

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• Israel Should Listen To This Palestinian Gandhi, Not Jail Him

  
  May 29, 2017 11:12

  Source: Forward

   

  By Peter Beinart 

  Published May 28, 2017

  http://forward.com/opinion/373119/israel-should-listen-to-this-palestinian-gandhi-not-jail-him/

   

  President Trump’s recent trip to Israel did not matter. He wants to broker the “ultimate deal” — Israeli-Palestinian peace — and thinks the Saudis, who share Israel’s fear of Iran, can help. But the Saudis can’t make Palestinians endorse their own subjugation. Peace requires freedom for the millions currently living under Israeli control without citizenship, free movement, due process or the right to vote for the government that controls their lives.

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• Angela Merkel: EU cannot completely rely on US and Britain any more

  
  May 29, 2017 11:45

  Source: The Guardian

   

  By Jon Henley, European affairs correspondent

  Published May 28, 2017

  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/28/merkel-says-eu-cannot-completely-rely-on-us-and-britain-any-more-g7-talks

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• OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY Fragmented Lives: Humanitarian Overview 2016

  
  May 31, 2017 18:53

  United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs occupied Palestinian territory

  https://www.ochaopt.org/content/un-report-occupation-main-cause-humanitarian-needs-occupied-palestinian-territory

   

  As the 50th anniversary of Israeli occupation approaches, OCHA’s 2016 Annual Report for the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), released today, underscores that occupation policies and practices remain the key cause of humanitarian needs in the oPt. The internal Palestinian political divide is also a serious contributing factor.

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• US envoy Haley in Jerusalem vows to defend Israel at UN

  
  June 07, 2017 20:59

  Source: France 24

  http://www.france24.com/en/20170607-us-envoy-haley-jerusalem-vows-defend-israel-un

   

  JERUSALEM (AFP) - US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley hailed a "new day" for Israel at the global body Wednesday as she held talks with Israeli leaders in Jerusalem.

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• UN chief condemns Zionist occupation of Palestine

  
  June 07, 2017 08:47

  Source: Islamic Republic News Agency - IRNA

  http://www.irna.ir/en/News/82555601/

   

  Tehran, June 6, IRNA – While the Zionist regime is marking 50 years of its settlement in the Palestinian Territories, the United Nations Secretary-General in a statement has denounced Israel’s five decades of occupation.

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• Is Forgiving My Enemy A Muslim Tradition?

  
  June 04, 2017 13:21

  Source: FuffPost

   

  By Safi Kaskas

  Co-author of "The Qur'an, A Contemporary Understanding, with References to the Bible"

   

  Published June 02, 2017

  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/59318216e4b00573ab57a2b5

   

  A few years ago, I was speaking to a group of Muslims about forgiving your enemy and a young lady said to me, “But forgiving your enemy is a Christian tradition and it’s not for Muslims.” Her statement shook me to my core as it contradicted many basic concepts I had found in the Qur’an after spending more than six years translating it from the original Arabic into simple English.

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• 1,800 US rabbis call on Israel to end occupation, lay groundwork for peace

  
  June 12, 2017 18:07

  Source: The Times of Israel

  http://www.timesofisrael.com/1800-us-rabbis-call-on-israel-to-end-occupation-lay-groundwork-for-peace/

   

  by JTA

   

  In missive marking 50 years since 1967 war delivered to Israeli embassy in DC, liberal rabbinic organization urges Israel to help create Palestinian state

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• Liberal Zionists think the ’67 occupation is all about them

  
  June 13, 2017 19:14

  Source: Mondoweiss

  Published June 8, 2017

   

  By Nada Elia

  
  I wasn’t really planning to write about “the occupation” because I maintain that the greater crimes committed by Israel happened in 1947-48, not 1967.  There’s a reason we refer to ’67 as “Al Naksa,” the setback, whereas 1948 is “Al Nakba,” the catastrophe.  But then a friend sent me a link to a Washington Post article on how “the occupation” had hurt Israeli democracy, and I had to respond.

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• Rivlin: Decision on Israel's Future Looms - and It May Tear Us Apart

  
  June 13, 2017 19:24

  Source:Haaretz
  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.795238

   

  Israeli president warns about erosion of country's democracy, argues against persecuting Israel in international arena

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• Haley slams UN human rights report for ‘singling out Israel’

  
  June 14, 2017 11:49

  Source: The Times of Israel

  http://www.timesofisrael.com/haley-slams-un-human-rights-report-for-singling-out-israel/

   

  By Eric Cortellessa

   

  US envoy condemns ‘unfair bias’ against Jewish state, a week after threatening the US could withdraw from Human Rights Council

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