Israel Defies U.S. on SettlementsIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rebuffed U.S. calls for a full settlement freeze in the occupied West Bank and vowed not to accept limits on building of Jewish enclaves within Jerusalem.
Netanyahu said during his weekly cabinet meeting that while he does not intend to build any new settlements in the West Bank, he would not curtail construction to meet the needs of “natural growth” in existing communities, a senior Israeli official quoted him as saying.
Israel offered a deal, however. It would dismantle nearly two dozen wildcat settlement outposts in the West Bank in the next few weeks if the U.S. drops its objections to continued building in existing, government-sanctioned settlements, officials said.
Palestinian negotiator Ahmad Qorei said they will not restart peace talks with Israel unless it removes all roadblocks and freezes settlement activity in the West Bank.
HEADLINES
No talks until barriers go: Palestinians (AFP)
Crippling the Palestinian Cause (New York Times)
U.S. Zionist leader, Arab lawmaker have words (JTA)
Palestinian groups to start drafting agreement formula (Xinhua)
Palestine and the Palestinians
Palestinian Rep. To US Confident In New Leaders (NPR)
Hamas: Israel should resume Shalit talks (Ma'an News)
Palestinian envoy sees Israel collapse under two states (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Clash Between Palestinian Rivals Clouds Peace Talks With Israel (Bloomberg)
Israeli Arabs blast plan for PA to cede Temple Mount sovereignty (Ha'aretz)
Palestinians want right of return status (United Press International)
Israel deports freed West Bank prisoner to Gaza (Xinhua)
A Palestinian woman beat up by setters in northern West Bank (International Middle East Media Center)
Israeli settlers attack Palestinian shepherds near Hebron (Ma'an News Agency)
Video: Gazans find ways around Israeli blockade (Al Jazeera)
Israel arrests 8 Palestinians in West Bank, Gaza (Xinhua)
PA: Settlers can become Palestinian citizens (Ha'aretz)
Conditions For Palestinian Refugees In Gaza Deteriorating (Voice of America)
Gazans using mud to survive Israel's ban on building materials (Miami Herald)
Vandals desecrate Christian graves in West Bank (Reuters)
High Court accepts IDF criteria for Palestinian study in Israel (Jerusalem Post)
Palestinian Students Who Are Barred From Entering Israel Can Appeal, Israeli Court Says (Chronicle of Higher Education)
Israel warns Gazans to keep away from border (Xinhua)
Hamas denies preventing rocket attacks against Israel (Xinhua)
Israeli navy kidnaps Palestinian fishermen off Gaza shore (IMEMC)
Palestinian family 'jailed' in its own home (Ynetnews)
Palestinian police battle the odds (Gulf News)
Israel
Israeli legislation raises issue of loyalty (Los Angeles Times)
Israel's ultra-nationalists table loyalty bill (AFP)
PM: We don't want to control Palestinians, but must maintain security (Jerusalem Post)
Barak: No warnings for illegal settlements (United Press International)
Lieberman: Outpost evacuation only as part of overall plan (Ynetnews)
Netanyahu: We'll build in existing settlements (eTaiwan News)
Conservative Jews Decry Bias in IDF (Forward)
IDF chief: I'm preparing all possible measures against Iran (Ha'aretz)
Israeli City Offers Glimpse Into Deep-Seated Divide (Washington Post)
'Israel must stop seeking fast peace with Palestinians' (Ha'aretz)
Livni brands road map peace plan as 'bad' for Israel (Ha'aretz)
Anger over Palestinian Nakba ban proposal (BBC News)
Israeli PM says Jerusalem will never be divided (Reuters)
The Neighbors
Syria, Israel At Impasse Over Golan Heights? (CBS News)
Syria: Peace talks with Israel must be productive (Jerusalem Post)
Israel government too extreme to make peace: Syria's Assad (Reuters)
Arab League chief: No Israel recognition (United Press International)
Saudi FM urges US to pressure Israel (Tehran Times)
Nasrallah: Israel responsible for 'Der Spiegel' claims (Ynetnews)
Education Minister meets Mauritanian, Palestinian diplomats (Yemen News Agency)
US Foreign Policy
Israel's Barak to US next week for Iran talks (AFP)
Mullen Says Iran May Be Able to Keep Nuclear Program (Bloomberg)
International Relations/Law
Israel seeks international response to N. Korea nuke test (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Muslim nations link better ties with Israel to peace (Reuters)
Sarkozy says Palestinian state vital to Mideast peace (AFP)
Israel: Ties to South America aiding Iran's nuclear program (Ynetnews)
Iran's reformist presidential hopeful to back Hamas (AFP)
Iran general says could stop Israel in 'one strike' (AFP)
Russia urges dialogue with Hamas (Al jazeera)
Arts and Activism
Israel closes Palestinian literary festival (Taipei Times)
Two French activists cycle to Palestine (IMEMC)
Palestinians' event goes back to beginnings (Southtown Star)
Hope Convoy finally makes it into Gaza (IMEMC)
Israeli, Palestinian activists face off across Vienna river (Ha'aretz)
Israeli tourism poster withdrawn after complaints (The Associated Press)
Commentary
Kristen Dinardo: Middle East: Demolitions of Palestinian Homes in Jerusalem Continue (Impunity Watch)
Matthew Rothschild: Israel Sends Soldiers to Try to Shut Down Literature Festival (The Progressive)
Omar Yousef Shehabi: Back to the future with Netanyahu's subterfuge (Electronic Intifada)
ANALYSIS / Netanyahu bringing Israel closer to war with Iran (Ha'aretz)
Ellen Laipson: Obama wants to reset the Middle East agenda; Israel must listen (Daily Star)
Fareed Zakaria: They May Not Want The Bomb (Newsweek)
Ir Amim: Jerusalem: City of Walls (Huffington Post)
Leslie Susser: Is Hamas reassessing its strategy? (JTA)
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.
