In the West Bank

-Fatah is implementing “unprecedented internal reforms to democratize the ailing movement in the face of the electoral threat from political rivals such as Hamas and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad,� who is not from Fatah. (Haaretz)

-Some experts believe “surprise roadblocks, Palestinian Authority-coordinated patrols, and more fences around Israeli settlements� could allow to significantly reduce the number of West Bank roadblocks and thus calm the atmosphere in the West Bank. (Haaretz)

-Sheldon Schreter argues that settlements “are not a security asset–they are a liability, a drain on our military.â€? (The Jerusalem Post)

-Although Israel has pledged not to expand settlements, about 2 dozen Israelis formerly of Gaza have moved into the small settlement of Maskiot deep in the West Bank, and the Maskiot leader said 28 families are waiting to move in when more trailer homes arrive. (Haaretz)

-Breslov hassidim and right-wing activists illegally enter the Joseph’s Tomb compound in Nablus two-to-three times a week. IDF forces arrest them, the courts release them so they can “ repeat their actions and endanger the lives of the soldiers stationed in the area.â€? (Ynet)

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