Barak and Mitchell Discuss SettlementsIsraeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak met yesterday with U.S. Special Envoy George Mitchell in New York to discuss the contradictions between U.S. and Israeli policies on settlement growth and construction.
Since President Obama's call for a comprehensive settlement freeze in his June 4 Cairo speech, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has openly challenged the U.S. administration's position for not allowing natural growth and expansion of existing settlements in the West Bank.
According to the Washington Post, Barak and Mitchell met for four hours and discussed the current impasse between the two governments. Barak focused on the improved conditions in the West Bank with the removal of several roadblocks and dismantling of illegal settler outposts as signs that the Israeli government was working towards peace. However, a senior administration official said "We [Obama administration] have not changed our position at all. Nor has the president authorized any negotiating room."
With the settlement issue receiving high profile international attention in the recent months, Ha'aretz reported that both parties agreed to tamp down public statements on discussions and meetings regarding settlements. In the same article, Israeli sources reported that Barak was not advancing his own agenda or policies, but negotiating based upon an agreed upon approach laid out by PM Netanyahu.
The BBC reports Mitchell plans to continue these dicussion in the next few weeks by meeting with Netanyahu. This meeting was scheduled after Mitchell canceled a previous meeting with Netanyahu in favor of meeting with Barak.
Report Critical of IDF Drone Attacks
A recently released Human Rights Watch report on Israeli Defense Forces' Drone attacks during the war on Gaza is receiving growing international attention. The report details twenty-nine civilian death, including eight children, due to failures by the IDF when planning the attacks.
The New York Times reports that Israel is criticizing the report claiming "Israeli forces had also gone to extraordinary lengths to warn civilians during the Gaza offensive," and "questioned the credibility of some of the Palestinian witnesses cited by the advocacy group."
HEADLINES
Israeli navy commandeers Gaza aid boat (Guardian UK)
Palestinian factions optimistic over unity talks (AFP)
Israel, Egypt negotiate terms of new Gaza truce (Ha'aretz)
Sarkozy Comments on Israeli Minister Make Waves (New York Times)
Court: Harshen charges over bound Palestinian's shooting (Jerusalem Post)
Palestine and the Palestinians
Jerusalem Palestinians face no-win housing choice (AFP)
Palestinians want settler removed from land (Jerusalem Post)
Fatah, Hamas to miss unity deadline set by Cairo (Reuters)
Israeli-Palestinian talks stand at crossing point (Xinhua)
Israeli court compensates Palestinian (UPI)
Israel
Hebron settlers: Limit Palestinian traffic due to stoning (Ynet)
Uneasy recovery for Sderot and south Israel (BBC)
Shalit campaign headquarters chairman resigns (Ynet)
Netanyahu then and now on territories (The Examiner)
No tolls to be levied on southern sections of Trans-Israel Highway (Ha'aretz)
Hebron settlers: Limit Palestinian traffic due to stoning (The Neighbors
European Criticism May Hinder Talks, Iran Says (New York Times)
Hamas delegation in Egypt for Palestinian dialogue (Xinhua)
US Foreign Policy
U.S., Israel officials talk emergency management (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Petraeus commends Lebanon's improvement since last visit (Daily Star)
International Relations/Law
Barak, U.S. Envoy Discuss Settlements (Washington Post)
Spain drops probe into Israel ex-defence minister (Reuters)
Rights group: IDF failed to verify drone targets in Gaza (Ha'aretz)
Iran envoy summoned over Peres visit (Jerusalem Post)
Iran delegates storm out of interfaith meet during Peres speech (Ha'aretz)
Israel rejects Red Cross report (UPI)
Africa Israel sells two malls to Melisron (Forbes)
Kazakh president urges economic deals with Israel (Globes)
Arts and Activism
Palestinian filmmakers use animation to tell sad Gaza tale of woman battling cancer (LA Times)
Surfing in Gaza helps to keep tensions of war at bay (Times Online)
Misc.
Unlikely Ally for Residents of West Bank (New York Times)
Young Christians get hands-on Israel experience (Jerusalem Post)
Casspi 1st Israeli taken in 1st round of NBA draft (AP)
Commentary
Nawi: Israel's man of conscience (The Nation)
Hamas leader Mashal: Obama changed US rhetoric only (Ma'an)
Sarna: The one-state solution: By the time we truly aspire for two-state solution, it may be too late (YNet)
Cook: Israeli doctors collude in torture (Counterpunch)
Lamb: Hezbollah after the elections (Counterpunch)
Alpher: A blow to the chances for peace (Jerusalem Post)
It's too simplistic to blame outisde powers for the latest clashes in Lebanon (Daily Star)
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.
