Hamas Leader Rejects Netanyahu's Vision for PeaceHamas political leader Khaled Meshaal addressed supporters from the Syrian capital of Damascus yesterday with his response to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's speech from June 14. Meshaal's speech comes days after Palestinian Prime Minister Salem Fayyad's speech at Al-Quds University called for Palestinian unity and peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Meshaal reiterated Hamas' "rejection of the so-called Jewish state of Israel," and "warn[ed] of any leniency towards this principle," reported Al Jazeera. He continued to criticize Netanyahu's conceptualization of a viable Palestinian state:
The state that Netanyahu talked about, with control on it by land, sea and air, is a freak entity and a big prison, not a country fit for a great people. Peaceful resistance works for a civil rights struggle, not in front of an occupation armed to the teeth.The BBC quoted Meshaal as calling for the "minimum requirements" for a Palestinian state as:
The establishment of a Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital, that has full sovereignty on the borders of 4 June 1967... the removal of all settlements and the achievement of the right of return.In the same speech, Meshaal responded to President Obama's calls for peace and welcomed the administration's new language toward Hamas. The New York Times refers to these comments directed at President Obama as part of a larger effort by Hamas over the past few weeks to reach out to the United States with the goal of ending the Israeli siege on Gaza and diplomatic isolation.
IDF to Leave Palestinian Security Forces with More Control of Four West Bank Cities
Ha'aretz reported that on Wednesday Israel agreed to cede more authority in the West Bank cities of Bethlehem, Ramallah, Jericho and Qalqilyah to the Palestinian Security Forces. This will allow PA security forces to operate during the evening and early morning hours, something not previously allowed under the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. After a one week trial period, an assessment will be made to determine the continuation of this policy.
The New York Times ties these developments to part of an easing of restrictions in the West Bank, including the opening of a few checkpoints. However, Palestinian officials claim "that the Israeli measures did not go far enough."
HEADLINES
Marwan Barghouthi urges Palestinian, Arab unity in face of Israeli crimes (Ma'an)
Shalit transfer to Egypt is imminent (Ha'aretz)
Lieberman slams U.S. on Iran, settlements (Ha'aretz)
G8 tells Israel: Stop building in all settlements (Ha'aretz)
Hamas Leader Hails Obama for New Tack (New York Times)
Mir-Hossein Mousavi slams Iran's leaders (Los Angeles Times)
Fayyad: Hold the January 2010 Palestinian Elections on Time (Foreign Policy)
Palestine and the Palestinians
Gaza: Fatah releases report detailing hundreds of arrests, torture of members(Ma'an)
Palestinian woman gets 20 years' hard labour for helping Israel (Jerusalem Post)
PA police release Al-Qassam Brigadesman; remind Hamas of political prisoners in Strip (Ma'an)
Palestinian killed in Gaza tunnel collapse (AFP)
Gaza industries struggle to rebuild (BBC)
Foreign spending for Palestinians up 100% (Jerusalem Post)
Israeli Plan to Annex Lands East of Jerusalem Stokes Palestinian Anger (Voice of America)
Palestinian official denies Israeli permit for more items into Gaza (Xinhua)
Video: Palestinians fight illegal Israeli construction (Washington Post)
Israel
Netanyahu points out the obvious (Boston Globe)
4 Border Guard officers acquitted of assaulting Palestinian (Ynet)
Report accuses Israel of torture (UPI)
Border Guard lightly wounded in Naalin (Ynet)
The Neighbors
Arab States Aligned With U.S. Savor Turmoil in Iran (IHT)
Israeli Army amasses troops, military hardware along Lebanese border (The Daily Star)
Doha agreement achieved its aims - Qatari premier (The Daily Star)
Debate over Kuwait democracy (Gulf News)
US Foreign Policy
Ambassador to Syria Will Face Negative Views of U.S. (Gallup)
Bit by Careful Bit, Obama Toughens Stance on Iran (IHT)
Obama talks the talk, can he walk the walk? (Hurriyet)
International Relations/Law
Gillard details Palestinian aid package (ABC Australia)
Dutch FM sees 'unpredictable' chance for Mideast peace (Ha'aretz)
Iran expected to dominate G8 meeting in Italy (AP)
End all settlement-building, G8 ministers urge Israel (Earth Times)
Germany ratifies convention on cluster bombs (The Daily Star)
Shalev: Humanitarian report biased (Ynet)
Arts and Activism
Palestinian Orchestra Leader Works for Peace Through Music (Voice of America)
Misc.
Scrolls bring ROM back to life (The Star)
Commentary
Leader or bulletproof vest? (Ha'aretz)
Issacharoff: Palestinian peace in our time? (Ha'aretz)
Leibowitz: One on One: The Right is Wrong (Jerusalem Post)
Abrams: Hillary is wrong about the settlements (Wall Street Journal)
Said: Building Momentum (Al-Ahram Weekly)
Levy: Twilight Zone/Black on White Wash (Ha'aretz)
Smith: Jerusalem's Status (Politico)
Sheleg: Leave the settlers there (Ha'aretz)
McFarlane: Obama, the Neocons and Iran (Wall Street Journal)
Eid: Hamas' political immaturity (Electronic Intifada)
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