Tony Blair in Jerusalem. It is becoming less and less likely that former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair will be tapped to head a future "board of peace" in Gaza, as Turkey and possibly Qatar view him as pro-Israeli. However, he appears to remain the leading candidate in the eyes of US President Trump, who intends to oversee the body regardless of its head, and Blair is still likely to hold an important role and authorities in the body Trump hopes will govern Gaza. The current plan involves Blair or another individual serving as a Steering Committee chairman, overseen by Trump, to establish various committees that will function alongside a technocratic governing council of Gaza residents. Hamas and Fatah are currently disputing the leadership of this council, though the final decision will rest with Egypt. In recent weeks, Tony Blair has met in Ramallah with PA chief Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) and his deputy, Hussein Al-Sheikh

Jerusalem Arabs: A Land-Locked Island. Over the past nearly 60 years since Israel liberated the entirety of Jerusalem and united the city under its sovereignty, an interesting phenomenon has sprouted up there. The Arabs of Jerusalem have developed a unique identity, different and separate from that of other Israeli-Arabs, and from those of Judea and Samaria, and of course from those of Gaza. Arab Jerusalemites have changed over the decades from bearing the title Maqdisi (residents of Al-Quds – the Arab name for Jerusalem), derived from the same root as the Hebrew “Mikdash,” as in Beit HaMikdash (the Holy Temple), indicating their physical connection to the holy places. As years have passed, they have become more and more Israeli, if not in genuine identity, then in their daily practical affiliation, especially in terms of economics, welfare, and health services.

"Jerusalem is a red line for the Muslims." So declared most belligerently the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (pronounced AIRdoahn) several years ago, in response to U.S. President Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's united capital and his relocation of the U.S. Embassy to the Holy City. Erdogan's words are not at all detached from his global hegemonic ambitions; he longs to be recognized as Caliph, i.e., the ruler over the entire Muslim world, and Jerusalem is a critical step.

The Qatari Permanent Committee for the Support of Jerusalem: Arab-Islamic Support for Jerusalem in the Heart of the City. The body was established by Qatar's 1998 Amiri Resolution No.14 to coordinate Qatari financial aid and projects connected to Eastern Jerusalem. The word "Permanent" in the body's title attests to its ongoing institutionalized nature. The Permanent Committee's primary goal is to strengthen Eastern Jerusalem as an Arab city with a clear Arab-Islamic identity, and to support its residents via aid for projects in the fields of education, health, society and culture.

Bishara Bahbah, the Jerusalem arab mediator between Hamas and the US administration.

FRANCE IS ONE OF THE ONLY COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD THAT HAS IMPERIALISTIC DESIGNS ON JERUSALEM. TURKEY, TOO – BUT WHILE THE TURKS HAVE, AS OF NOW, REFRAINED FROM WORKING TOWARDS THEIR ULTIMATE GOAL VIA OFFICIAL ACTIONS, THE FRENCH DO NOT HESITATE TO DO SO.

Ever since the singing of the Oslo Accords over 30 years ago, the Palestinian Authority has been acting in various ways - in violation of the agreements.

1.It was reported this week that some Arab bus lines in eastern Jerusalem were "striking." The drivers and/or their bosses are apparently protesting the stricter policies that have been put into effect at the security-barrier crossings, between the neighborhoods "behind" the barrier and the rest of the city. Many workers – not only drivers, but also sanitation employees and others – have complained of increased waiting times, even up to three hours, at the crossings. 2.Tik-Tok videos have been disseminated encouraging workers not to come to work, in protest. Some of the videos feature one or more spokesmen for the "Committees" – which is actually one local neighborhood committee that represents the residents vis-à-vis the city authorities. The "Committees" often refer to official PA or Fatah committees that are officially active in the city. 3.We have reported here on the economic downturn in the Old City of recent months. One reason that businesses have been harmed is, to a certain extent, that many employees provide their employers with incorrect residential addresses, particularly in the Old City and surrounding areas. They do this in order to avoid harming their chances of being hired, if employers find out that the applicants live behind the security barrier. The employers are apparently wary of precisely the delays mentioned above, which occur when security dangers increase, leading to longer delays at the crossings.

1. The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) – an official Turkish aid organization with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood – has not only been active in Jerusalem these past two years, despite the subversive nature of its work, but is also active in Gaza. In addition to activating other forces in the area, it has built a hospital in Gaza City, which was actually vacant for several years because of an apparent dispute with Hamas. TIKA's main office here is in Ramallah, from where it runs its Jerusalem activities some 20 kilometers to the south.- an international Islamist fundamentalist organization that aims to re- establish the Islamic caliphate. The recirculation of the video is apparently a response to his recent sentencing to nearly three years in prison, after he was found guilty of incitement.

1. The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) – an official Turkish aid organization with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood – has not only been active in Jerusalem these past two years, despite the subversive nature of its work, but is also active in Gaza. In addition to activating other forces in the area, it has built a hospital in Gaza City, which was actually vacant for several years because of an apparent dispute with Hamas. TIKA's main office here is in Ramallah, from where it runs its Jerusalem activities some 20 kilometers to the south.