Hamas requests direct talks with ObamaAccording to al-Jazeera, Mousa Abu Marzouk, the deputy chief of the Hamas political bureau, on Monday called for United States President Barack Obama to hold direct talks with Hamas as a show of respect for the democratic process in the Middle East.
Speaking about Obama's address to the Muslims around the world in Cairo this past week, Marzouk stated:
The real violence in the region is (the Israeli) occupation. It's also unacceptable that Obama talked about violence and didn't talk about occupation.The Hamas leader suggested that because Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections in 2006, the United States must respect the outcome of that election. He explicitly stated that the United States should change its current position of not negotiating with Hamas until it meets the Quartet preconditions "because they know that without Hamas their efforts will not succeed."
However, Marzouk would not commit to the Quarter demands, with the International Middle East Media Center reporting that the leader added that Hamas will not renounce violence and Hamas has a right to resist Israeli occupation.
Barak: Israel must back Palestinian state
During a Labour Party faction meeting, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak called for the Israeli government to implement all past agreements committed to by former governments, including the creation of a two-state solution, as designated by the 2003 Road Map. Barak also praised President Obama's speech in Cairo, believing that supporting a two-state solution would allow for further cooperation with the United States.
HEADLINES
Egypt meets with Hamas's Meshaal to contain crisis (Reuters)
UN investigator: Gaza war probe won't likely yield prosecution (Haaretz)
Officer who killed Palestinian in Naalin under investigation (Ynet News)
U.S. Envoy Meets Israeli Officials (New York Times)
South African study: Israel practicing apartheid and colonialism (Electronic Intifada)
Lebanon vote's result a relief to U.S., allies (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Palestine and the Palestinians
Abbas aide's motorcade feared attacked in Ramallah (Ma'an)
Palestinian homes at risk in occupied West Bank (Amnesty International)
Palestinian ordered to demolish own house in Old Jerusalem (Ma'an)
'God's Supporters' group claims Gaza border attack (Ma'an)
Hamas orders assassination of Palestinian officers who raided safe house (World Tribune)
Palestinian motorist shot by convoy bodyguard (Reuters)
Palestinian forces detain Hamas women (Ynet News)
Southern Bethlehem leaders of Palestinian nonviolent resistance on trial in Israeli military court (Palestine News Network)
Israel
FM: World opinion Israel's No. 1 problem (Jerusalem Post)
Israei troops kill four Gazans with explosives-laden horses (The Daily Star)
Barak: IDF faces more difficult wars than last Gaza op (Haaretz)
Israel defense cost highest per capita (Jerusalem Post)
Israel risks losing US financial support if settlement expansion continues (The Daily Star)
Israel tells El Al: Call it a separation fence, not a wall (Haaretz)
The Neighbors
Syria said awaiting Israel response on offer to renew talks (Haaretz)
Gulf states urge Obama to act soon on Mideast (The Jordan Times)
Hopeful Signs for U.S. in Beirut Vote (New York Times)
Defeated Hezbollah accepts Lebanon election results (Ha'aretz)
More political strife in Lebanon expected after victory of U.S.-backed coalition (LA Times)
US Foreign Policy
Mitchell hopes to pave way for Palestinian-Israeli talks (The Daily Star)
US Envoy Pushes Israel to Restart Peace Talks with Palestinians (VOA)
US renews push for peace (The Jordan Times)
US envoy assures Israel policy rift won't break alliance (Ha'aretz)
International Relations/Law
Israel urges firmer IAEA measures to probe Syrian, Iranian 'nuclear sites' (The Daily Star)
Gulf countries urge Iran, Israel to meet international agreements (Monsters and Critics)
German pol calls for Israel in EU (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
41 European parliamentarians enter Gaza to observe destruction (Ma'an)
Report: NATO, EU unlikely to accept Israel as part of peace deal (World Tribune)
Latin American leaders 'mobilize support for Israel' (Ynet)
Arts and Activism
First Palestinian Pavilion in the Venice Biennale (ANSAmed)
Brazil soccer clubs plan ‘peace match’ (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Music with a view (Jerusalem Post)
Misc.
Deadly attack on USS Liberty gets new attention (The Seattle Times)
The Divisions Among Israelis and Palestinians (New York Times)
'Arabs did to Israel what Borat did to Kazakhstan' (Haaretz)
Commentary
Islam's Turn to Address Obama (Washington Post)
Kanazi: Oslo redux: Fool's gold in Israel/Palestine (Al-Jazeera)
Galloway: Our convoy to Gaza (Al-Jazeera)
Obama leaves settlers with stark choice - apartheid or a bi-national state (Haaretz)
Yishai must be reined in (Haaretz)
Why Israel Won't Attack Iran (Foreign Policy)
Analysts: Election victory of Lebanon's Western-backed coalition is good news for economy (Chicago Tribune)
George Friedman: West Bank Settlements and the Future of U.S.-Israeli Relations (Stratfor)
The Changing Face of Israel (Foreign Policy)
Loewenstein: How Much Really Separates Obama and Netanyahu (Counterpunch)
No Joy for Lebanon (Jerusalem Post)
Cairo, Lebanon, Iran... and Israel? (The Economist)
Lebanon's June 7 Polls Mean That the Time for Excuses Has Passed (The Daily Star)
Walt: Is the Israel Lobby Getting Weaker (Foreign Policy)
Wright: The Bible's Vindication of Obama's Mideast Strategy (Huffington Post)
Nadia Hijab: The Obama Difference (New York Times)
Roger Cohen: Middle East Reality Check (New York Times)
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