In the early hours of 10 August, Israeli forces destroyed — for the third time — the Bedouin village of al-Araqib in the northern Negev desert. Israel had first destroyed the village on 27 July, and again each time the villagers have attempted to rebuild. Joseph Dana witnessed the latest destruction. Read more about The "banality of evil" and Israel's destruction of al-Araqib 

Al-Quds University is maintaining a joint Israeli-Palestinian master’s degree program with Haifa, Hebrew and Tel Aviv universities, despite a decision taken by its own University Council in February 2009 to distance itself from Israeli academic institutions. Jillian Kestler-D’Amours reports for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about Al-Quds University flouts own academic boycott 

GAZA CITY, occupied Gaza Strip (IRIN) - The quality of life, the economy and food security for Palestinians living in Gaza have been severely impaired by Israel’s strict four-year blockade, according to the UN. Israel says its closure regime is designed to protect Israeli citizens from attacks by militants in Gaza. Read more about "Gaza is a man-made crisis" 

Bulldozers returned to the village of al-Araqib in the northern Negev on Wednesday, 4 August, and demolished approximately ten new structures residents and supporters had built a week after Israeli forces completely destroyed the village on 27 July. Read more about Israel destroys Bedouin village, again 

RAMALLAH, occupied West Bank (IPS) - Gazans are caught between a rock and a hard place. While Israel continues to apply a crippling siege on the coastal territory, Gaza’s Hamas government is cracking down on civil and political liberties in what appears to be a campaign to slowly Islamicize Gaza. Read more about Hamas "morality" campaign restricts civil liberties in Gaza 

Israeli airstikes killed a Palestinian resistance activist and wounded another early Wednesday morning 4 August, east of Khan Younis in the occupied Gaza Strip, reports Reuters, citing Palestinian medical sources. This latest attack comes on the heels of five days of Israeli missile strikes, Palestinian rocket fire and other explosions that have injured dozens and killed one leader of the armed wing of Hamas. Read more about UPDATED: Scores injured in explosions, Israeli attacks on Gaza 

A rabbi from one of the most violent settlements in the West Bank was questioned on suspicion of incitement last week as Israeli police stepped up their investigation into a book in which he sanctions the killing of non-Jews, including children and babies. Jonathan Cook reports. Read more about Israeli rabbi preaches slaughter of non-Jews 

RAMALLAH, occupied West Bank (IPS) - Anger has arisen in Palestinian areas over reports that millions of tax-exempt dollars from the US are being funneled towards Israel’s illegal settlement building in the occupied Palestinian West Bank — in flagrant violation of international law.a Read more about US tax-exempt donations fund Israeli settlements