NEWS:
Tensions flare and fire is exchanged across the Israel-Gaza border following the death of a prisoner in Israeli custody from allegedly undertreated cancer. (New York Times)

Israel warns Gaza militants about the dangers of any escalation. (AP)

Hamas says it expects more attacks from Israel. (Xinhua)

Ma'an publishes an obituary of the late prisoner, Maysara Abu Hamdiyeh. (Ma'an)

Palestinians across the West Bank and Gaza observe a one-day general strike in protest at his death. (AFP)

Pres. Abbas blames Abu Hamdiyeh's death on "Israeli arrogance." (PNN)

PM Fayyad calls for international monitoring of Israel's prisons. (PNN)

A Palestinian minister says the prisoner's death shows the PLO must join the ICC. (Ma'an)

Israeli occupation forces detain 20 Palestinians in the West Bank. (Ma'an)

The Israeli military again says it fired back against ordinance coming across the frontier between Syria and the occupied Golan Heights. (New York Times)

Abbas will meet Sec. Kerry in Jordan on Sunday. (Ma'an)

Kerry is also due to visit Turkey. (Reuters)

Experts say the Palestinian-Jordanian agreement on Jerusalem gives Amman a much larger role in the future of the city and negotiations with Israel. (AFP)

Jewish Israelis and Palestinians discuss the quest for freedom at a Passover Seder in the occupied West Bank. (CSM)

The Israeli military is providing equal protection for all settlements, whether authorized or wildcat outposts. (Ha'aretz)

Some Fatah officials accuse disgraced former Fatah leader in Gaza Dahlan of poisoning the late Pres. Arafat. (AP)

Hamas is continuing a widespread crackdown on art and artists in Gaza. (Al Monitor)


COMMENTARY:
Ha'aretz says it's outrageous that the Israeli military is providing so many benefits to unauthorized wildcat settlement outposts. (Ha'aretz

Amos Harel says the PA is using the prisoner's death to keep up a popular struggle against Israeli occupation. (Ha'aretz)

Lynn Grassmeyer says another generation of Israelis and Palestinians are reaching a crisis point. (The Tennessean)

Shmuel Rosner says it will be even more difficult for Israel to delineate operating borders with Palestine than a settlement freeze. (New York Times)

Khaled Abu Toameh says, given that Islamists and others are raping women in the name of religion in Libya and elsewhere, women ought to think twice about going on aid convoys to Gaza. (Gatestone)

Amira Hass defends rock-throwing against Israeli occupation forces by Palestinian youths. (Ha'aretz)

Judy Montagu says Israel's apology to Turkey might feel like "giving in," but it's breathed new life into an important relationship. (Jerusalem Post)

The National says the reelection of Mishaal as Hamas leader provides an opportunity for Abbas and the Arab states. (The National)

Adel Zaanoun says Mishaal might even be able to improve Hamas' relations with the West. (Arab News)

Shlomi Eldar says it was Israel's military offensive in Gaza last year that resurrected Mishaal's waning career. (Al Monitor)

Hazem Saghieh says Israel has concluded that sectarian and ethnic cantons are being formed in Syria. (Al Hayat)

The Daily Star laments that while Israel is starting to effectively exploit offshore natural gas reserves, Lebanon is dithering. (The Daily Star)

Emily Hauser profiles a short documentary about the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem that recently won a Peabody award. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Aaron David Miller says, if he's really lucky, Pres. Obama might be able to leave the Middle East slightly better off than when he first came into office. (Foreign Policy)

Carlo Strenger looks at a new book by Rashid Khalidi, which takes a dim view of the US role as Middle East peace broker. (Ha'aretz)

Natasha Gill says Israelis and Palestinians can continue to greatly dislike each other and still achieve a mutually beneficial peace agreement. (The Forward)

Henry Siegman asks if Kerry can rescue the two-state solution. (Huffington Post)