Date

 

NEWS:
 
In comments directed towards Israel, Hezbollah claims Syria will provide it with "game changing" weapons. (New York Times)
 
Sec. Kerry and Pres. Abbas discuss peace in a phone call. (Xinhua)
 
Israeli officials suggest talks with Palestinians may resume in June. (YNet)
 
Palestinian officials say Kerry may present a new peace proposal in early June. (The Media Line)
 
Sec. Hagel says the US is determined to support its Middle East allies, including Israel and Egypt. (JTA)
 
El Salvador is set to establish diplomatic relations with Palestine. (JTA)
 
Israel arrests 13 Palestinians, and, in a separate incident, a PA security officer, in the occupied West Bank. (Xinhua/Ma'an)
 
In a visit to Gaza, the prominent Doha-based Islamist cleric Qaradawi rejects Israel's existence. (AP)
 
PLO officials say Israel's latest settlement announcement "sabotages" the possibility of new peace talks. (AFP)
 
Palestinians say they have called for an emergency Arab League meeting to discuss Jerusalem. (Ma'an)
 
With no actual elections in sight, the Palestinian "reality" TV show, "The President," is a big hit. (AP)
 
The boycott of an Israeli government conference by cosmologist Stephen Hawking gives new prominence to the BDS campaign. (CSM)
 
Israelis are more confident in Pres. Obama than Palestinians, but both want him to take the lead on peace. (JTA/Jerusalem Post)
 
Young Palestinians and Israeli settlers hold a rare meeting to discuss coexistence in occupied Hebron. (Ma'an)
 
 
COMMENTARY:
 
Lior Akerman, a former senior Israeli security official, says PM Fayyad's resignation is a loss for both Israelis and Palestinians. (Jerusalem Post)
 
Guy Bechor says Israel shouldn't go forward with new peace talks until Palestinians hold a new national election. (YNet)
 
Jonathan Cook says Israel isn't interested in a negotiated agreement with the Palestinians. (The National)
 
Nir Hasson says the construction of Route 20 in northern Jerusalem makes any future division of the city far more difficult. (Ha'aretz)
 
Bradley Burston says extreme right-wing "pro-Israel" advocacy is often just self-defeating hate speech. (Ha'aretz)
 
Jennifer Lipman says Hawking's boycott of an Israeli government conference won't inform or change anyone's views. (The Guardian)
 
The Economist says the boycott campaign can carry a heavy price for some Palestinians. (The Economist)
 
Eyad Abu Shakra says Israel's air strike in Syria was designed to send multiple messages to various parties, and seems successful. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
 
Asmaa al-Ghoul says Palestinian Islamic Jihad is reshaping and intensifying its political profile. (Al Monitor)
 
Akiva Eldar says "Jerusalem Day" means nothing when it's not celebrated by 67% of its residents. (Al Monitor)
 
Nadav Eyal says PM Netanyahu is striking a different tone on peace these days, probably in response to US policy. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)
 
Nick Witney and Daniel Levy say, if Europe is going to make a difference, it's going to have to really oppose Israeli expansionism. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

American Task Force on Palestine - 1634 Eye St. NW, Suite 725, Washington DC 20006 - Telephone: 202-262-0017