Mahmoud Abbas is visiting Iraq this week, the first visit by a Palestinian leader since the US led invasion in 2003. Abbas is meeting with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in search of better relations between the two governments. Iraqi leaders have promised that Palestinian refugees living in Iraq will be safe and that persecution of Sunni Muslims will stop. Abbas also came to Iraq in search of financial assistance and special prices for crude oil. It is not clear if he obtained either.From Within Palestine
Israeli military patrols storm Tulkarem 'to buy a hookah' (Ma'an News)
Three Palestinians injured in clashes with East Jerusalem settlers (Ma'an News)
Hamas: Egypt did not recommend Abbas to head transitional government (Ma'an News)
Israeli Navy abducts 8 Gazan fishermen 100 meters off the coast (International Solidarity Movement)
Gaza Arms Smuggling Efforts Resume (Daily Bulletin)
Palestinians pessimistic about fresh peace talks (ABC News)
Palestinian doctor nominated for Nobel Peace Prize (Times of India)
Palestinian says attacks will continue (UPI)
Israeli army kidnaps seven civilians from several parts of West Bank (IMEMC)
Patients and medicine reach Gaza via Rafah crossing (IMEMC)
Gaza feud puts patients at risk (BBC News)
News in Israel
Israeli soldiers indicted for assaulting West Bank Palestinians (Ma'an News)
Jewish city turns 100 and parties through crisis (Haaretz)
Israel’s attorney general warns Olmert (JTA)
Israel: Woman killed in attack on police was 16 (Associated Press)
Netanyahu's new cabinet meets (Al Jazeera)
Israel holds 423 Palestinian children (Xinhua)
Netanyahu gov't reconsidering road map (Jerusalem Post)
Police likely to quiz Lieberman once more before Pesach (Haaretz)
World to Israel/Palestine
Iran: We aren't a nuclear threat, U.S. must dismantle own arsenal (Haaretz)
Obama reiterates U.S. support for Palestinian state (Portfolio)
Blair says Palestinian state only solution (Agence France Presse)
'Israel holding Mideast hostage by shunning Arab peace offer' (Haaretz)
Palestinians Are Focus in Abbas Visit to Baghdad (NY Times)
Iraq 'vows to protect' Palestinians (Al Jazeera)
President Obama, King Abdullah, and the end of Israel (Palestine Telegraph)
Palestinian's Abbas Seeks Better Ties in Iraq Visit (Voice of America)
Obama to Turkey: Don't give up on Mideast peace (Haaretz)
Miscellaneous
Israeli army faces fresh criticism (Al Jazeera)
Former War Crimes Prosecutor to Lead UN Gaza Probe (Voice of America)
Palestinian professor voices health concerns (The Badger)
The Two Sides of One Wall: NPR Reports on the Mideast (NY Times)
UN judge pick for Gaza shocks, awes (Press TV)
Comentary
Label libel (Jerusalem Post)
Amos Harel: What North Korea's missile means for Israel and Iran (Haaretz)
Is this a new Benjamin Netanyahu? (LA Times)
Why is everyone talking about J Street? (JTA)
In a Landscape of Tension, Bahrain Embraces Its Jews. All 36 of Them. (NY Times)
Uri Avnery-Who’s The Boss? (Ma'an News)
Eliot Engel: The Palestinians' Obligations (Washington Post)
Ahmad Tibi: A Harsh Reality for Palestinians (NY Times)
Shlomo Avineri: What to speak with Hamas about (Haaretz)
Israel's troublesome minister (Boston Globe)
Not an analogy: Israel and the crime of apartheid (Electronic Intifada)
Khalidi addresses a Jewish 'congregation' (Mondoweiss)
Suddenly Sabra: Is my boyfriend racist? (Jerusalem Post)
