"It is especially astonishing that, at no point during this incident, were any red flags raised: not by the fact that they terrified a 5-year-old, threatened him and his parents about turning them over to the Palestinian police, threatening to arrest the father, which has no legal basis whatsoever, and not his handcuffing or blindfolding in the presence of his young child.”--Btselem, an Israeli human rights organization, on the IDF threatening and detention of a little Palestinian boy, which was caught on video.
- Settlers cut down 1,150 olive trees in Nablus - Israeli settlers from ItamarThursday used chainsaws to cut down 1,150 olive trees of Awarta village, near Nablus. (Maan)
- Extremist Israelis 'taunt Muslim worshipers' at Al-Aqsa Mosque - Over 130 Israelis, who entered the compound escorted by Israeli police, chanted, "Al-Aqsa will be destroyed," "The temple is coming soon," and "Soon Al-Aqsa will be in our hands," as they toured the compound. Palestinian worshipers confronted the visitors, leading to tense verbal confrontations. (Maan)
- Piron says trips to Hebron won't be required for schools - Former Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar (Likud) sought to make trips to the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron mandatory for schools. Current Education Minister Shay Piron (Yesh Atid) says students should not be "required" to visit certain sites. (Israel Hayom)
- Israel's AG asks chief rabbi hopeful to explain anti-Arab statements - Rights group asks Livni to bar Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu from running. (Haaretz+)
- One third of Israeli Jews want Temple rebuilt on Jerusalem holy site, poll finds - Among religious Jews questioned in the survey, 43 percent supported the construction, compared with 31 percent among secular Jews. Survey released ahead of Tisha B'Av also finds Western Wall still considered Judaism's holiest site. (Haaretz+)
- "The authorities encourage construction offenses" - Residents of Arab Al-Sawahra neighborhood in E. Jerusalem claim the Jerusalem municipality won't consider discussing building plans as long as there is no master plan for the area. The angry judge told the municipality that it is contributing to the phenomenon of construction offense. (Yedioth Jerusalem Bonussupplement, p. 8)
- Did Israel capture Gaza terror suspect from inside Sinai? A Palestinian from the Gaza Strip who disappeared in Egypt last month is being detained by Israel for "security crimes," Beersheba court confirms, a month after his family says he was abducted from Sinai Peninsula. Court imposes blackout on details. (Israel Hayom)
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