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| Thirteen Israeli Settlers Banned from Settlement for Violence Against Palestinians, August 5, 2011
According to Ha'aretz, thirteen Israeli settlers were forced to leave the settlement community, and nine are banned from the West Bank for three to twelve months following allegations that these settlers were involved in attacks on Palestinians. Warrants were distributed to the settlers on the recommendation of Shin Bet, the Israeli internal police agency. Four prominent recipients have been temporarily banned from the West Bank in the past for violence against Palestinians.
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Israeli Supreme Court: Settlers Must Leave by March 2012, August 5, 2011
Reuter's is reporting that Israel’s Supreme Court demanded on Tuesday, August 2nd, that the settlement community of Migron be disbanded and its 250 settlers move elsewhere. The court has ordered the settlement be disbanded by March 31, 2012, and warns that the state cannot “drag its feet” because the land was privately-owned by Palestinians prior to its construction in 2006. The Supreme Court acknowledged that the Israeli government itself classified the settlement as illegal, but had been slow to disband the settlement.
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Israel Reportedly Willing to Reopen Peace Talks with pre-1967 Borders as Base, August 5, 2011
Israel is reportedly willing to resume peace talks with the Palestinians on the basis of pre-1967 borders if the Palestinians agree to drop their bid for recognition at the United Nations in September. The Christian Science Monitor is reporting that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly expressed an interest in making the concession, suggested by the European Union, the United States and Russia, to foreign affairs and defense committees in the Knesset. The Palestinians, however, are skeptical because Prime Minister Netanyahu has not announced his intentions publicly, or contacted them directly.
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| House Resolution 268 Passed, July 8, 2011
Americans for Peace Now is reporting that House Resolution 268, which "reaffirms the United States' commitment to a negotiated settlement of Israeli-Palestinian conflict" passed the House of Representatives. The resolution also states that Palestinian attempts to "circumvent" a negotiated settlement by seeking statehood at the United States will result in "consequences" for US aid to the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people.
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Palestinians Play First World Cup Qualifier at Home, July 3, 2011
The Palestinian National Soccer Team advanced to the next round of World Cup qualification after a 1-1 draw with Afghanistan in the first World Cup game ever to be played in the Palestinian Territories. According to the BBC, 8,000 Palestinian supporters cheered on their team with chants of “Palestine, Palestine.” Many Palestinian politicians and citizens believe that the match’s location demonstrates how much security in the West Bank has improved recently, and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad sees this as another small step toward an independent Palestinian state. Palestine is currently ranked 167th in the world.
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