NEWS
The PA cabinet approves PM Fayyad's new budget [1], passing the matter for approval to Pres. Abbas. (Ha'aretz)
Abbas pardons a Palestinian journalist [2] for allegedly "insulting" him [3] on Facebook, after one-year prison term [4] was yesterday upheld by a Palestinian court. (Ma'an/New York Times/AP)
Israel is using archaic Ottoman laws [5] to give "state lands" in the occupied West Bank to settlers and Israeli companies. (The National)
Christians in Jerusalem mark Good Friday [6]. (AP)
Israel's military beefs up its presence in the occupied territories in preparation for Land Day [7]. (Ma'an)
Occupation forces have detained over 50 Palestinians [8] suspected of being members of a "terror cell" in the past two months. (Ha'aretz)
Israel deploys more military medical officers on the border [9] between Syria and the occupied Golan Heights. (AP)
Israel reopens the border crossings [10] with Gaza. (Xinhua)
Palestinians are having to confront the fact that dependence on foreign aid [11] makes them vulnerable to unreliable sources. (CSM)
Two pro-Palestinian activists are allegedly gang raped in Libya [12]. (Ma'an)
An Israeli soldier held captive by Hamas recounts the details of his capture and captivity [13]. (Jerusalem Post)
Israel's Foreign Ministry is investigating who leaked cables [14] about how to deal with the film "The Gatekeepers." (Ha'aretz)
A new poll [15] shows a drop in the number of Jewish Israelis who view Pres. Obama as hostile. (Jerusalem Post)
Egypt is resuming efforts to promote Palestinian national unity [16]. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
COMMENTARY
Hussein Ibish [17] looks at the complexities facing any potential Palestinian effort to get the ICC to investigate Israel's actions in the occupied territories. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)
Dalia Hatuqa [18] looks at the continued significance for Palestinians of Land Day. (Al Monitor)
Anna Lekas Miller [19] looks at the impact of the release of long-withheld US aid to the PA. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)
The Washington Post [20] says Israeli-Turkish rapprochement is a ray of hope in an otherwise dismal Middle East. (Washington Post)
Eddie Boxx [21] looks at the need for the United States to work with its Gulf partners to create a missile defense system, especially with Iran in mind. (WINEP)
Yoel Marcus [22] says Obama didn't just go to Israel to reiterate friendship, but also the need for a peace agreement with the Palestinians and reconciliation with Turkey. (Ha'aretz)
Trudy Rubin [23] says Obama gave a great speech in Jerusalem, but probably didn't mean a lot of what he said. (Jerusalem Post)
Charles Krauthammer [24] says Obama's visit exposed Palestinian recalcitrance. (Washington Post)
Zeev Sternhell [25] says Israel can get into wars by its own choice but has to be coerced into peace agreements, usually by the United States. (Ha'aretz)
Avraham Burg [26] asks what comes next now that the Oslo process is "dead." (Ha'aretz)
The Jerusalem Post [27] joins the chorus of Israelis demanding the government "get tough" with rock-throwing Palestinians. (Jerusalem Post)
Leonard Fein [28] says the late New York Times columnist Anthony Lewis cared about Israel more than his critics. (The Forward)
The Forward [29] says Jewish Israelis and other Jews are torn between fear and empathy. (The Forward)
George Hishmeh [30] says Israel is becoming more isolated. (Jordan Times)