May 12th

News:

Pres. Abbas will meet with Sec. Kerry in London on Tuesday. (Xinhua)

Israeli ministers approve a law to block the release of Palestinian prisoners. (Reuters/Xinhua/Ha’aretz/The Media Line)

Latin Patriarch Twal says “hate crimes” threaten Pope Francis’ visit to the Holy Land. (AP/AFP/Ha’aretz)

Israel accuses Special Envoy Indyk of doing nothing to help the Middle East peace talks. (Reuters)

The UN accepts Palestine as a signatory to the UN Convention Against Corruption. (Ma’an)

Israeli Minister Steinitz says “someone” wants to sabotage US-Israeli relations. (Ha’aretz/JTA)

Finance Minister Lapid defends his decision to stay in government despite impasse in peace talks. (Jerusalem Post)

Israeli soldiers open fire on Palestinian farmers in Gaza. (PNN/Times of Israel)

Israeli forces and Palestinian students clash at Al-Quds university. (Ma’an)

Israeli occupation forces detain 16 in West Bank raids. (Ma’an)

Israeli author Amos Oz say Jewish “price tag” extremists are “Hebrew neo-Nazis.” (Ynet)

PM Netanyahu says Iran’s nuclear program is a “clear and present danger.” (Reuters)

Syria officially opens its presidential campaign. (AP/Xinhua/Times of Israel)

Thousands of Syrians return to Homs after rebels leave. (AP/The National)

ISIS criticizes al-Qaeda and says it refuses to leave Syria. (AFP)

Field Marshall Sisi promises to make improvements in people’s living conditions in Egypt within two years, if elected. (AP/The National)

US Defense Secretary Hagel will meet with GCC Ministers in Saudi Arabia. (The National)

Militants kill 20 soldiers in northern Iraq. (Reuters/AP)

US officers kill two armed civilians in Yemen. (New York Times)

Commentary:

Aaron David Miller asks why Kerry’s initiative failed. (Los Angeles Times)

Rami Khouri asks why Abbas is waiting to try to join the ICC. (Daily Star)

Elliott Abrams says the Obama administration has made settlements a new obstacle to peace talks. (The Weekly Standard)

Bruce Stokes says Americans do not care about peace in the Middle East. (Foreign Policy)

Nicholas Pelham asks where is it really better to be a Christian in Israel or in the occupied territories. (Ha’aretz)

Moshe Arens says Jewish “price tag” extremists want to prevent Palestinian citizens of Israel from integrating in Israeli society. (Ha’aretz)

Amoz Oz explains why he thinks Jewish “price tag” extremists are “Hebrew neo-Nazis.” (Ynet)

Colin Shindler says Netanyahu’s “Jewish state” demand is a “public relations stunt.” (New York Times)

Seth Lipsky asks if the Jewish American community should speak with one voice on Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Hussein Ibish says more work remains to be done to repair US-Egypt relations. (The National)

Max Reibman says Egypt’s dependence on the GCC will be a challenge for any incoming Egyptian government. (Daily Star)

The Daily Star says the international community must work with Lebanon to manage the refugee crisis. (Daily Star)

Michel Kilo says the people of Homs never hesitated to “shoulder the burden” of the Syrian revolution. (Asharq al-Awsat)

The Jordan Times says the Arab world should defend media freedom. (Jordan Times)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says the Anbar province in Iraq is now suffering from al-Qaeda criminals, rebels and tribes allied with them. (Al Arabiya)

May 9th

News:
Pres. Abbas says Palestinians will resume negotiations if Israel releases the fourth batch of prisoners and halts settlement construction for three months. (Ma’an)
Special Envoy Indyk talks about the breakdown of the peace talks. (Reuters/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post/JTA/Times of Israel/State Department)
NSA Rice meets with Abbas in Ramallah. (AFP/Xinhua/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)
Palestinian Chief Negotiator Erekat says Israel is being hypocritical in condemning Palestinian reconciliation agreements. (Ha’aretz)
17 human rights groups urge Palestine to join the ICC. (New York Times/AFP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
Israel fears rightists might carry out massive “hate crimes” during Pope Francis’ visit. (Ha’aretz)
Jewish “price tag” extremists vandalize a church in Jerusalem. (AFP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
Hamas leader Abu Marzouq says a Palestinian unity government would be neither Fatah nor Hamas. (Ma’an)
A priest, who is a Palestinian citizen of Israel, is sacked for backing service in the Israeli army. (AFP)
A Danish lawmaker demands Palestine to be invited to the Eurovision song contest. (Ha’aretz)
Researchers say Palestinian women are deprived of basic rights under the occupation. (Jordan Times)
A political breakdown leaves 270 Syrian rebels trapped in Homs. (Reuters)
A parliamentary committee recommends the UK must prevent its nationals from fighting in Syria. (Reuters)
The US sanctions six Syrian government officials and a Russian bank. (AP)
Field Marshall Sisi tells Egyptian media not to press issues such as freedom of speech. (AP)
Egyptian tourism’s message to the world is “come anyway.” (New York Times)
A planned visit by the head of the Maronite church to Jerusalem stirs an outcry in Lebanon. (Reuters)
The Iraqi army faces death and desertions as it struggles to maintain the Anbar offensive. (Washington Post)
Commentary:
Jeffrey Goldberg says US officials also blame Palestinians for the collapse of the peace talks. (Bloomberg)
Abdullah Hamidaddin writes a letter to an Israeli citizen. (Al Arabiya)
Steven Cook says the emergence of Islamic Jihad in Gaza suggests violence may not be far behind. (Council on Foreign Relations)
Emily Hauser asks if US ignorance killed the peace process. (Ha’aretz)
Uri Savir says the biggest obstacle for a two-state solution has been the inability to determine a border between the two states. (Jerusalem Post)
Yizhar Hess says Israeli society will pay the price for “price tag” attacks. (Ynet)
Bakir Oweida says there are double standards in the Middle East when journalists deal with the Palestinian cause. (Asharq al-Awsat)
The National says Pres. Assad’s takeover of Homs is a “hollow victory.” (The National)
The Jordan Times says Washington’s diplomatic recognition of the Syrian opposition is a “belated move.” (Jordan Times)
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says the US faces tough choices regarding the future of the Middle East. (Al Arabiya)
Alan Philps says North African countries have won hard-fought progress but still need outside support. (The National)

May 8th

News:
During her trip to Israel, NSA Rice says Middle East peace talks should continue. (AP)
Former Arab League Chief and Egyptian FM Moussa says, if Hamas wants a Palestinian state, it must recognize Israel. (AFP/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)
Palestinian Chief Negotiator Erekat says PM Netanyahu prevented Pres. Peres from travelling to Jordan in 2011 to finalize a peace deal. (Times of Israel)
The Roman Catholic Church demands Israeli action to stop “price tag” attacks. (AFP/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)
Former ICC prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo says a Palestinian decision to join the ICC could backfire. (Ha’aretz/AP/Ynet/The Media Line)
Peres will visit the White House at the end of June. (JTA)
Hamas executes two men accused of collaborating with Israel. (New York Times/Ma’an/JTA)
5,000 Palestinian prisoners start a mass hunger strike in Israeli jails. (Ma’an/Xinhua)
The former head of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission Eilaman says Netanyahu is using the Iranian nuclear threat for political gain. (Ha’aretz)
Large numbers of Palestinians in Gaza are suffering from psychological problems. (Al-Monitor)
Syrian rebels blow up a hotel in Aleppo used by government forces. (AP/Reuters/New York Times)
The Syrian opposition tells the US it needs weapons to battle Pres. Assad. (AP/New York Times)
Commentary:
Yair Auron writes a letter to a Palestinian reader about the Holocaust, Nakba and reconciliation. (Ha’aretz)
David Landau says Israel must not surrender to settler bullying and violence. (Ha’aretz)
Peter Beinart says J Street is creating a more open and honest discussion about Israel among Jewish Americans. (Ha’aretz)
Joyce Karam says building trust between Pres. Obama and Syrian Opposition Leader Jarba is a key to progress in Syria. (Al Arabiya)
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed asks why the US should arm the Syrian opposition. (Al Arabiya)
Jeffrey Goldberg asks if UN Amb. Power rebuked Obama on Syria policy. (Bloomberg)
The National says Field Marshall Sisi needs to put Egypt on the right track. (The National)
Rami Khouri writes a letter to the judges of Egypt. (Daily Star)
The Daily Star says Lebanon’s presidential election demonstrates its “farcical democracy.”
Eyad Abu Shakra asks if Gen. Aoun will become Lebanon’s next president due to the regional realities. (Asharq al-Awsat)
Dirk Vandewalle and Nicholas Jahr say Libya’s unexpected strength is that most of its people agree on major issues such as minority rights, Islam and federalism. (New York Times)

May 7th

News:
Pres. Peres says a 2011 peace agreement he had secretly negotiated with Pres. Abbas was blocked by PM Netanyahu. (AFP/Ha’aretz/JTA)
An aide to Abbas, Mohammad Al-Madani, confirms Peres account of a peace deal three years ago. (Times of Israel)
Israel’s National Security Advisor Cohen urges the US and the EU to blame Palestinians for the failure of the peace talks. (Ha’aretz)
NSA Rice is holding meetings in Israel. (AP/Reuters/AFP/Ynet/Jerusalem Post/JTA)
Israel is reportedly spying on the US at an “alarming level.” (AFP/Ha’aretz)
Israel rejects reports of its “extensive espionage” on the US. (Xinhua)
US Congress prepares hearings to reconsider aid to the PA after the agreement between Fatah and Hamas. (Jerusalem Post)
Israel transfers Palestinian tax revenues to the PA. (Reuters)
FM Lieberman criticizes Palestinian citizens of Israel who joined the “Nakba” protests. (AFP)
The EU demands greater transparency from Palestinians if they expect aid money to continue. (JTA)
The EU urges Israel to halt home demolitions in Area C. (Ma’an)
Hamas ends a ban on a West Bank newspaper. (AP/Reuters/Xinhua)
Israeli Chief Negotiator Livni holds an emergency meeting on how to stop “price tag” attacks. (Jerusalem Post)
Jewish “price tag” extremists vandalize the window of a Druze business in Israel. (Ha’aretz)
Egyptian authorities close the Rafah crossing. (PNN)
The conflict between Palestinians and settlers stalls a solution to the sewage crisis in the occupied West Bank  (AP)
The PA is “pressuring” Lebanon to allow entry of Palestinian refugees fleeing Syria. (Ma’an)
Syrian rebels begin evacuating the city of Homs. (AP/Reuters/New York Times/Xinhua)
Pres. Obama will meet with Syrian opposition leader Jarba. (AP)
Field Marshall Sisi says US tried to delay former Pres. Morsi’s ouster. (New York TImes)
Security authorities arrest 62 militants for allegedly having ties to Syrian and Yemeni terrorists in Saudi Arabia. (AP)
Commentary:
Munib al Masri says the main Palestinian players all seek a historic agreement with Israel.  (Ha’aretz)
Yossi Mekelberg says its Israel’s national interest and moral obligation to make peace with the Palestinians. (Al Arabiya)
Emily Hauser says the “iNakba” app is a brilliant idea. (Jewish Daily Forward)
Zvi Bar’el says Israel is maintaining an “ugly occupation,” not “apartheid” in the Palestinian territories. (Ha’aretz)
Ron Kronish says Israelis need to demand “quick action” from their government to fight “price tag” attacks. (Times of Israel)
Marwan Muasher explains how Arabs can defeat sectarianism. (New York Times)
Michael Young says the Obama administration’s behavior in the Middle East is paradoxical. (The National)
Osama Al Sharif says although Sisi will likely win the upcoming presidential election, it will not be an easy victory. (Jordan Times)
Mshari Al-Zaydi asks if the Arab world is currently living through the era of the second “fitna.” (Asharq al-Awsat)
Hassan Hassan says Syria’s rebels may be transforming and gaining ground. (The National)

May 6th

News:
State Department denies reports that Sec. Kerry is dismantling his Middle East peace team. (Jerusalem Post/AFP)
Hamas says it will not oppose Hamdallah as unity government PM. (Xinhua)
Hamas releases six Fatah members. (Ma’an/Ha’aretz)
Pres. Peres says Israel must work hard to make peace with its neighbors. (Ha’aretz)
The majority of Israeli Jews support legislation that would authorize FM to reduce government funding to institutions which mark Nakba day. (Ynet)
The “iNakba” app finds former Palestinian towns in modern-day Israel. (AFP/Ha’aretz/The National)
The US upgrades the diplomatic status of some Syrian opposition groups. (AP/Reuters/New York Times)
A bomb kills a leader of the Al-Nusra Front. (AP)
Human Rights Watch criticizes Lebanon for returning Palestinian refugees to Syria. (Daily Star)
The Damascus opera suffers under mortar strikes. (AP)
An Egyptian court bans NDP officials from upcoming elections. (AP/Reuters)
Field Marshall Sisi says the Muslim Brotherhood will never return as an organization in Egypt. (AP/Reuters/New York Times/The National)
PM Maiteeq says he wants to engage all political forces in forming a “crisis government” in Libya.
Jordan and the US sign a $1 billion loan guarantee agreement. (Xinhua/Jordan Times)
Commentary:
The Jordan Times says Israel’s plans to recruit Christians Palestinian citizens of Israel to the army is an attempt to divide Palestinians. (Jordan Times)
Jalal Safadi says if Palestinian citizens of Israel maintain their Arab identity and integrate into Israel, they can create a better future for themselves. (Ynet)
Bernard Avisahi looks at Israel’s independence day and its future. (New Yorker)
Adnan Abu-Amer interviews Hamas leader Abu Marzouk. (Al-Monitor)
David Horovitz interviews Peres. (Times of Israel)
Ben Caspit says, with the breakdown of the peace talks, PM Netanyahu is composing a new public agenda. (Al Monitor)
Naomi Chazan says the majority of Israelis, who claim to support a two-state solution, have done very little to promote this goal. (Times of Israel)
Faisal Al Yafai says Saudi Arabia wants to establish an independent Gulf defense strategy. (The National)
The National says, before Qatar launches another tv news station, it should offer an explanation to its neighbors about why it backed the Muslim Brotherhood. (The National)
Hassan Barari says neither the West nor Arab countries can normalize relations with an Assad-led Syria. (Jordan Times)
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says Syrian opposition leader Jarba is attempting to acquire anti-aircraft missiles in his visit to the US. (Al Arabiya)
Nathan Brown grades Egypt’s roadmap toward democracy. (Foreign Policy)

May 5th

NEWS:
Sec. Kerry says the Middle East peace process is on a "pause." (AP)
UNSG Ban warns Israel and the Palestinians against unilateral moves. (Times of Israel)
Unnamed Hamas sources give their spin on the agreement with Fatah. (Al Monitor)
Palestinians seek greater authority in "Area C." (The Media Line)
Kerry's comments about potential "apartheid" in Israel tap into an ongoing Israeli debate. (AP)
A PLO official says PM Netanyahu is using proposed "Jewish state” legislation to permanently kill peace. (Ha'aretz)
Increasing numbers of Palestinian citizens of Israel are condemning the proposed legislation. (YNet)
Arab women are attacked and a cemetery vandalized in the latest "price tag" attack by Jewish right-wing extremists. (YNet)
Israeli police subject to the State Department's inclusion of settler violence in its new terrorism report. (AFP)
Israel's public security minister says the attacks are terrorism, and Israel knows who is responsible. (Ha'aretz)
Jewish-American groups strongly condemn "price tag" violence. (YNet)
Israeli police suspect potential terrorism in the murder of an Israeli woman. (Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)
Israel is reportedly angered by a new report on boycotts by the British Methodist Church. (Ha'aretz)
Israel says a rocket fired from Gaza lands in southern Israel without incident. (AFP)
Unemployed Gaza workers dream of new jobs. (Xinhua)
AIDS patients in Gaza face isolation and humiliation. (Al Monitor)
A Palestinian citizen of Israel is placed under arrest for questioning on Facebook conscription orders for Christians. (Ha'aretz)
Israel's population is now estimated to be 8.2 million. (AFP)
Samaritan men in the West Bank are looking for brides in the former Soviet Union. (Christian Science Monitor)
Dozens are killed in an airstrike in Syria. (New York Times/AP)
At least 11 of the dead are reported to be children. (BBC)

cease-fire is reportedly reached in the embattled city of Homs. (AP)
suicide bomber kills an Egyptian soldier and three others in the Sinai Peninsula. (Reuters/AP)
Egypt faces a growing energy crisis. (New York Times/AP)
The UN says 750 people were killed in violence in Iraq in April. (Xinhua)
COMMENTARY:
Hussein Ibish joins Omri Ceren and Yosi Mekelberg to discuss the future of Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts. (VOA/On The Line)
Bakir Oweida says Palestinians shouldn't despair, they should redouble their commitment to peace. (Asharq Al Awsat)
Marc Schneier says Israelis and other Jews should welcome Pres. Abbas' strong statements about the Holocaust. (The Forward)
Saeb Erekat says Israel has rejected peace because it is happy with the status quo. (Time)
The Jerusalem Post says Israel could lash out at the PA, but can't risk its collapse. (Jerusalem Post)
Shlomi Eldar agrees that Israeli sanctions against the PA could backfire. (Al Monitor)
Efraim Halevy says Israel has an opportunity to totally destroy Hamas. (YNet)
Zoher Bahalul says Jewish "price tag" extremists are trying to provoke another Palestinian intifada. (YNet)
Michael Pizzi looks at controversy over Kerry's use of the term "apartheid" regarding Israel and the occupation. (Al Jazeera America)
Akiva Eldar says that indeed Kerry's strong warning to Israel has been lost in a furor over the word "apartheid." (Al Monitor)
Michael Cohen says Israel is lucky to have a "straight talking friend" like Kerry. (Foreign Policy)
David Weinberg says Israel's choices are not as stark as Kerry andothers think. (Jerusalem Post)
Anshel Pfeffer says Israel needs to start living for itself, notfighting empty battles over PR problems like "apartheid." (Ha'aretz)
Christopher Fettweis says, in order to move forward, both Israelis and Palestinians have to overcome their victim mentalities. (Los Angeles Times)
Ron Kampeas says J Street's failed effort to join the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations still shows it has gained mainstream acceptance. (JTA)
Robert Kagan says the US should not support the interim Egyptian government. (Washington Post)
The National says Congress is making a huge mistake by potentially interfering with the resumption of US aid to Egypt. (The National)
Mary Fitzgerald looks at the potential future for the Muslim Brotherhood in Libya. (Foreign Policy)
Abdelkader Cheref asks what's next, now that Pres. Bouteflika has been sworn in for another term in Algeria. (The National)
Youssef Cherif says Tunisia can and should play a role in mediating disputes in Libya. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

News:

Unnamed American officials reportedly primarily blame Israel’s continued settlement expansion for the failure of the peace talks. (Ynet/Times of Israel)

Pres. Abbas and Hamas leader Meshaal will hold talks in Doha. (Ma’an/AFP)

Palestinians are pushing to internationally brand Israel as the “occupier of Palestine.” (New York Times)

PM Netanyahu defends his plans for law defining Israel as a “Jewish state.” (AFP/Ynet)

Special Envoy Indyk may resign. (Ha’aretz)

The PLO joins five UN global treaties. (JTA)

Jewish “price tag” extremists vandalize a car in Israel and uproot olive trees in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an/Ha’aretz)

DM Ya’alon calls on Israeli authorities to crack down on perpetrators of “price tag” attacks. (Times of Israel)

Islamic Jihad gains new traction against rivals Hamas in the Gaza strip. (New York Times)

3,000 PA police may begin to operate in Gaza as part of the unity deal. (Ma’an/Ha’aretz)

Israel remembers its fallen soldiers. (AP/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post) 

Israeli soldiers express frustration about their service in the occupied West Bank. (AP)

new Yeshiva will open in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ynet/Reuters)

Ramallah celebrates Palestine Fashion Week 2014. (AP)

PLO delegation heads to Syria to check on the conditions of Palestinian refugees. (Ma’an)

Syrian government forces kill 21 rebels in Aleppo. (AP)

Pres. Assad will face two other candidates in the Syrian Presidential election. (AP)

Persistent differences between Saudi Arabia and the US are hurting Syria policy. (Reuters/The National)

Turkey builds a wall to secure the border with Syria. (Reuters)

Educated women in Jordan face a shortage of jobs. (New York Times)

An Egyptian al-Qaeda inspired group claims responsibility for two attacks. (AP/Xinhua)

The Libyan Parliament swears-in new PM Ahmed Matiq under highly controversial circumstances.. (AP/Reuters/New York Times/The National)

The World Health Organization says polio is spreading at an alarming rate. (New York Times)

Qatar will launch a new tv satellite station to be run by Azmi Bishara. (The National)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish says Palestinian unity agreement faces significant obstacles. (The National)

Rami Khouri says this a time of opportunity for Palestinians on three important fronts. (Daily Star)

Baraka El-Farra and Amine Kammourieh debate if Israel alone, or Sec. Kerry also, are responsible for undermining peace talks. (Asharq al-Awsat)

The Washington Post says its time for “a more pragmatic approach” in the Middle East. (Washington Post)

Mahmoud Jaraba and Lihi Ben Shitrit say the latest escalation in the Abbas-Dahlan dispute highlights the “bitter succession” fight in Fatah. (Daily Star)

Uzi Baram explains why he thinks Zionism has become a “dirty word.” (Ha’aretz)

Amer Al Sabaileh says Palestinian reconciliation is in everybody’s interest. (Jordan Times)

Samih Shabib and Khalil Shaheen debate if the Gaza agreement will result in a real unity government. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Sharif Nashashibi says we must acknowledge Israeli “apartheid,” (Al Arabiya)

Hussein Abu Hussein says Palestinian citizens of Israel wonder why Israel’s law enforcement’s resourcefulness disappear when it comes to “price tag” attacks. (Ha’aretz)

Amira Hass asks if Israeli authorities are really against “price tag” attacks. (Ha’aretz)

Fred Hiatt asks why the US stands by so “idly” on Syria. (Washington Post)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says Iraqi political pluralism, and the real diversity of top figures and parties, are worth appreciating. (Al Arabiya)

May 1st

News:
PM Netanyahu says he will introduce legislation to define Israel as a “Jewish state.” (Reuters)
The State Department’s terror report says “price tag” attacks by Jewish extremistsagainst Palestinians went largely unpunished in 2013. (Ha’aretz/Ynet) 
Netanyahu condemns recent “price tag” attacks.  (Ha’aretz/Ynet)
Palestinian citizens of Israel accuse Israeli authorities of not trying to find “price tag” perpetrators. (Ha’aretz)
Finance Minister Lapid says “price tag” extremists who vandalized a mosque in northern Israel are being treated as terrorists. (Times of Israel)
Hamas says its Gaza forces will not take orders from Pres. Abbas. (Times of Israel)
Israel returns remains of Hamas militants killed in 1988. (The National)
Israeli forces enter a border area in southern Gaza. (Ma’an)
The PA ships medical equipment to Gaza. (Ma’an)
An Israeli soldier who was filmed aiming his rifle at Palestinian youth becomes a “facebook hero.” (Ha’aretz)
Jerusalem residents have to boil their water due to contamination. (Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)
Muslim scholars end a ban on visiting Al Aqsa mosque under occupation. (Jordan Times)
The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish American Organizations reject J Street’s membership bid. (JTA/Jerusalem Post)
The search has started for a replacement for UN Syria mediator Brahimi. (Reuters)
An airstrike on a Syrian school kills 19. (AP/New York Times)
PM Maliki welcomes the high turnout for the parliamentary elections. (AP)
Egyptian Presidential candidate Sabahi lowers his expectations for the election. (New York Times/Washington Post)
Egypt’s Justice Minister Osman rejects criticism of mass death sentences against alleged Muslim Brotherhood members. (Xinhua)
US military aid to Egypt is in doubt over the mass death sentences. (The National)
Commentary:
Ali Jarbawi looks at why Abbas reconciled with Hamas. (New York Times)
Michael Young says Israel is creating a reality that makes peace impossible. (The National)
Peter Beinart says Sec. Kerry is wrong, because “apartheid” already exists in the occupied West Bank. (Ha’aretz)
David Landau says Kerry’s “apartheid” warning is clear. (Ha’aretz)
Ha’aretz says the reality described by Kerry must be altered by implementing the two-state solution. (Ha’aretz)
Gershon Baskin says Netanyahu is leading Israel to a “pariah state status.” (Jerusalem Post)
Aluff Benn says Netanyahu should be considered the hero of the binational state. (Ha’aretz)
Ben Caspit says Israel is worried that Special Envoy Indyk will resign. (Al-Monitor)
John Whitbeck says Israel’s “brutal occupation” must end. (Jordan Times)
The National says the fragmented approach to refugees in the Middle East is unsustainable. (The National)
Michael Young says Lebanese politician Geagea is lost between the national interest and his personal interests. (Daily Star)
The Daily Star says Lebanese Maronites lack “strength and cohesiveness.” 
Eyad Abu Shakra says in the Arab world democracy does not mean the rule of the people. (Asharq al-Awsat)
Abdallah Schleifer writes a letter to Field Marshall Sisi. (Al Arabiya)
Zaid Al-Ali says Maliki has been an “utter failure” in restoring actual security to Iraq. (Foreign Policy)
Joyce Karam asks if an Iranian nuclear agreement can save Pres. Obama’s legacy. (Al Arabiya)

April 30th

News:
Sec. Kerry will resume Middle East peace talks after a pause. (Reuters/Jerusalem Post/Ynet)
Experts counsel a “wait-and-see” approach after peace talks collapse. (JTA)
The Christian Science Monitor analyses the impasse in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. (Christian Science Monitor)
UN Middle East Envoy Serry says Israel and the Palestinians must choose between a one-state reality and a two-state solution. (Ha’aretz)
Israeli and Palestinian UN Envoys accuse each other of sabotaging the peace process. (Reuters)
Palestinian Chief Negotiator Erekat says Israel never gave negotiations a chance to succeed. (PNN/Ha’aretz)
Palestinians are continuing with national unity plans. (AP)
PM Netanyahu is toying with unilateral measures. (New York Times)
Deputy DM Danon says Kerry’s “apartheid” comment calls the US role as an “honest broker” into question. (Ha’aretz)
Hamas says it will never recognize Israel. (The Media Line)
Israeli occupation forces demolish homes in a refugee camp in the West Bank. (Ma’an)
The municipality of Jerusalem blames Palestinians for their own lack of representation in municipal institutions. (Ha’aretz)
The Shin Bet allegedly uncovers a Hamas-affiliated cell in the occupied West Bank. (Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)
Jewish groups consider including J Street in the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. (New York Times)
The UN says it needs the consent of the Syrian government for cross-border aid deliveries. (Reuters)
50 people are killed in bomb and mortars attacks in government-controlled areas of Syria.  (New York Times)
Egyptian blogger and activist Bassem Sabry dies. (AP)
The EU says Egypt’s mass death sentences are a breach of international law. (Reuters)
Iraqis vote in their first national election since US forces withdrew in 2011. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Washington Post/The National)
Commentary:
Jeffrey Goldberg says Kerry used the word “apartheid” because he is worried about Israel’s future as a “Jewish state.”(Bloomberg)
Aaron David Miller says Kerry’s remarks about Israel becoming an “apartheid state” do nothing to advance the peace process. (Foreign Policy)
John Cassidy says Kerry was basically telling the truth. (New Yorker)
The Los Angeles Times says “intense engagement” by the US is unlikely to succeed if both the Israelis and Palestinians are not serious enough to make difficult decisions. (Los Angeles Times)
Rami Khouri says Israel’s decision to halt negotiations with the Palestinians is “inconsistent, insincere, and hypocritical.” (Daily Star)
Osama Al Sharif says it took more than twenty years for Pres. Abbas to “reinvent himself” as a Palestinian leader. (Jordan Times)
Alistair Burt says friends of the Palestinians and Israelis should encourage them to keep going with the peace talks. (Asharq al-Awsat)
Morning Editions interviews Israeli Amb. Dermer. (NPR)
Reuters interviews Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Zahar. (Reuters)
Yossi Mekelberg asks if the Palestinian unity agreement is a danger or an opportunity for the peace process. (Al Arabiya)
Ha’aretz says Israel’s appropriation of Palestinian land is a “historic injustice.” (Ha’aretz)
Zvi Bar’el says Israel needs to recognize Palestine. (Ha’aretz)
Hussein Ibish says both the US and Egypt must adjust in order to continue repairing their strained relations. (The National)
Marwan Muasher says Arab societies need to embrace the politics of pluralism and inclusiveness. (Daily Star)
The National says PM Maliki is to blame for sectarian politics in Iraq. (The National)
David Ignatius says Syrian refugees in Jordan want to go home. (Washington Post)
The Jordan Times says all Syrian refugees should be granted the right to vote in the upcoming presidential elections. (Jordan Times)
The Christian Science Monitor says Syria’s denial of aid and use of starvation provides a legal right for UN workers to enter the country without permission. (Christian Science Monitor)
Ali Ibrahim says evading or postponing subsidy reforms in the Middle East impedes development. (Asharq al-Awsat)

April 29th

News:

The New York Times analyses the collapse of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. (New York Times)

Some Israeli politicians are seeking to unilaterally draw new borders. (Reuters)

Peace Now says Israel increased settlement work four-fold during recent peace talks.(AP/Reuters/AFP/Jerusalem Post/Ynet/The National)

Sec. Kerry says he chose the wrong word in describing Israel’s potential future as an “apartheid state.” (AP/New York Times/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

Many Jewish-American groups criticize Kerry’s remarks. (Ha’aretz)

Pres. Abbas says there can be no peace with Israel without first defining the borders of a future Palestinian state. (AFP)

The PLO says its ready to resume negotiations if Israel freezes settlements and releases the fourth batch of prisoners. (Ha’aretz)

The White House says Hamas-Fatah reconciliation is not necessarily a “bad thing.” (Ha’aretz)

Hamas leader Abu Marzouk says the Palestinian unity government will be “technocratic not political.”(Ha’aretz)

Israeli occupation forces demolish a mosque in the West Bank. (Reuters/Ma’an)

Jewish “price tag” extremists vandalize a mosque in northern Israel. (AP/AFP/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post/JTA)

Officials warn that Jordan’s custodianship of the Al Aqsa Mosque is “in danger.” (Jordan Times)

Israel’s Jerusalem wall splits a Palestinian family. (AP)

Egypt opens the Rafah crossing for two days. (Ma’an)

PM Erdogan says normalization with Israel is a matter of “days or weeks.” (Jerusalem Post/Ynet/Times of Israel)

car bomb in Homs kills 36. (AP/Xinhua)

Militants pose a threat on the eve of national elections in Iraq. (New York Times)

Erdogan calls on the US to extradite his rival, the Muslim cleric Gulen. (Reuters)

Commentary:

Faisal Al Yafai says Kerry is seeking to shock Israel out of its complacency. (The National)

Christopher Fettweis says, to achieve peace, both Israelis and Palestinians must put aside their past. (Los Angeles Times)

The National looks at how the Palestinians view the Holocaust. (The National)

Zeina Barakat defends her visit to Auschwitz with Professor Dajani. (The Atlantic)

Thane Rosenbaum says Israel should welcome Abbas’ recent remarks about the Holocaust. (Ha’aretz)

Sharif Nashashibi says Palestinians should ensure that the PA sticks to its promise and joins the ICC. (Al Arabiya)

Ari Shavit proposes unilateral measures by Israel and the Palestinians. (New Republic)

Richard Cohen says Hamas’ anti-semitism must be repudiated for a lasting peace in the Middle East. (Washington Post)

Akiva Eldar says the peace process has failed due to Israeli recalcitrance. (Ha’aretz)

Matthew Longo, Daphna Canetti and Nancy Hite-Rubin they say peace must address the “daily facts on the ground” for most people. (Christian Science Monitor)

Ha’aretz says Israel must make the history of the Palestinians an integral part of every school curriculum. (Ha’aretz)

The Daily Star asks if Western supporters of the Syrian opposition will actually do something now that Pres. Assad is seeking reelection. (Daily Star)

Anne-Marie Slaughter says the solution to the crisis in Ukraine lies partly in Syria. (Daily Star)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says former PM Blair’s speech is a call to save “moderate Islam.” (Al Arabiya)


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