Guardian Comic Steve Bell
Labor will join Netanyahu's coalition after a vote yesterday of 680 to 507 in favor of the agreement. Labor will receive the ministries of defense, agriculture, industry, trade, and welfare. Netanyahu, speaking after the vote, promised to work for peace, but did not state support for the two-state solution. This provides Netanyahu with 66 seats in the Knesset, enough to form a government. The vote has split labor among those who would rather go into opposition, and those who see the deal as a way to bring the Netanyahu government more to the center. Ehud Barak as part of the deal will stay on as defense minister, a position which will play an increasingly important role as tensions rise between Israel and Iran.
From Within Palestine
Interior Ministry: New passports to be issued starting 29 March (Ma'an News Agency)
Gaza woman found stabbed to death; UN says violence against women on rise (Ma'an News Agency)
Kerem Shalom and Karni open following Tuesday closure (Ma'an News Agency)
Israeli naval crews detain four fishermen; damage boat near Rafah coast (Ma'an News Agency)
Palestinians 'to hold new talks' (BBC News)
IDF: 600 Hamas men, 309 civilians died in Gaza offensive (Haaretz)
Haniyya’s government to distribute $2,000,000 to families affected by Israel’s war (International Middle East Media Center)
Israel
Netanyahu: Will push for Israel-Palestinian peace (Associated Press)
Likud and Habayit Hayehudi sign deal (Jerusalem Post)
'Likud agreed government will build in E-1' (Jerusalem Post)
Netanyahu Promises Peace Effort (NY Times)
Israeli army rabbis criticized for stance on Gaza assault (LA Times)
The War Over Gaza Continues Online (NY Times)
Labor split over entry to Netanyahu coalition (Haaretz)
Netanyahu reaches deal with Barak (Al Jazeera)
International Relations
Yadlin: Iran is in no rush to build a nuclear weapon (Jerusalem Post)
MI chief: Iran has crossed nuclear bomb threshold (Haaretz)
Assad says Syria-Israel talks depend on clear U.S. position (Haaretz)
US Foreign Policy
Obama cites complexities of Mideast peace effort (Associated Press)
Obama hopes for Mideast peace (Jerusalem Post)
International Law
Israel: White Phosphorus Use Evidence of War Crimes (Human Rights Watch)
Israeli barrier violates international law (Daily Globe)
Activism/Aid
Canada wrong to exclude Galloway (Canada Free Press)
British MP banned in Canada (Canada Jewish News)
Event will educate public on Palestine (Kansan)
Commentary
Neve Gordon: Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's shame (Guardian)
The pro-Israel lobby - 'alive, well, and bipartisan?' (Haaretz)
Civilians Caught in Urban Combat (NY Times)
End this culture of Israeli impunity (Guardian)
Analysis: Israel's new coalition (Al Jazeera)
Two states, despite everything (Haaretz)
Egypt-Israel: An unfinished peace (Jerusalem Post)
More voices on Kenney, Galloway (Toronto Star)
Rain of Fire: Israel’s Unlawful Use of White Phosphorus in Gaza (Human Rights Watch)
