Mitchell Meets with Israeli and Palestinian LeadersU.S. Special Envoy George Mitchell arrived in Israel on Tuesday to meet with senior Israeli leaders, bringing with him the message that, “beyond any doubt that the United States’ commitment to the security of Israel remains unshakeable,” the New York Times reported.
Mitchell returned to the region the week after President Obama's historic speech in Cairo to the Muslim world to reaffirm American support for a freeze on settlement activity and a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
According to Ha'aretz, later in the day Mitchell met with Palestinian leaders in the West Bank city of Ramallah where he assured Palestinians:
The only viable solution for this conflict is for the aspirations of both sides to be met in two states. The U.S. has an obligation to create conditions for the prompt resumption and early conclusion of negotiations. America will not turn our back to the legitimate Palestinians aspirations for dignity, opportunity and a state of their own.CNN is reporting that Mitchell will visit Syria this weekend for two days after he travels to Lebanon. His trip to Syria comes on the heels of other high-level visits in recent months from State Department and NSC officials as Obama continues to build diplomatic initiatives in the Middle East.
Mapping an Occupation
The Guardian has published an interactive map that demonstrates the barrier realities of the Israeli Occupation in the West Bank. The map allows users to choose from lists of barriers, road restrictions, and areas of control that illustrate the realities on the ground of the Occupation - all of which can be compared to the 1949 Armistice Line. Utilizing the different features and options allows users to visualize the obstacles facing Israelis and Palestinians as international efforts to restart the peace process continue.
HEADLINES
Audio: Doctor Turns Personal Loss Into Hope For Gaza (NPR)
Abbas tries to fix Palestinian side of peace puzzle (Reuters)
Hariri rules out independent Lebanon-Israel peace track (Ha'aretz)
Hamas 'will not obstruct' 1967 borders deal (BBC)
Palestinian nonviolent resistance targeted by Israeli administration, remains undeterred (PNN)
In nod to U.S., Israel mulls opening Gaza crossings (Ha'aretz)
Israeli PM quells Mideast peace objections (UPI)
Lieberman's extremist image prompts Netanyahu to attend UN meet (Ha'aretz)
Palestine and the Palestinians
Palestinians get a hand (The Washington Times)
Hamas leader: Israeli settlement freeze essential (AP)
Palestinians, Israelis rally against siege on Gaza border (Xinhua)
Raids hamper Palestinian reconciliation-Hamas (Reuters)
'Hamas woman admits planning suicide attack on Palestinian police' (Jerusalem Post)
Will fighting Palestinian incitement be a focus of U.S. peace efforts? (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Islamic Jihad opposes two-state solution (Xinhua)
Speaker of Palestinian Legislative Council still held in Israeli prison per military court (PNN)
Israel
'Israel holds Hamas responsible for any Gaza aggression'(Ha'aretz)
Barak calls on Netanyahu to endorse two-state solution (Jerusalem Post)
Israel to pay 50 Hebron Palestinians for damage (Jerusalem Post)
Charges dropped against settler who shot Palestinians (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Israel warns Hamas over Gaza attack, keeps embargo (AFP)
IDF developing battlefield robot snake (Jerusalem Post)
Israeli PM quells Mideast peace objections (UPI)
Shas MK: Free Jewish terrorists when Palestinians are released early (Jerusalem Post)
Israeli injured near Hebron area settlement (Ma'an)
Settlers install tents near a Palestinian village in Nablus (International Middle East Media Center)
Ya'alon belittles Obama's policy on Iran (Jerusalem Post)
Rights group warns of growing settler violence (Ynet)
Analysis: Solid bloc of 4 right-wing politicians may not be so solid (Jerusalem Post)
The Neighbors
Lebanon accuses Israel of election tampering (Ynet)
Palestinians press Saudi Arabia to cancel Alstom tender win (Globes)
Deadly blast hits southern Iraq (BBC)
Egypt: Spokesman: Meeting for International Conference in Support of the Palestinian People stresses the importance of establishing an independent Palestinian State (ISRIA)
Hamas leader in Egypt to discuss raids (Gulf News)
US Foreign Policy
Man Behind Iran Policy Faces Big Task (Washington Post)
Obama Instructs Clinton to Prepare a Report on Israel’s Military Strength (Washington Independent)
Obama “Shakes” the Jewish Consciousness in Cairo (Religion Dispatches)
UNRWA: U.S. Government Contributes $55 million to UNRWA (ISRIA)
International Relations/Law
Egypt minister who urged burning Hebrew books stumbles in bid for UN post (Ha'aretz)
'Israel garbled Lebanon phone networks' (Jerusalem Post)
Poland offers psychological treatment to Gaza children (Ha'aretz)
ICRC urges Israel to allow unity for Palestinian families (The Palestine Telegraph)
Iran Campaign Enters Final Day (Al Jazeera)
BTR 70s For the Palestinians (Strategy Page)
Arts and Activism
Italian theater project brings Israelis, Palestinians together (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Jewish & Palestinian Students Unite to Answer Obama's Call to Action in Cairo By Launching Site to Empower Middle East Entrepreneurs (PR Web)
'Poets for Palestine' negotiates an imagined better future, harsh reality (The Daily Star)
Misc.
Palestinians save Israeli car crash victim (UPI)
Tel Aviv search for mattress containing $1M life savings (CNN)
Lack of frequency hits Palestine’s mobile sector (ITP)
Commentary
Benn: Netanyahu failed to build bond of trust with Obama (Ha'aretz)
Friedman: Ballots Over Bullets (New York Times)
Gerson: Clarity for The Deniers (Washington Post)
Melman: Will he mention the Holocaust again? (Ha'aretz)
Yehoshua: Why do we insist on a 'Jewish' state? (Ha'aretz)
Davis: Does Israel Need Obama's Tough Love? (Fox News)
Benn: Netanyahu failed to build bond of trust with Obama (Ha'aretz)
Nasrallah is walking a think line when it comes to Lebanese elections (The Daily Star)
Dabashi: Obama Reneges on Change (Al-Ahram)
Nassar: Water Woes (Al-Ahram)
Tenembaum: Obama and Eisenhower: Some Parallels (Jerusalem Post) http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1244371044073&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
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.
