Israel impose three-week shut down due to 2nd coronavirus wave

Israel is said to be moving ahead with the construction of hundreds of homes in East Jerusalem, resulting in parts of the city claimed by Palestinians to be cut off from the West Bank. Israel Land Authority has opened up tenders to build more than 1,200 new homes in Givat Hamatos. The approval of such a construction will be a further setback to an internationally backed partition deal that would bring a Palestinian state alongside Israel. This development comes on the heels of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s intended travel to Israel this week where he is expected to visit Israel’s settlement in the West Bank. Palestinian authorities who have already cut-off ties with the Trump administration over its favorable policies for Israel have now denounced Pompeo’s planned visit.