Israel: No policy change after Obama speech (AP)
Today, Israeli officials announced that Israel has no plans to halt settlement activity, and will continue to allow for existing settlement's "natural growth." This announcement follows the Israeli government's official response to President Obama's Cairo speech, which left out all references to a two-state solution or Obama's demand for an immediate halt to all settlement activity in the West Bank.
Speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to go beyond the formal response, officials said that instead of halting all settlement activity, Israel planned to take down 22 unauthorized settlement outposts in the West Bank in the coming weeks. However, this gesture is not predicted to go over well with Washington.
As quoted by the Associated Press, columnist Ben Caspit wrote in the Israeli daily Maariv on Friday:
Benjamin Netanyahu will have to come to a decision soon. It's either 'yes' to Obama or 'no' to Obama.So far, there is little indication that Netanyahu will answer 'yes.'
Fatah: Hamas preparing for West Bank coup attempt (Ma'an)
Fatah spokesperson Fahmi Al-Zareer described the daylong standoff between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas gunmen in Qalqiliya this Thursday as the beginning for a coup in the West Bank, comparing it to the Hamas takeover of Gaza in 2007. The standoff left three people dead on Thursday, including two Hamas gunmen and a police officer.
HEADLINES
Interveiw: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 'On the Record' (Fox News)
Palestinian negotiator: U.S. to announce Mideast peace plan in few months (Xinhau)
UN investigator 'shocked' by scale of destruction in Gaza (Ha'aretz)
IMF blames Arabs for Palestinian cash crisis (Taiwan News)
Palestinian shot dead by Israeli troops at West Bank protest (Ma'an)
Israel lifts more checkpoints after Obama speech (Washington Post)
World Bank, Palestinian, Israel debate water crisis in West Bank
(Xinhua)
Palestine and the Palestinians
Three killed in Palestinian gunbattle (Jordan Times)
Palestinian tensions on the rise in West Bank town (Reuters)
Gaza beach the only vent for blockaded Gazans to zest (Watan)
Palestinian PM Fayyad to Oslo for donors meeting (AFP)
Israel
Israel Says No Change in Settlement Policy after Obama Speech (VOA News)
Israel welcomes Obama speech (Al Jazeera English)
In Israel, Reaction to Remarks on Palestinian Conflict Is Mixed (Wall Street Journal)
Financial crisis leaves some Israel programs to flounder, yet others thrive (Ha'aretz)
Israeli companies seek UN business opportunities (Ynet News)
The Neighbors
Lebanon: Authorities release UNIFIL workers arrested on suspicion of espionage (The Daily Star)
Lebanon braces for high-stakes election (Jordan Times)
What The Syrians Wanted Obama To Say (CBS)
Iranian leader: Obama's 'sweet talk' not enough for Muslims (The Daily Star)
US Foreign Policy
Obama hopeful of Mideast peace progress this year (Washington Post)
US official: Settlement deal possible (Jerusalem Post)
GOP chastises Obama's speech over Israeli-Palestinian issue (CNN)
Obama Puts Pressure on the Palestinians (ABC News)
International Relations/Law
Merkel Backs Obama on Push for Accord in Middle East(New York Times)
UN hearings to be held on Gaza war crimes (BBC)
Palestinian PM Fayyad to Oslo for donors meeting (AFP)
Oil prices head back towards $70 (BBC)
Belarus leader seeks Israeli help to mend ties with West (AFP)
Lieberman seeking to ally with Russia (Ynet)
Sarkozy slams Iranian leader for Holocaust remark (AFP)
Obama says Ahmadinejad should visit Buchenwald (Ynet)
Arts and Activism
The Children of Gaza Will Show You (Dissident Voice)
For Palestinians, a Chance to Get Out and Play (Washington Post)
Catching Waves in a War Zone (Der Spiegel)
Israeli Films Ponder Human Cost of Bombings (Jewish Journal)
Misc.
Settlers unveil new "Obama" outpost in the West Bank (Ma'an)
Promoting Israel with a condom! (UPI)
In New Book, Ross, Top Envoy To Iran, Is Skeptical of Diplomatic Engagement (Forward)
Commentary
Lynch: My first take on The Speech (Foreign Policy)
Cohen: Baker's Ghost in Cairo (NY Times)
Levy: Obama Emerged in Cairo as a True Friend of Israel (Haaretz)
Abunimah: Obama in Cairo: A Bush in Sheep's Clothing? (Electronic Intifada)
Ignatius: John Kerry, a phone call, and a US-Syrian mini-breakthrough (The Daily Star)
Scovell: It's OK To Be Honest With Israel (Vanity Fair)
Chomsky: What Obama Didn't Say in His Cairo Address Speaks Volumes About His Mideast Policy (AlterNet)
Dr. Hamad: Palestinian factions and the gap between resistance and politics (Maan)
Brit Tzedek: We stand with the president (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Hurst: Obama's Islam success depends on Israel (AP)
Hanania: An Analysis of Obama's Precedent-Setting Speech (Huffington Post)
Benn: Obama's speech marks a strategic revolution for Israel (Haaretz)
Analysis: Using New Language, President Shows Understanding for Both Sides in Middle East (Washington Post)
Azoulay: Obama's give-and-take deal (Ynet)
Zakaria: Obama speech a success, with one missing piece (CNN)
Editorial: Obama must match his words with actions (Gulf News)
Brooks: The Chicago View (New York Times)
Editorial: The Cairo Speech (New York Times)
Editorial: The Cairo Appeal; Arab leaders will seek to narrow President Obama's broad agenda to one issue. Guess which. (Washington Post)
Ignatius: Obama's Preamble in Cairo (Washington Post)
Kagan: Obama Courageous, Foolish or Both? (Washington Post)
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