When President Obama uttered the "A" word -- Annapolis -- in his speech before the Turkish parliament Monday, he was seen as rebuking new Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's comments that the agreement had "no validity."He said, “Let me be clear: the United States strongly supports the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security... That is a goal that the parties agreed to in the road map and at Annapolis. That is a goal that I will actively pursue as president.”
Following President Obama's speech, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reminded the Quartet that Israel must commit for talks to resume. US Envoy George Mitchell is scheduled to visit Israel on Monday, where he will gauge the new government's position on peace talks. President Obama's speech was welcomed by many in the region, including the Syrian government.
Still, a growing movement questions the viability of the two-state solution. If a renewed and vigorous American re-engagement fails to produce concrete results towards Palestinian autonomy, some contend, calls for a bi-national or other one-state arrangement will grow louder.
HEADLINES
Palestine
Soccer, a Link to Normalcy For West Bank Palestinians (Washington Post)
New Al Mezan report on the use of Palestinian civilians as human shields (ReliefWeb)
Israeli intelligence have turned the military checkpoints into traps (Palestine News Network)
Gerry Adams meets Hamas leaders in Gaza (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Abbas: Israel does not comply with obligations (PRESS TV)
Hamas urges PNA to halt security coordination with Israel (Xinhua)
Israel
30 Israelis sue N. Korea for aiding Hizbullah during war (Jerusalem Post)
Israel wants time limit on Iran nuclear talks (AFP)
Israel: No objection to West's talks with Tehran (Ha'aretz)
Army's ethics chief: Israel fought fair in Gaza (The Associated Press)
Israel Web Tour Brings Startups To The Valley (Washington Post)
Israel carries out missile test: Defense Ministry (Reuters)
PM Netanyahu Speaks with Italian PM Berlusconi and German Chancellor Merkel (ISRIA)
The Neighbors
Egypt's top enemy (Ha'aretz)
Egypt to question 'Hezbollah plotters' further (AFP)
Egypt offers Palestinian rivals new unity ideas (Reuters)
Jordan condemns settler rioting in West Bank village (Ma'an News Agency)
Lebanese MP urges US to press Israel's new cabinet on peace (Daily Star)
US Foreign Policy
Obama, Gates take aim at Israel's Arrow-3 missile (United Press International)
US Institutions Open Study Abroad Programs in Israel (AACRAO Transcript)
Obama tells Muslims: Don’t vilify Israel (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
International Relations/Law
Miliband: 'Jerusalem should be capital for the Palestinians and Israel' (Ha'aretz)
Northern Ireland politician: Israel and Palestinians must talk (Jerusalem Post)
Britain voices concern over Israel's demolition of Palestinian Houses in Jerusalem (Xinhua)
Russia in unprecedented Israeli drones purchase (AFP)
Pro-Israel Activism
Christian supporters of Israel ready to fill philanthropic void (Jerusalem Post)
Anti-Defamation League asks MSU to reconsider Tutu (Lansing State Journal)
Commentary
Helena Cobban: ISRAEL-PALESTINE: One-State Supporters Make a Comeback (Inter Press Service)
Israel chose destruction over calm and peace (Danbury News Times)
This year at Passover it is Palestinians who are demanding 'Let my people go!' (Mondoweiss)
Dennis Ross sidelined at State over his foreign agent status (Online Journal)
HDS Greenway: Hard questions on the Israel lobby (GlobalPost)
Jeff Halper: Diaspora Jewry needs to let go of idealised Israel (Sydney Morning Herald)
Views expressed on this post or on linked web pages do not represent the Palestine Center, the educational program of the Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development. All content is for educational purposes only.
