Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman arrived in the United States yesterday to meet with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to discuss Israeli-US relations, policies toward Iran, the terms of a two-state solution, and controversial US demands that Israel freeze all settlement activity in the West Bank. Following Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu's speech outlining Israeli acceptance of a demilitarized Palestinian state, some pundits believe Lieberman will work hard to be charming and to avoid any confrontation with the U.S. administration, using this visit to soften his image in Washington, while improving Israel's image to the public.While both side reiterated a strong commitment to Israeli security and the deep friendship between both nations, both disagreed over the issue of a complete settlement freeze, with Clinton stating:
We want to see a stop to the settlements. We think that is an important and essential part of pursuing the efforts leading to a comprehensive peace agreement and the creation of a Palestinian state next to an Israeli Jewish state that is secure in its borders.And Lieberman responding that:
We really don't have any intention to change the demographic balance in Judea and Samaria [the West Bank]. We think that in every place around the world babies are born, people get married, some pass away and we cannot accept this vision about absolutely, completely freezing settlements.Public opinion polls indicate that American support for Israel is waning with a 20 percent drop from nine months ago, standing today at only 49 percent. Additionally, with the emergence of Jewish lobbying firms such as J Street, which backs a peaceful resolution to a two-state solution, may be an indication that some American Jewish groups may also be tiring of the more hawkish stance pursued by Israeli leadership.
*For a full transcript of Secretary Clinton's and Minister Lieberman's remarks click here.
HEADLINES
Palestinians: Don't start talks 'from scratch'(AP)
Israelis to free jailed Hamas speaker in August (The Washington Post)
Palestinian president to visit Syria, Saudi Arabia this week (Xinhua)
IAEA chief, Israel lock horns over Syria (AFP)
Mideast peace deal could happen 'within year': Blair (AFP)
Palestine and the Palestinians
Four Palestinians Killed in Border Battle with Israeli Troops (Voice of America)
Jerusalem municipality hands out demolition orders to Palestinian families (International Middle East Media Center)
Settler attacks rise in West Bank (AJC)
Haneya: Shalit's release hinges on Israeli intentions (Xinhua)
Four Palestinians arrested for murdering doctor (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Increasing number of Gaza children attend Hamas summer camps (The Daily Star)
Israel
Israeli army eases grip on ancient Jericho (Washington Post)
2 soldiers suspected of abusing Palestinians (Ynet)
Brigade commander softens stance on troop violence (Ynet)
New report on abuse of Palestinian children in Israeli custody (Palestine News Network)
Video clip raises Christian-Druze tension in Israel (Reuters)
The Neighbors
Hezbollah leader: US, Israel plotting scheme (The Daily Star)
Lebanon urged to press UN on Palestinian's return (The Daily Star)
Panel of Clerics Offers Talks With Iranian Opposition (New York Times)
US Foreign Policy
For Obama, Pressure to Strike Firmer Tone (The Daily Star)
Mitchell calls for 'prompt resumption' of peace talks (The Daily Star)
International Relations/Law
Israel envoys clash with UN watchdog chief over Syria probe 'bias' (Ha'aretz)
UN says Mideast peace impossible without Palestinians (Jerusalem Post)
Dutch anti-Islam MP: 'Israel is West's first line of defense' (Ha'aretz)
Red Cross to Hamas: Let us visit Schalit (Jerusalem Post)
Arts and Activism
Israeli Director Eran Riklis Offers A Humanizing View of Palestinians in Lemon Tree (Palestine News Network)
Palestinian-American employs comedy and gravity to analyze crisis in the Middle East (Examiner)
Algerian-Palestinian hip hop in Yemen (Yemen Times)
Activists defy Israel, to send Gaza cement (Reuters)
Commentary
Opinion: A Palestinian Choice (Wall Street Journal)
Shavit: Netanyahu's Revolution (Ha'aretz)
Lowenstien: Why aren't Jews outraged by Israeli Occupation? (Ha'aretz)
Greenwald: Jimmy Carter, an unwilling Bilaam (Jerusalem Post)
Harel: They don't want a state (Ha'aretz)
Opinion: Peace for Israel requires a strong Palestinian Authority (Christian Science Monitor)
Khan: Palestinians' way forward (Al Jazeera)
Cohen: My name is Iran (NY Times)
Sakhnini: But what kind of 'Palestine State?' (Palestine Chronicle)
Cloughley: Israel, Iran, and Palestine (Daily Times)
Gorenberg: Barack the Zionist (Slate)
Levy: The unrest in Iran makes me green with envy (Ha'aretz)
Kavon: The myth of Zionist imperialism (Jerusalem Post)
George Hishmeh: Netanyahu thumbs his nose at Obama (Gulf News)
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