Update on Conflict and Diplomacy 16 AUGUST–15 NOVEMBER 2015

This update is a summary of bilateral, multilateral, regional, and international events affecting the Palestinians and the future of the peace process. More than 100 print, wire, television, and online sources providing U.S., Israeli, Arab, and international independent and government coverage of unfolding events are surveyed to compile the quarterly Update. The most relevant sources are cited in JPS’s Chronology section, which tracks events day by day. JPS Chronologies are archived on the JPS website at www.palestine-studies.org.

Highlights of the Quarter: Tension over Haram al-Sharif in 9/2015 leads to a wave of violence in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) in 10/2015, particularly in East Jerusalem and the Hebron region of the West Bank, and the Israeli govt. initiates a broad crackdown. The Ramallah-based Palestinian leadership continues its unilateral efforts at the United Nations (UN) and the International Criminal Court (ICC), producing marginal results and incremental progress. Intermittent international efforts to facilitate a return to Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations or a long-term cease-fire between Israel and Hamas are fruitless and largely put on hold after the escalation of violence in 10/2015. Internal Palestinian politics stagnate as a meeting of the Palestinian National Council (PNC) is called, then postponed. The European Union (EU) issues new labeling guidelines for imports from Israeli settlements.