US Insistence on Gaza OpeningsU.S. President Barack Obama condemned the ongoing closure of the Gaza Strip on Monday. Israel is yet to formulate a response to this position. It was assumed this demand was temporary and fleeting when it was earlier articulated by Sentaor John Kerry and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Obama's direct criticism on the issue will force Jerusalem to pull back on its current policy. How and when are yet to be seen.
Saudis Pushing Obama for New Mideast Plan.
Senior Saudi officials have proposed that Obama present a plan similar to that offered by former president Bill Clinton - one that would call for an Israeli withdrawal from almost all of the West Bank, a division of Jerusalem and a complex arrangement on the refugees.
Abbas Unveils Palestinian Cabinet
President Mahmoud Abbas announced a new government that excludes Hamas. Half the cabinet is from his Fatah faction, yet many of the party's members are boycotting the government. The government was sworn in on Tuesday at a ceremony in the West Bank city of Ramallah. The controversial arrangement was justified by proponents by the need for continued governance and foreign relations. Critics see it as a roadblock to national unity. The Prime Minister in the arrangement, Salaam Fayyad, who continues to serve in this post, assured the public it was a temporary measure.
HEADLINES
Keeping Score on Obama vs. Netanyahu (New York Times)
With Arabs, Obama never had a honeymoon (Christian Science Monitor)
Netanyahu: Israel ready for talks with Syria, no preconditions (Ha'aretz)
Hamas thwarting attacks against Israel to please Egypt (Ha'aretz)
Israel's Netanyahu seeks US Congress support (BBC News)
Palestine and the Palestinians
Palestinians Try to Prune Branches of Core Party (New York Times)
Israeli war jets strike on several Gaza Strip targets, one wounded (Xinhua)
Video: Inside Story - Palestine's new government (Al Jazeera)
Israel evacuates West Bank outpost (Xinhua)
Two Israeli troops, Palestinian policeman wounded (Reuters)
Mayor's aide: new deal for Jerusalem Palestinians (The Associated Press)
Kuwait's Zain buys majority stake in Paltel (Reuters)
Israeli police invade home in Hebron, expel family and Christian Peacemakers (IMEMC)
Jerusalem Patriarch Faults Israeli Police for Low Turnout at Pope Mass (New York Times)
Israeli settler runs over a three-year-old Palestinian girl (Ma'an News Agency)
Palestinian unemployment decreases (MEED)
Mixed fortunes for Palestinians in Syria (ReliefWeb)
Palestinians to agree to Muslim world sovereignty over Temple Mount (Ha'aretz)
Israel
Uzi Arad: Israel free to attack Iran (Jerusalem Post)
Israel MPs seek to prevent Jerusalem concessions (AFP)
Israel abuzz with Obama Plan rumors (Christian Science Monitor)
Jewish schools beg for teachers, while 8,000 Arab teachers beg for jobs (Ha'aretz)
Brigade commander 'underestimated violence towards Palestinians' (Ynetnews)
Netanyahu: Israel Ready to Speak to Syria, Palestinians (Voice of America)
Israel freezes expansion of quarries in West Bank (Reuters India)
Missile test is playing with fire, says Israel (Times Online)
The Neighbors
UN: Highly unlikely Hezbollah is rearming in south Lebanon (Ha'aretz)
FACTBOX-Risks to stability in Lebanon (Reuters)
Lebanese majority leader: unity best weapon against Israel (Xinhua)
Hizbullah accuses US, Israel of plotting strife (eTaiwan News)
Lebanese 'spy' asked to meet Nasrallah (Jerusalem Post)
Israel gives UN in Lebanon cluster bomb maps (The Associated Press)
Egyptians married to Israelis may lose their citizenship (Ha'aretz)
Egypt arrests Gazan in Shalit probe (United Press International)
US Foreign Policy
U.S. to continue funding Israel anti-missile system (Ha'aretz)
US reassures Israel on Arrow missile shield (AFP)
Clinton Warns of ME Arms Race if Iran Gets Nukes (Voice of America)
Former Rabin aide: 'Obama distancing US from Israel' (Jerusalem Post)
International Relations/Law
Lebanon protests Israeli-linked spy networks to UN: report (Xinhua)
Clinton: Multilateral sanctions on Iran in order if talks fail (Ha'aretz)
Israel to reopen Brazilian consulate, New Zealand embassy (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Mayor of Rome plans Mideast peace council (United Press International)
Israel to open embassy in Turkmenistan (PRESS TV)
Spain's Congress limits judges' jurisdiction in war crimes (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Israel to deliver drones to Russia after Syria deal cancelling (www.worldbulletin.net)
Interview with Nadine Rosa-Rosso: Debating the Question of Removing Hamas from the List of Terrorist Organizations (Monthly Review)
New PA minister to British counterpart: Occupation suffocating economy (Ma'an News Agency)
Palestinian ambassador meets Bulgarian Parliament VP (Ma'an News Agency)
Arts and Activism
Unions move to overturn Israel boycott (The Australian)
Lamar Takes Down Billboards That Criticized Israel (BNET)
Prof. calls for opening of Palestinian borders (The Dartmouth)
Cannes Film Festival Sources of Hope, Amid a Divide (New York Times)
UK medics go on hunger strike after being refused entry into Gaza (guardian.co.uk)
Palestinian national poet does not lose relevance a year after death (Palestine News Network)
Commentary
Ben White: Palestinian rights deserve Anglican action (guardian.co.uk)
Khalil Shikaki: Vote Fatah (or Hamas) (NY Times)
Karma Nabulsi: Fatah is key to Palestinian polity (guardian.co.uk)
Marc Lynch: Arab public opinion in 2009 (Foreign Policy)
Roula Khalaf: Obama opens door of hope on Palestinian conflict (Financial Times)
George Hishmeh: Determined Obama is key to resolution (Gulf News)
Pierre Tristam: When Israel Lied to Lyndon Johnson About Not Introducing Nukes in the Mideast (about.com)
Jim Miles: The Hebrew Republic (Al-Bawaba)
Ali Abunimah: No hope or change from Obama-Netanyahu meeting (Electronic Intifada)
Eyal Press: Israel's Growing Internal Divide (The Nation)
Helen Thomas: Obama doesn't need another war (San Francisco Chronicle)
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.
