Hamas Prisoners to be ReleasedOver the weekend, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced the release of all prisoners belonging to Hamas within the next few days.
Ma'an News Agency reported that Head of Fatah Palestinian Legislative Council bloc Azzam Al-Ahmad stated this prisoner release was a step "aimed at laying groundwork for the success of the Palestinian national dialogue brokered by Egypt, which is expected to be held on 7 July."
The annoucement comes on the heels of Abbas' trip to Syria and visit with President Bashar al-Assad. According to Xinhau, both presidents:
affirmed the need of uniting Arab stances to confront the Israeli settlement policy in the occupied Palestinian lands and obstacles placed to hinder the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state.Palestinian sources, reports Ha'aretz, believe progress has been made on the Shalit talks with Hamas and Israel presenting serious proposals for a future prisoner exchange. Since the end of the Olmert government, talks for Shalit's release have stalled; however, Israel Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is planning to make the Shalit talks a major component of his upcoming European trip.
Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad is expected to make a major policy speech today at Al-Quds University in response to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech last Sunday. Ma'an reports this speech will address the need for Palestinian unity and the path to establishing an independent Palestinian state. Hamas leader Khalid Mash'al is expected to respond with a speech on Thursday.
Violence in Iran Continues
Over a week after Iranian presidential elections, opposition protests continue amid violent responses from the pro-government forces. The New York Times reported Sunday that former Iranian president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's daughter and relatives were detained temporarily. Rafsanjani has found himself at the center of the debate between the opposition and the current government since the elections ended in dispute. As the leader of the Assembly of Experts - an organization with the power to appoint the Supreme Leader - Rafsanjani may play a critical role in the solution to the current electoral challenges by Mir Hussein Moussavi.
Meanwhile, protests and violence continue, with CNN International saying nineteen died Sunday in protests.
HEADLINES
The Palestinian Terrorist and Me (New York Times)
Israel’s Barak sees chance for peace progress (Jordan Times)
Israeli forces re-erect checkpoint evacuated earlier in June (Ma'an)
Rafah crossing to open for three days next week (Ma'an)
Sarkozy says Palestinian state vital to Mideast peace (Ynet)
Palestine and the Palestinians
Palestinian plots up for grabs (Al Jazeera English)
Israel raids Palestinian refugee camps (Press TV)
Palestinian official denies Israeli permit for more items into Gaza (Xinhua)
Hamas resistance to continue (UPI)
Luxury Palestinian mall signals transformation of 'terror capital' (Ha'aretz)
Gaza resident wants to remain in Israel (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Israel
Bat Ayin settlers uproot trees from Palestinian land (Ma'an)
Israeli navy seizes fishermen, boats off Gaza shore (Ma'an)
Israeli police hand over 65 demolition orders in Jerusalem (Ma'an)
Israeli woman denied social benefits for visiting Palestinian husband (Ha'aretz)
Outpost Watch: Obama's future minefield - and Netanyahu's (Ha'aretz)
Israel: Palestinians use settlements as excuse (AP)
Yishai: We must ensure Palestinians not seeking 2 states (Ynet)
Minister Ben-Eliezer urges PM Netanyahu to meet with Palestinian president (Ynet)
Settlements expand as Palestinians re-pitch tents (Al Arabiya)
Israel Druze protest against "state discrimination" (Reuters)
Yemenite Jews arrive in Israel (UPI)
The Neighbors
Egypt pushes pact for Mid-East peace (The Australian)
Iran Revolutionary Guard warns 'rioters': Prepare for confrontation (Ha'aretz)
Iran considers expelling Western diplomats (Ha'aretz)
Egypt to open border briefly for stranded Palestinians (Xinhua)
Palestinians, Syria share concerns about new Israel PM (AFP)
US Foreign Policy
Seeing through Israel's delay tactics (The Boston Globe)
Exploring Iran’s Unrest and the Obama Factor (New York Times)
U.S. urging Israel to change Gaza policy (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
International Relations/Law
Netanyahu: Change in Iran could bring peaceful Israel ties (Ha'aretz)
EU supports Palestinian cultural heritage as part of “Jerusalem Capital of Arab Culture” events (Palestine News Network)
Netanyahu to focus on Iran during European visit (Reuters)
Palestinian lawsuit condemns Canadian condo project as war crime (Canada.com)
Palestinians establish formal diplomatic ties with Venezuela, open embassy (Washington Examiner)
Arts and Activism
Australia cultural festival opens in Israel (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Boycott of Trader Joe's over Israeli products appears to fizzle (Los Angeles Times)
Sculptures open a dialogue for Jewish and Palestinian kids (Israel 21c)
Misc.
Palestinian sets Guinness record for world largest knafeh (Ha'aretz)
Commentary
Editorial: Standing with the people of Iran (Ha'aretz)
Eldar: Abbas, get off your high horse (Ha'aretz)
Shavit: Netanyahu’s Gambit (New York Times)
Analysis: Most Arabs won't miss Iran's ayatollahs if they fall (Jerusalem Post)
Munayyer: Seeing through Israel's delay tactics (Boston Globe)
Makdisi: The language that absolves Israel (Jnoubiyeh Blog)
Hiro: Change in Iran? (Daily Times)
Mitnick: Why Iran's Ahmadinejad is preferred by Israel (Christian Science Monitor)
Judt: Fictions on the ground (New York Times)
Avnery: When Bibi says yes, what does he mean? (Anti-War.com)
Gad: Netanyahu cornered (Al-Ahram Weekly)
Bishara: Loyalty to racism (Al-Ahram Weekly)
Chomsky: Turning point? (Australians for Palestine)
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.
