Roger Cohen urges Pres. Obama to go to Jerusalem. Palestinian refugees in Lebanon continue to suffer. Israelis push for an interim peace plan, but Palestinians reject the idea. Israel leaves only one commercial crossing to Gaza open. Right-wing Israelis and settlers are infuriated, and officials say they are threatening security forces. Gaza banks strike after a major robbery and many accuse Hamas. Hamas says PM Fayyad’s unity plan is "stillborn." Mideast unrest may spur Israeli-Syrian negotiations. Tensions along the Gaza-Israel border are likely to be contained. Norway says it may recognize Palestine if the peace process remains stalled, but Sweden says it won’t. The PA says 150 states will recognize Palestine by September. Obama says Israelis must show seriousness on peace. D. Bloomfield asks if the US is moving away from the peace process. Larry Derfner says Israel has fewer defenders than ever. Palestinians sell products at an Israeli agricultural fair. J Street is now pressuring rather than defending the Obama administration. Jewish Americans in California argue fiercely about Israeli policies. Daoud Kuttab says Palestinians can learn from that Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions. Hagit Ofran and Lara Friedman say at least 70 unauthorized outposts are built on privately-owned Palestinian land. Alon Ben-Meir says Israel's democracy is unraveling.

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