Daily News Issue Date:
July 17, 2013
News:
NEWS:
Sec. Kerry [1] is again visiting the Middle East for more peace efforts, and will brief Arab leaders [2]today. (New York Times/AFP)
Palestinian officials reportedly say Kerry is "determined to announce new peace talks" [3] before leaving the region. (YNet)
Israel was reportedly taken by surprise [4] by new EU guidelines rejecting any more cooperation with Israel's occupation. (Ha'aretz)
The PA welcomes [5] the EU decision, but Israelis are "furious." [6] (Jerusalem Post/The Media Line)
PM Netanyahu says Israel will "not tolerate external edicts on our borders," [7] and promises to protect settlers [8]. (Ha'aretz/YNet)
Israeli diplomats are engaging in "damage control" [9] following the new EU guidelines. (YNet)
EU officials say Israel is "overreacting" [10] to the new guidelines. (Times of Israel)
Ha'aretz publishes the complete text of the EU guidelines [11]. (Ha'aretz)
Israeli experts say the guidelines could cut aid to Israeli R&D by up to 40% [12]. (Ha'aretz)
Israeli NGOs say Israel is set to approve another 1,071 settler housing units [13] in the occupied Palestinian territories. (AFP)
Palestinians say they are willing to turn to a new level of "peaceful struggle" [14] if negotiations with Israel prove fruitless. (Jordan Times)
Palestinians are worried that an influx of Palestinian refugees from Syria into camps in Lebanon"may lead to a catastrophe." [15] (The Daily Star)
Israel says two "suspects" [16] entered an unmanned military post on the border between Syria and the occupied Golan Heights, fired on Israeli soldiers [17]. (AP/Jerusalem Post)
Egypt's political turmoil [18] is reportedly not affecting security cooperation [19] with Israel, which may even be strengthening especially in Sinai [20]. (Xinhua/Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)
Five Egyptian soldiers are wounded [21] in an extremist attack on a military base in Sinai. (Ma'an)
A senior Fatah official says the formation of the next PA cabinet in August is "the last chance" [22]for Hamas to rejoin the PA. (Ma'an)
Hamas blocks a pro-Bedouin rally [23] in Gaza. (Al Monitor)
Palestinians say Israeli settlers have assaulted Palestinians [24] and attacked cars [25] again in occupied East Jerusalem. (PNN/Ynet)
A new "pro-Arab" political party [26] is founded in Israel. (Jerusalem Post)
Israel is allowing an unusual number of Palestinians [27] from the occupied territories to visit Israel this Ramadan. (Al Monitor)
Thousands of Palestinians [28] are being fed by charities this Ramadan. (Reuters)
Palestinians launch a festival [29] to draw visitors to "Solomon's Pools." (Reuters)
COMMENTARY:
Ha'aretz [30] says the new EU guidelines are a moment of truth for Israel's government: is it willing to sacrifice the future of the country to maintain the occupation. (Ha'aretz)
Shimon Shiffer [31] says the EU guidelines demand historic choices, not belligerent statements, from Netanyahu. (YNet)
Dan Diker [33] says those who promote boycotts don't understand Israeli psychology and politics. (Jerusalem Post)
Ian Black [34] says the new EU guidelines send a powerful message to Israel. (The Guardian)
Hannah Weisfeld [35] says Israel's reaction to the EU guidelines is predictable and foolhardy. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)
S. Daniel Abraham [36] says Netanyahu now faces a crucial choice whether to become a peacemaker or a pariah. (Ha'aretz)
Robert Dreyfuss [37] questions whether Kerry has any real strategy for dealing with Iran or Israel and the Palestinians. (The Nation)
Henry Siegman [38] says US assurances of unending support for Israel have already doomed Kerry's efforts. (The Nation)
Yossi Beilin [39] offers an outline for how Israel and the Palestinians could resume serious negotiations. (U.S. News & World Report)
Osama Al Sharif [40] says, despite recent setbacks including the ouster of former Pres. Morsi, Hamas thinks it still has options. (Jordan Times)
Adnan Abu Amer [41] says Hamas finds itself isolated and without options after Morsi's downfall. (Al Monitor)
Debasish Mitra [42] says Hamas doesn't seem to have learned the lessons of history. (Times of Oman)
The Daily Star [43] says US policy towards the Middle East in general appears incoherent. (The Daily Star)
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