• Jerusalem’s city government approved zoning plans for the sure-to-be-controversial destruction of 20 houses in East Jerusalem to clear space for an industrial zone and a tourist center. [NYT]
• Four Hamas-affiliated politicians rejected an Israeli demand that they leave East Jerusalem for the West Bank. [WP]
• The House will likely pass a version of Iran sanctions that is harsher than the White House hopes for. [Politico]
• The response in Gaza to the easing of the blockade can be summed up in two words: “We’ll see.” [NYT]
• Even concert cancellations have contributed to Israel’s current unprecedented feeling of isolation. [WP]
• Because former Agriprocessors head Sholom Rubashkin’s 27-year sentence was so high, it promises to deepen the case’s controversy among his Orthodox defenders. [NYT]
Marc Tracy is a staff writer at The New Republic, and was previously a staff writer at Tablet. He tweets @marcatracy.