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The Israeli Navy shot and killed a Palestinian fisherman on Friday in waters off of the northern coast of Gaza. Hundreds marched in the funeral for Mohammed Bakr who according to Israeli authorities, did not obey military orders to turn back and return to the zone approved for Palestinian fishing. Also on Friday Israeli military forces arrested at least 16 Palestinians after they threw stones at the Israeli military in East Jerusalem. The youths were reacting to the killing of a Palestinian man the day before by an Israeli on an illegal Jewish settlement. In the region violent clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces have become increasingly frequent, providing a tense backdrop to Israeli/ Palestinian negotiations in the US. While addressing the United Nations President Obama last week made a public plea for both sides to remain at the table, while encouraging, though not demanding, that Israel extend its moratorium on settlement building. A 10 month freeze ended yesterday, although the AP reported that under the moratorium, settlement building only declined by 10%. Just eight hours after the freeze ended yesterday, building resumed in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank. In a statement released by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office at midnight, the PM said “I hope that President Abbas will remain in the talks and continue with me on the path of peace which we started three weeks ago, after many in the world have now realized that my intentions of reaching peace are serious and sincere and that I honor my commitments.” In related news the UN Human Rights Council released its report on the actions of the Israeli military this past May when it stormed an aid flotilla bound for Gaza, killing nine activists. The strongly worded report found that Israel broke international law, and described the IDF’s actions as “not only disproportionate to the occasion but [demonstrating] levels of totally unnecessary and incredible violence.” The report added that “[t]he circumstances of the killing of at least six of the passengers were in a manner consistent with an extralegal, arbitrary, and summary execution.”

GUEST: Laila El-Haddad, A Palestinian freelance journalist currenlty based in Maryland, author of the blog Gaza Mom, and author of the book being released next month, Gaza Mom: Palestine, Politics, Parenting, and Everything In Between.

Read Laila El Haddad’s blog at www.gazamom.com.