President Barack Obama: U.S. Needs To Be 'Honest' With IsraelIn an interview with NPR (audio), President Barack Obama stated that even while American support of Israel would continue, the United States will advocate the creation of a Palestinian state and a freeze on settlements in the West Bank, in direct contrast to the policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Only a day before President Obama is scheduled to give a major speech on American-Muslim relations in Cairo, he stated
We do have to retain a constant belief in the possibilities of negotiations that will lead to peace. And that's going to require, from my view, a two-state solution.The Washington Post reports that Obama hopes to maintain the friendship between Israel and the United States, but that
Part of being a good friend is being honest. And I think there have been times where we are not as honest as we should be about the fact that the current direction, the current trajectory, in the region is profoundly negative, not only for Israeli interests but also U.S. interests. And that's part of a new dialogue that I'd like to see encouraged in the region.HEADLINES
Rights Investigation Team Enters Gaza (New York Times)
Obama will try to form a personal connection in Middle East (Los Angeles Times)
Barak: Israel won’t assist war crimes probe (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Palestinians face serious shortfall in donor aid (Reuters)
Israel steps up defence drill (al Jazeera)
At least 4 Palestinians wounded as Israeli settlers go on rampage (Daily Star)
Palestine and the Palestinians
Hamas urges Palestinians to fight PA like they would Israel (Ha'aretz)
Palestinians wonder: Will Obama make good on his promises? (The Christian Science Monitor)
Police raid sparks West Bank clash (Al Jazeera)
PA official given three years hard labor for embezzlement(Ma'an)
Israel
Israel's Barak urges more sanctions against Iran (Reuters)
Israel stocks rise; Leumi rated a buy, and a sell (Investor's Business Daily)
Africa Israel nears completion of Gottex sale (Reuters)
Yesha Council: US using political terror against Israel (YNet News)
Israeli settlers evicting Palestinians from Jerusalem (Lebanon Daily Star)
189 children died in Gaza fighting, Israel says (Canada.com)
The Neighbors
Egypt to Up Price of Gas Sold to Israel (The Media Line)
Egypt's FM: Obama Speech 'Constructive' (NPR)
Lebanon's Palestinian refugees (Al Jazeera)
Second colonel arrested on suspicion of spying for Israel (Daily Star)
Inside Lebanese Hezbollah militia (BBC News)
OIC to launch Gaza educational campaign in Saudi Arabia (World Bulletin)
US Foreign Policy
Obama dispatches envoy to Israel to discuss settlements (Ha'aretz)
Obama: No Need To Curtail U.S. Support Of Israel (CBS News)
Democrats pressure Barack Obama on Israel (Politico)
International Relations/Law
Hamas officials hand over documents to UN's Gaza war crimes inquiry (Ma'an)
Israeli FM in Russia amid discord over Hamas, Iran (Ynet)
Lieberman 'deeply disappointed' over Russia-Hamas contacts (Jerusalem Post)
Iran may have material for nukes this year (Jerusalem Post)
A welcome new stage in Azerbaijani-Israeli ties (The Jerusalem Post)
Israel, India Strengthen Cooperation to Serve Both Interests (Xinhua)
Arts and Activism
Pink Floyd rocker to Israel: Tear town the wall (Ma'an)
Amid West Bank’s Turmoil, the Pull of Strings (New York Times)
Auschwitz survivor: "I can identify with Palestinian youth" (The Electronic Intifada)
Refugee children photograph their lives in camp (Daily Star)
Misc.
Joint Israeli-Palestinian team takes part in European tourney (Ha'aretz)
The Cartographic Crux of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (The Huffington Post)
"Ancient Jerusalem Stone Is Returned to Israel by N.Y. Tourist" (Bloomberg.com)
Israel's boxing league a champ at promoting coexistence (Israel 21c)
Commentary
Analysis: The prevented war (Jerusalem Post)
Editorial: The Palestinians are wasting an opportunity for a diplomatic victory (Daily Star)
Editorial: Culture police in Jerusalem (Ha'aretz)
Abusada: The Middle East peace process may be on the line (Daily Star)
Ignatius: Kerry's Unusual Role in Mediating U.S.-Syria Relations (Washington Post)
Maddox: Tony Blair makes his case for optimism in the Middle East (Times Online)
Arens: So what's your solution? (Ha'artz)
Commentary: Why does The Times recognize Israel's 'right to exist'? (MWC News)
Analysis: Settlement or not, the U.S. is still an ally of Israel (UN Dispatch)
Editorial: Paradigm shift (Jerusalem Post)
Geoff Porter: Israel eyes threats closer to home (Foreign Policy)
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.
