NEWS:
Pres. Obama vows to recommit US foreign policy to seeking a two-state peace agreement [1]. (The National)
A leaked document suggests Pres. Abbas is looking for ways to resume negotiations [2] with Israel. (New York Times)
Obama prepares to visit the occupied West Bank [3] today. (BBC)
Obama and PM Netanyahu [4] attempt to convey solidarity [5] on various policies. (AP/Washington Post)
Ha'aretz publishes a transcript of the Obama-Netanyahu press conference [6]. (Ha'aretz)
Obama and Netanyahu reportedly discussed Iran, Syria and peace talks [7] at length. (Xinhua)
Obama calls Israeli-Palestinian peace "a really hard problem." [8] (AP)
Obama reiterates unwavering American support for Israel [9]. (AP)
Obama's message may not resonate [10] with younger, more right-wing Israelis. (LA Times)
Some Palestinians [11] express great disappointment with Obama [12] thus far for not pressuring Israel enough, and also with Arab states [13]. (BBC/USA Today/The National)
The Israeli police say they have deployed 15,000 officers [14] for security during Obama's trip. (Xinhua)
More than 500 journalists [15] are covering Obama's Middle East trip. (The Media Line)
Two rockets fired from Gaza [16] land in southern Israel. (YNet)
PM Fayyad secures €7 million [17] in funding for Palestinian development in "Area C." (PNN)
The plight of Palestinian refugees in Syria [18] could have serious implications for Israel. (JTA)
Some Palestinian lawyers file a lawsuit in Ramallah against the US governmen [19]t regarding the death of a Palestinian in Iraq in 2003. (Xinhua)
Weapons experts express significant doubts about Israel's new anti-missile [20] defense system. (New York Times)
Israeli occupation forces surround a Palestinian protest tent village [21] to the east of Jerusalem, in the area slated for the highly controversial proposed E-1 [22] settlement. (Ma'an/Ha'aretz)
Rock star Roger Waters endorses boycotting [23] Israel. (Jerusalem Post)
Israel is trying to get settlers and Palestinians in the occupied territories to cooperate on recycling trash [24]. (Ha'aretz)
Gaza is facing another water crisis [25]. (Al Monitor)
Ben Gurion University is trying to promote a "business for peace" [26] program between Israelis and Palestinians. (Al Monitor)
PM Erdogan says his comments at a UN meeting about Zionism were "misinterpreted." [27] (JTA)
A young woman in Gaza is allegedly killed by her father and brother in a "honor crime," but Hamas is not applying Abbas' ban [28] on invoking "honor" in order to get reduced sentences. (Al Monitor)
COMMENTARY:
Mara Rudman [29] says the PA institution-building program is essential for building a Palestinian state to live alongside Israel. (USAID)
Matthew Duss [30] says the US needs to support the PA institutionally and with a robust diplomatic push for a peace agreement, and by speaking bluntly to both sides [31]. (CAP/American Prospect)
John Podesta, Ian Bomberg and Rudy deLeon [32] say political risk insurance is an important factor in Palestinian economic development. (American Progress)
Mustafa Barghouthi [33]says Palestinians want to know if Obama and the US have the will to move forward on peace based on Palestinian independence. (New York Times)
Chemi Shalev [34] says Obama's major address during his visit to Israel and Palestine may make many parties uncomfortable with blunt talk about the consequences of inaction on peace. (Ha'aretz)
Bradley Burston [35] says Obama's speech will be addressed directly to the Israeli public, who can either make or break a peace agreement with the Palestinians. (Ha'aretz)
Former Congressman Gary Ackerman [36] says Israelis need to understand and respect the basic human dignity of Palestinians and strike a reasonable deal with them. (Jerusalem Post)
E.J. Dionne [37] says Obama is hoping his visit will be a reset in his relations with the Israeli government and people. (Washington Post)
Herb Keinon [38] says the Israeli public has fallen in love with Obama. (Jerusalem Post)
The Daily Star [39] says Obama's visit is likely to plunge Palestinians and Arabs into entirely new levels of outrage and despair.(The Daily Star)
Sami Abdel-Shafi [40] says he's optimistic about the outcome of Obama's visit. (The Guardian)
Karl Vick [41]says Obama and Netanyahu looked like they were in a "buddy movie"on the first day of the President's visit to Israel. (Time)
Harry Enten [42] says polls show both Israelis and Palestinians are increasingly skeptical that Obama or the US can help achieve a two-state solution. (The Guardian)
Eitan Haber [43] issues an open letter of thanks to Obama. (YNet)
Ian Black [44] says Obama's trip to Israel will do nothing to restore Arab confidence in him. (The Guardian)
Gershon Baskin [45] offers advice to Obama. (Jerusalem Post)
Human Rights Watch [46] says Obama should press both Israeli and Palestinian leaders on abuses. (HRW)
Ian Lustick [47] says Israel needs to outgrow an outmoded, traditional, pre-state Zionism. (LA Times)
Maysoon Zayid [48] imagines taking Obama on a tour of Palestine and Israel as she knows them. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)
Yolande Knell [49] says Israelis and Palestinians are wondering if there any viable alternatives to a two-state solution. (BBC)
Naseem Tarawnah [50] says Jeffrey Goldberg's interviews with Jordan's King Abdullah II demonstrates the pressing need for Arab social and political honesty. (The Black Iris)
Douglas Bloomfield [51] notes that Pres. Morsi is cooperating much more with Israel than with Hamas. (Jerusalem Post)
Lana Shehadeh [52] says Palestinian women face pervasive violence and discrimination in their own society. (Al Monitor)
Hussein Ibish [53] examines the psychology behind arguments that deny Israel is an occupying power, or that settlement activity in occupied territories is prohibited by international law. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)