Israeli soldiers guarding, as an Israeli bulldozer demolishes a Palestinian house near the West Bank city of Hebron November 29, 2006. MaanImages/Mamoun Wazwaz
In today's news, Israel and Hamas were unable to come to a prisoner exchange agreement releasing 1000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for captured soldier Gilad Shalit (Washington Post). Israeli Prime Minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu clarified his coalition agreement with Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Lieberman, who will now be the next Israeli Foreign Minister (Wall Street Journal). Chances for a Palestinian Unity Government remain low amidst reports that elections will be held in January 2009 (Xinhua)
From Within Palestine
Israeli forces block streets near Beit Safafa as soldiers prepare to demolish home (Ma'an News Agency)
Hamas says hopes for last-minute swap with Israel (Associated Press)
Palestinians agree on January polls (Al Jazeera)
Gaza family that lost 29 to Israeli offensive exploited by notorious lawyer (Ma'an News Agency)
Tough call for Hamas (YNet)
Gaza hospitals performed 4,677 surgeries in February (Ma'an News Agency)
Palestinians Agree on Elections, but Stumbling Blocks Remain (Voice of America)
Palestinian wounded by Israeli naval fire in northern Gaza (Ma'an News Agency)
Israel
Netanyahu Still Hopes to Attract Moderates (The New York Times)
Hope dashed for Israel-Hamas swap (BBC News)
Hardliner Avigdor Lieberman set to become Israel's foreign minister (Guardian)
Israel Says Hamas Demands for Swap Are Too Extreme (Bloomberg)
Lieberman 'to be new Israel FM'(Al Jazeera)
International Relations
Egypt talks to Europe, US on Palestinian unity (Associated Press)
Obama 'urged to engage Hamas'(Al Jazeera)
Morocco and Jordan urge Palestinian reconciliation (Agence France Presse)
Activism/Aid
Israel/Palestine tensions rise across country (The Ubyssey)
Palestine campaigners visit Parliament (The Guardian)
Injured American Is 'Semi-Conscious' (Washington Post)
Video: Boycott of Israeli Food (Palestine Vivra)
Miscellaneous
Q and A: Threat to send Israeli suicide bombers to kill Palestinians (ABC News)
Commentary
Ramzi Baroud: Durban II: Politicizing Racism (Middle East Times)
Cindy and Craig Corrie: Justice for Rachel, justice for the Palestinians (Electronic Intifada)
Navtej Dhillon: Beyond Reconstruction: What Lies Ahead for Young Palestinians? (Brookings)
Steven Salaita: The Agonies of a Tortured Palestinian Soul (Dissident Voice)
Ghassan Khatib: Deep divisions may see Fayyad return (Ma'an News Agency)
Does Obama have the will to challenge Israel?(salon.com)
Israel's socialist veneer(SocialistWorker.org)
Obama's South Asian aims will delay progress on Palestine(The Daily Star)
Anti-Zionism Is Hate Crime(LA Times)
Israel was wrong to think time was on its side in Shalit talks(Haaretz)
Two funerals & a prisoner exchange (Jerusalem Post)
