Record Turnout in Iran ElectionsLong lines formed outside of Iranian polling stations well before their 8:00 AM opening, and closed an hour after official closing time to accomodate the extraordinarily high turnout experienced during yesterday's election. The fiery, month-long campaign included mass rallies, polished campaign slogans, savvy Internet outreach and televised debates more closely resembling Western elections than the scripted campaigns in most other Middle Eastern countries.
The New York Times has described the election as a referendum on the hardline policies of current president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and while most analysts predict that no one will finish with more than 50% of the vote forcing a run-off election, the extraordinary public support for Mr. Moussavi has led others to predict that he could win the presidency in the first round on Friday. According to Ha'aretz:
A high turnout could indicate the participation of many pro-reformers who stayed away when Ahmadinejad won a surprise victory four years ago on a pledge to revive the values of the 1979 Islamic revolution.Many feel that a victory for Moussavi could ease tensions with the West, allowing for renewed diplomatic engagement with Washington.
The other contenders are current president Mahmod Ahmadinejad, Mehdi Karroubi, a reformist cleric; and Mohsen Rezai, a conservative and the former commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. All other presidential aspirants were screened out months ago by Iran’s clerical elite.
56% Israelis back settlements
According to a poll released Friday by the Maagar Mohot Polling Institute , nearly 6 in 10 Israelis believe that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should resist U.S. demands to completely freeze construction in Jewish West Bank settlements.
HEADLINES
Thousands of settlers expected near Salfit; Israel to impose curfew (Ma'an)
Qalqiliya clashes top agenda of first PLC session in post-war Gaza (Press TV)
FM: Palestinians can declare dual nationality state (CBS News)
US Mideast Peace Envoy Visits Egypt, Jordan (VOA)
US urges Arabs to make concessions to Israel (AP)
Palestine and the Palestinians
Top-level Egyptian efforts see two Al-Qassam fighters surrender to PA police in Tubas (Ma'an)
Israeli army finds weapon cache in West Bank raid (Xinhua)
New fuel pipeline built between Israel, Gaza (Xinhua)
Bottom line for Palestinian entrepreneurs: Reinvent the economy (Christian Science Monitor)
Al-Mizan: De facto police confiscate, distribute aid to select recipients (Ma'an)
When an MK's Palestinian narrative drops for a moment (Jerusalem Post)
Israel
Rightist MK: PM's policy speech won't cause 'earthquake' (Ha'aretz)
Netanyahu meets MKs ahead of Sunday's policy address (Jerusalem Post)
'Israel ready to detach itself from JA' (Jerusalem Post)
Three more suspects charged with spying for Israel (The Daily Star)
Talks on new Bank of Israel Law hit impasse (Ynet)
The Neighbors
Top White House Envoy Visits Syria (CBS News)
Lebanon releases Israeli sisters (International Middle East Media Center)
King Abdullah II: “Israel must stop settlement construction” (International Middle East Media Center)
King: Obama’s stance creates a positive atmosphere in region (US Foreign Policy
US Foreign Policy
US envoy meets Sleiman as part of Mideast peace push (The Daily Star)
Axelrod: Israelis, Palestinians must rise (UPI)
US Mideast Peace Envoy Visits Egypt, Jordan (VOA)
Will Syria play key role in Obama's Mideast peace efforts? (Christian Science Monitor)
Obama calls Jordan's King Abdullah (Foreign Policy)
International Relations/Law
UN chief: key Mideast peacemakers to meet (Chicago Tribune)
Red Cross calls on Israel to allow visitations to Gaza detainees (International Middle East Media Center)
International Women's Commission bashes Israel (Canada.com)
Dutch government split on Israel ties (Ynet News)
Minister's resignation demanded after reviewing funding for Israel-Palestine conference (Canada.com)
Arts and Activism
Palestinian Peace Activist Writes on 'Lessons of the Holocaust' (Middle East Research Institute)
Comedy highlights Middle East conflict (News Tribune)
Palestinian peace activist - A Reading of... Bassam (The Palestine Telegraph)
Street Activism... Putting your Principles where your Mouth Is (The Palestine Telegraph)
Misc.
Holy Land hopes for dogged peacemakers (BBC News)
Noam Shalit gives Jimmy Carter letter to Gilad (Ha'aretz)
Commentary
Eldar: What about the Arabs' natural growth? (Wall Street Journal)
Pearl: Why Israelis Are Cool on the Obama Speech (Wall Street Journal)
Editor's Notes: It's like this, Mr. President (Foreign Policy)
Kaufman: Lautenberg: Hopeful Signs in the Mideast (Philadelphia Inquirer)
George S. Hishmeh: Real hope for peace process (Gulf News)
Gordon: Can Obama Save Israel from Itself? (Jerusalem Post)
Lynch: Obama's Israeli-Palestinian agenda on track, but danger signs (Foreign Policy)
Abrams: Lebanon's Triumph, Iran's Travesty (NY Times)
Corruption in Lebanon can be curtailed with an independent judiciary (The Daily Star)
Westbrook: Absurdity is the Norm in Gaza (Maan News)
Karmi: The Delicate Balance (Al-Ahram)
Etzioni: Netanyahu turned Palestinian statehood into bargaining chip (Ha'aretz)
Commentary: Mousavi bad for Israel (Ynet)
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.
