Pro-Israel Lobby's Peace WingJ Street, a new Washington-based advocacy group, is pro-Israel, but is dovish and liberal, especially in comparison to the thrust of the pro-Israel lobby, according to an Associated Press report. Its tools are a handful of lobbyists, contributions to congressional candidates, and a heavy reliance on the Internet and a few big donors.
Obama Moved by Plight of Palestinians?
According to the Economist, on Netanyahu's visit to Barack Obama’s White House,
he took the new president aback with an apocalyptic lecture on the 4,000 years of Jewish history which, he said, a nuclear-armed Iran would threaten to end.Obama Meeting Meant to Boost Abbas's Credibility.
But at night, relaxing with an intimate group of American conservative magnates who have backed him over the years, Mr Netanyahu gave vent to his discomfort. For all his efforts to set the scene in a Jewish-historical perspective, he felt that the president focused more on the plight of the Palestinians. “What moves Mr Obama?”, he wondered edgily aloud.
The Washington Post observed that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is not in a politically strong position. He heads a divided government and his political party is rife with internal discord. "His term expired four months ago. His handpicked prime minister, trusted to manage billions of dollars in foreign aid, is reviled by some Palestinians as a U.S. proxy."
The Post goes on:
Whatever peace initiative President Obama envisions for the region, it involves a gamble that Abbas can overcome a long list of liabilities, put Palestinian politics back into one piece and hold up his side of any bargain. Abbas is to meet Obama at the White House tomorrow in a session that may be as much about ways to bolster the Palestinian leader as about Obama's broader strategy.HEADLINES
Israeli PM: We're bound by agreements signed by previous governments (Jerusalem Post)
Netanyahu: Obama accepted Israel stance on Iran (Ha'aretz)
Why did Netanyahu postpone his trip to Paris? (Ha'aretz)
Homeless in Gaza and a feat of clay (AFP)
Israel scrambles to avoid showdown with Obama (The Associated Press)
FEATURE - US, Israel square off over settlement expansion (Reuters India)
Video: Raw Video: Abbas Arrives in the US (The Associated Press)
MKs support arrest over denial of Israel's existence (Ynetnews)
Palestine and the Palestinians
Israel to release Nablus deputy mayor after two years (Ma'an News Agency)
Ban on imports for reconstruction in Gaza, including paper (Palestine News Network)
Gazans look for a place to breathe by the sea (guardian.co.uk)
Hamas rejects sharing Gaza forces with Fatah (Xinhua)
Hamas rejects joint Gaza force, urges further Fatah talks (Ma'an News Agency)
Bil'in: The Palestinian village of hope (U.TV)
Reconciliation committee urges Hamas to cancel death sentences (Ma'an News Agency)
Internal struggles within Fatah over 'armed resistance' (Ynetnews)
Israeli forces seize 11 Palestinians overnight (Ma'an News Agency)
Hamas to expand Gaza administration in response to Abbas (Xinhua)
Hamas fighter killed in Gaza (IMEMC)
Gaza banking system on verge of collapse (Electronic Intifada)
Army dismantles two illegal setters’ outposts (IMEMC)
A High-Tech Job Boost for Israel's Arabs (BusinessWeek)
In pictures: Gaza's new mud homes (BBC News)
Israel Warns Gazans Will Be Shot if They Come Close to Border Fence (Antiwar.com)
Israel
Israel to demolish more homes in East Jerusalem (IMEMC)
Bibi rejects Obama’s ‘UN flag at Kotel,’ Star of david to remain (Jewish Tribune)
FACTBOX: Israeli settlement policy (Reuters)
Shas min.: Reform conversions will prompt influx of Palestinians ... (Ha'aretz)
Army chief: No more beating Palestinians (Ha'aretz)
Pre-state Jewish underground leader dies at 91 (The Associated Press)
Israel's financial aid to PA in Gaza unnecessary? (Ynetnews)
Rival Livni is vital to Netanyahu, say analysts (The National)
Who will speak for Israel? (Jerusalem Post)
Israel preparing all options for dealing with Iran (WashingtonTV)
Barak: US must learn - outposts and Iran are unrelated issues (Ha'aretz)
Israel rescue services to stage 'doomsday' drill(AFP)
Israel floats plan to shut outposts (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
Israel army chief wary of US dialogue with Iran (Indian Express)
Ministerial committee for improving Palestinians' situation convenes (Ynetnews)
Study: Israel Could Survive Nuke Attack (Philadelphia Bulletin)
The Neighbors
Beirut shul to be refurbished, and even Hezbollah's on board (Ha'aretz)
Israel, Hezbollah up rhetoric ahead of Lebanese general election (Xinhua)
Amman protests Israeli proposal depicting Jordan as Palestinian home (Monsters and Critics.com)
Israel disavows MK's proposal to turn West Bank over to Jordan (Ha'aretz)
Syria says not to enter "useless" peace talks with Israel (Xinhua)
Egypt's FM: Obama Speech 'Constructive' (NPR)
US Foreign Policy
Obama to unveil peace plan in Cairo (The Australian)
Obama adds Saudi Arabia to Mid-East agenda (BBC News)
US Calls on Israel to Sign Historic Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (Salem-News.Com)
Barak: Israel cannot dictate US moves on Iran (Ynetnews)
Peres tells US senators Israel willing to 'pay price' for peace (Ynetnews)
Israeli, US officials huddle in UK over settlements, Iran (Jerusalem Post)
International Relations/Law
UK foreign secretary acknowledges historic 'failure' in Palestine (Ma'an News Agency)
Israel claims Iran set up Hizbullah cells in Venezuela (Daily Star)
World Briefing | The Americas Bolivia and Venezuela Deny Report (New York Times)
Bangladesh: Force Israel to stop atrocities in Palestine (The Daily Star)
EU must step up Mideast engagement: Portugal (AFP)
Canada follows US line on opposing Israeli expansion into Palestinian territory (Canada.com)
Canada urged to put pressure on Israel (Toronto Star)
Russia FM: Hamas taking more realistic path since Gaza war (Ha'aretz)
Israel claims Venezuela sending uranium to Iran (AFP)
Former diplomat: Iran won't stop nuclear work (Los Angeles Times)
Netanyahu takes flak for support of anti-Israel UNESCO appointment (Ha'aretz)
IAF's first AWACS arrives from Israel (Times of India)
Repression of Palestinian May Day march unacceptable says British Union (Infoshop News)
Arts and Activism
Critically-injured peace activist Tristan Anderson moved into Rehab (IMEMC)
New Palestinian minister orders boycott of Israeli goods (Ma'an News Agency)
Code Pink Delegation enters the Gaza Strip (International Middle East Media Center)
Navigating Ramallah, an Eye Out for the Absurd (New York Times)
Palestinian crime novels key to happiness (Toronto Star)
Misc.
Life story, Israel trips tie Sotomayor to Jews (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Zionist group opposes Yemenite rescue to NY (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Turkish writers: Palestinian Faruqi first challenge to Western Paradigm (www.worldbulletin.net)
Palestinians' New Digs, All-Access for Abbas (Embassy)
Commentary
Jenn Stuart and Matt Camp: Jailed for aiding Palestinians (Socialist Worker Online)
Amjad Barham: Why Palestinians are calling for a boycott of Israeli universities (guardian.co.uk)
Henry Porter: Israel may lose its window of opportunity by mid-June. (Daily Kos)
Ghassan Khatib: An inclusive US policy is already forcing change (Israel Policy Forum)
Richard Silverstein: Israel Quakes in Fear of Palestinian Artists (Tikun Olam)
Palestinian Union demands Boycott (Jews sans frontieres)
Robert O. Smith: Christian Zionism (Lutheran Magazine)
Yossi Melman: Dennis Ross vs. Obama: No link between Iran, Mideast peace (Ha'aretz)
Robert Mackey: Amos Elon's Warning on Israel's Settlements (New York Times)
Ron Kampeas: Avoiding two states, getting one state (JTA)
Roger Cohen: Obama in Netanyahu's Web (New York Times)
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.
