NEWS
Israeli occupation forces shoot and kill a Palestinian teenager during violent clashes in the occupied West Bank.  (Xinhua/AP/Washington Post)

A second Palestinian youth is killed by Israeli forces in another confrontation. (Ma'an)

An 80-year-old Palestinian shepherd is beaten unconscious near an Israel settlement. (Ha'aretz)

Many analysts think Israel's new airstrikes in Gaza are a warning to Hamas, and none of the sides want a major escalation. (Xinhua)

Hamas confirms that Gaza-based politician Ismail Hanniyeh will serve as the deputy leader of its Politburo. (AP/Xinhua)

Another vocal Gaza-based Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar is reportedly removed from the Politburo altogether. (Al Monitor)

Sec. Kerry heads back to the region for more shuttle diplomacy aimed at restarting negotiations. (USA Today/AP)

Palestinians say they will suspend all moves at the UN and other multilateral agencies to give US diplomacy a chance. (Ha'aretz)

Pres. Abbas reiterates that freeing prisoners is a top Palestinian priority. (AFP)

Israeli security documents show a Palestinian prisoner suffered serious injuries from torture 18 months ago. (Ha'aretz)

Fellow students at Oxford University are helping to pay the scholarship for a Palestinian student from Gaza. (BBC)

Israeli settlers accuse Ha'aretz commentator Amira Hass of incitement to violence for defending Palestinian rock-throwing protesters. (Times of Israel)

Leading Jewish Americans urge PM Netanyahu to make compromises for peace. (Ha'aretz)

Palestinians visit Israel's Holocaust museum in Jerusalem. (YNet)


COMMENTARY
Gideon Levy says that Israeli doctors who serve in the occupation and prison systems are betraying their profession by countenancing neglect, abuse and torture. (Ha'aretz)

Jonathan Rosen says it's completely understandable why so few Israelis are in the least sympathetic to Hamas. (Jerusalem Post)

George Hishmeh says Mishaal has shown a level of pragmatism that the US and Israel should explore. (Gulf News)

Ernest Corea says Palestinians need to see deeds, not hear words, to revive hopes for peace. (Arab News)

Asmaa al-Ghoul looks at the struggle of Palestinian poets in Gaza under Hamas rule. (Al Monitor)

Gil Troy adds his take on how to reconcile Israel's "Jewish" and "democratic" characters. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Charles Kupchan and Soli Ozel say Israeli-Turkish rapprochement won't mean much if it isn't followed by demonstrable increased cooperation. (New York Times)

Kerry's visit to Mideast hopes to pave way for talks
Media Mention of ATFP In - April 4, 2013 - 12:00am

Secretary of State John Kerry will head to the Middle East this weekend to encourage the Israelis and Palestinians to follow up on President Obama's recent call for the two sides to restart peace talks. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Wednesday that Kerry will visit Turkey, Israel and Ramallah, West Bank. He will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, she said. The visit is a chance to figure out what Israeli and Palestinian leaders "think is possible," Nuland said.



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