NEWS:
Palestinian officials say Pres. Abbas is torn [1] between accepting US peace talk proposals and a public backlash for dropping a settlement freeze precondition [2]. (YNet/Times of Israel)
Palestinian officials say Israel is "destroying" [3] Sec. Kerry's peace efforts with new settlement activity [4]. (Xinhua/Times of Israel)
Other Palestinian officials say Kerry's prospects are dim [5] if Israel continues settlement expansion. (Jerusalem Post)
Israeli officials say Palestinian leaders are "inventing excuses" [6] to avoid resuming peace talks. (Ha'aretz)
Palestinian girls are pioneering new methods of resisting occupation without resorting to throwing stones [7]. (NPR)
Reports suggest Hezbollah urges Hamas members [8] and officials to "leave Lebanon immediately." (Middle East Online)
Hamas calls on Egypt to renegotiate [9] elements of the peace treaty with Israel. (Al Monitor)
Israeli forces arrest 13 Palestinians [10] in raids throughout occupied East Jerusalem. (Ma'an)
Israeli forces destroy Bedouin homes [11] in the Negev desert for the second time in two weeks. (Ma'an)
France 2 hits back [12] at the Israeli government after a new official report on the Mohammed al-Dura affair. (Ha'aretz)
Abbas signs a new law providing insurance [13] for Palestinian bank deposits. (Bloomberg)
Arab firms vie for Gaza reconstruction projects [14] launched and funded by Qatar. (Xinhua)
Palestinian refugees fleeing Syria [15] find poor conditions in Lebanon. (New York Times)
When the Syrian government shells rebels, I [16]srael goes on alert [17]and pays close attention. (Reuters)
Israel says it is "checking" [18] into reports that Syria received Russian S-300 missiles. (Reuters)
Pres. Assad implies the missiles [19] have already been delivered. (AFP)
Israel and Greece are weighing establishing a group that would jointly handle regional emergencies [20]. (Xinhua)
PM Netanyahu says he wants 10 million tourists [21] to visit Israel in the next 10 years. (Xinhua)
An Israeli entrepreneur hopes that backpackers can be the bedrock of sustainable tourism [22]. (Christian Science Monitor)
Palestinian trade with the rest of the world [23] is held back by both self-imposed and Israeli restrictions. (The Guardian)
FIFA says it will negotiate [24] ongoing disputes about football between Palestine and Israel. (Reuters)
Young Gazans are using skateboarding as a means of escapism [25]. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Palestinian artist Bashir Makhoul [26]explores his people's experience through his work. (Times Literary Supplement)
COMMENTARY:
Francis Matthew [27] says Kerry's economic stimulus program for Palestine is no substitute for diplomatic progress. (Gulf News)
Gershon Baskin [28] says Kerry's peace initiative can succeed despite doubters. (Jerusalem Post)
Brent Sasley [29] says the Israeli public would follow its leaders in accepting a peace agreement with the Palestinians. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)
Aaron David Miller [30] asks if peace conferences, whether involving Syria or Israel and the Palestinians, do more harm than good. (Los Angeles Times)
Oded Eran [31] suggests alternative ways forward other than a two-state solution. (The National Interest)
Larry Derfner [32] says casting equal blame on both sides merely strengthens the occupation. (+972)
Samuel Lebens [33] says the quest for peace can be helped by empowering moderate settler leaders. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)
Ari Shavit [34] says the gradual but growing US disengagement from the Middle East bodes ill, especially for the downtrodden. (Ha'aretz)
Ha'aretz [35] says proposed new Israeli legislation is nothing short of apartheid against Arabs. (Ha'aretz)
Patrick Strickland [36] says Syrians in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights are divided over attitudes towards the Assad regime. (Al Monitor)
Or Kashti [37] says Israel's new education minister is taking a healthier attitude towards Arab education, and better policies must follow. ( Ha'aretz)
Gideon Levy [38] says it's time to look at Ben Gurion's dark side. (Ha'aretz)
Lena Odgaard interviews Ihab al-Ghussein [39], head of Hamas' media office, who says reports of anti-westernization campaigns are "smears" against the group. (Al Monitor)
Khairallah Khairallah [40] asks if Jordan is going to be able to revive the Palestinian cause. (Al Arabiya)
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