Benjamin Netanyahu has been sworn in as Israel's Prime Minister. His 38-person cabinet is the largest in Israeli history. In a speech to the Knesset, Netanyahu affirmed that he would give Palestinians "all the powers necessary to rule themselves, except those that would threaten Israel's existence and security." Abbas accepted the new Israeli government, but noted it would be hard to work politically with a minster who does not accept the two-state solution. Avigdor Lieberman, speaking for the first-time as Foreign Minister, repudiated deals made at Annapolis, saying "There is one document that obligates us - and that's not the Annapolis conference, it has no validity." These comments left many Israeli peaceniks uncomfortable.From Within Palestine
UN's Gaza head threatens to fire union heads found engaging in political activities (LA Times)
Fatah, Hamas meet ahead of committees in Cairo (Ma'an News Agency)
Fatah leader in Beita village sentenced to 19 years in Israeli prison (Ma'an News Agency)
De facto government to attempt sending patients abroad without PA consent (Ma'an News Agency)
Poll: Palestinians lack confidence in leadership, yearn for unity (Ma'an News Agency)
Hamas reportedly planning military staff college (Jerusalem Post)
Israel
Obama telephones Israeli prime minister Netanyahu (Associated Press)
Israel FM rejects Annapolis deal (BBC News)
Netanyahu Begins Second Term as Prime Minister (Voice of America)
Israel-Syria talks seen as possible (Washington Times)
Lieberman: Israel not bound by Annapolis (Haaretz)
Israel army bans t-shirts mocking attacks on Palestinians (Reuters)
Petraeus Says Israel Might Choose to Attack Iran (Bloomberg)
International Relations
Israeli Diplomats Expelled From Mauritania (Jewish Week)
In Reversal, U.S. Seeks Election to U.N. Human Rights Council (NY Times)
Blair: Mideast peace process might move backward (Xinhua)
Activism/Aid
Changing man: Daniel Barenboim (New Statesman)
Commentary
Rachel Shabi: Israel's most moral army (Guardian)
Bernard Lewis: Israel's Election System Is No Good (Wall Street Journal)
Ramzy Baroud: Netanyahu and the peace process (Ma'an News Agency)
Israeli-Palestinian commitments at 2007 peace meeting (Reuters)
Herb Keinon: PM's first diplomatic challenge (Jerusalem Post)
Another irksome thing about the 'Where's Palestinian Gandhi?' question (Mondoweiss)
Mitri Musleh- Just a tip (Ma'an News Agency)
Robyn E. Jobity: Most Arabs and Jews want the same things (Buffalo News)
Nadav Shragai: What they didn't tell Hillary (Haaretz)
