Carter in the Middle EastFormer US President Jimmy Carter is currently in the Middle East discussing peace between Syria, Hamas, and Israel. Carter observed this week's Lebanese election and plans meetings in Israel and the West Bank over the weekend. The former President is officially touring the Middle East as a private citizen according to US diplomatic sources. On Thursday he met with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad in Damascus. After the meeting he expressed his belief that the new US administration of President Barack Obama should lift sanctions on Syria and upgrade ties by sending an ambassador to Damascus. He believes that improved US relations with Syria will bolster the peace negotiations between Israel and Syria which Washington sees as an instrumental player in the Arab-Israeli Conflict. Carter said,
I hope that we can see a rapid renewal of peace talks between Israel and Syria concerning the withdrawal of Israel of the Golan Heights,After meeting with President Assad, Carter has plans to meet with Hamas exiled leader Khaled Mashaal. The Thursday meeting will be Carter’s third with the Hamas leader in the past year. Osama Hamdan is another Damascus-based Hamas leader that Carter is scheduled to meet. Hamdan was optimistic about his meeting with Carter and stated,
Changes are emerging, and new language is being used, especially after (US President) Obama's speech in Cairo last week… Hamas will listen to what Carter (has to say) about Obama's view and policies towards the resistance in the regionCarter commented that peace will not be possible without involving Hamas. He also stresses that Hamas and Fatah must reconcile before they can negotiate effectively with Israel.
President Carter is also planning on a meeting with a leader of Jewish settlers, Shaul Goldstein, one of the heads of the settlers council, in the West Bank when he visits this weekend. On Thursday he said that he hoped that Syria and the Palestinians could make peace with Israel by 2012.
Peres Calls for Palestinian State with Provisional Borders
On Thursday, President Shimon Peres said that Israel and Palestine should move onto the second stage of the road map peace plan calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state with provisional borders. He said that the borders are “subject to clear promise that the border will in a short span of time become permanent borders." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to announce his support for the road map in a major policy speech at Bar-Ilan University on Sunday, but he is not expected to commit to a freeze on settlement construction despite pressures by the Obama administration.
HEADLINES
US could lift Syria sanctions: Carter (AFP)
Ex-President Carter set to meet settler leader (Taiwan News)
Jimmy Carter hopeful for Mideast peace by 2012 (Haaretz)
U.S. Envoy Backs Palestinian State (Washington Post)
Abbas to chair talks on Fatah's first congress in two decades (The Daily Star)
Palestine and the Palestinians
Gaza's hospitals short of surgeons and supplies (Electronic Intifada)
Gunfire, shelling in northern Gaza (Ma'an)
Gaza bonanza (Haaretz)
Shooting between Israeli and Palestinian forces at Gaza border (International Middle East Media Center)
Palestinian police arrest 36 Hamas supporters as Fatah widens crackdown (The Canadian Press)
Meshaal: West Bank clashes main obstacle to Palestinian reconciliation (Xinhua)
Palestinians report first case of H1N1 flu (Reuters)
Palestinian teen hanged, relatives say he was collaborating with Israel (Jerusalem Post)
Woman spy faces death in Palestinian (Mirror)
Meshal prods Obama: Drop conditions for Hamas dialogue (Ha'aretz)
Rights group says Israel mistreats jailed Palestinian minors (Africasia)
Israel
Israeli Cabinet demands progress on Shalit (UPI)
UPDATE 1-Israel credit rtg safe if budget upheld -Fischer (Guardian)
Knesset speaker: Bibi doesn't believe in 2-state vision (Ynet)
Palestinian youth foil settler attempt to confiscate land on Mount of Olives (Ma'an)
Lawyers: Israel uses uranium in Gaza offensive (Xinhua)
Peres calls for Palestinian state with provisional borders (Ha'aretz)
Netanyahu's speech: Yes to road map, no to settlement freeze (Ha'aretz)
The Neighbors
Egypt's Mubarak says Obama has new approach to Islam (Washington Post)
Jordanian diplomat lauds 2-state solution (UPI)
Shehab: Egypt will continue its efforts to end Palestinian division (ISRIA)
In Iran Race, Ex-Leader Works to Oust President (New York Times)
US Foreign Policy
US ups Palestinian aid by $55m (News 24)
Obama seeks to ensure Israel, Palestinians meet their commitments (Ynet)
Egypt's Mubarak says Obama has new approach to Islam (Washington Post)
Obama and Assad praise success of Lebanese polls (The Daily Star)
US envoy urges Arabs to make peace with Israel (AFP)
US NGO awarded $600,000 to provide hygiene supplies to Gazan families (The Daily Star)
International Relations/Law
EU envoy urges commitment to Palestinian state (AFP)
Turkey ready for Israel-Syria mediation (Jerusalm Post)
Solana sees chance for reviving Mideast peace talks (Washington Post)
Livni to Solana: We expect world to back Israel's stance in peace talks (Jerusalem Post)
Julia Gillard to visit US before she heads to Israel (The Australian)
Israel cuts defense sales to Georgia (Jerusalem Post)
Arts and Activism
Israel’s Invisible Neighbors, Filmed (Forward)
Pro-Palestinian Advocates Sense Winds of Change in Washington (Forward)
Vigil for Middle East peace planned today in Santa Monica (Los Angeles Times)
Israel's best writers turn reporters for a day (AFP)
Do Arabs and Jews realize how much they look alike? (Jerusalem Post)
Misc
ITF lowers fine for Sweden over Israel match (AP)
Case study: stateless Palestinian came to Britain as refugee (Times)
Madonna to hold two gigs in Israel (UPI)
Commentary
Barghouthi: A sign of optimism for Palestinian freedom (Chicago Tribune)
Levy: Meanwhile, back in Israel (Haaretz)
Commentary:Should Democracies Exclude Parties? (New York Times)
Klein: Why the U.S. Should Start Talking to Hamas (Time)
Steele: Now Obama must include Iran in an axis of respect (Tehran Times)
Bolton: What If Israel Strikes Iran? (Wall Street Journal)
Ratner: Welcome to Gaza (Counterpunch)
Lebanon's Election (NY Times)
Gutkin: Analysis: Netanyahu Cornered By Hawks and Obama (AP)
Now that the Doha Accord is Obsolete, 'Doha II' should be on the table (The Daily Star)
Raimondo: Anti-Americanism in Israel (Anti-War.com)
Kessler: Man Behind Iran Policy Faces Big Task (Washington Post)
Salem: The Lebanese decide to go West again (The Daily Star)
Shavit: The seven-word formula (Haaretz)
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