Daily News Issue Date:
July 23, 2013
News:
NEWS:
The White House says [1] it still expects Israeli-Palestinian negotiations to resume shortly [2], but there appear to be unresolved questions [3]. (Times of Israel/Xinhua/Reuters)
Palestinians repeat they received written guarantees [4] from the United States about terms for the resumption of talks. (UPI)
Palestinians say they expect negotiators [5] from both sides will meet in Washington soon, buthaven't received an official invitation [6] yet. (Xinhua/Ma'an)
Israel is coming under pressure to ease restrictions [7] that impede Palestinian economic growth in the occupied territories. (Ha'aretz)
Palestinians are still insisting [8] talks be based on the 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, and are still waiting for clarification of terms [9]. (Ha'aretz)
Israel reportedly asked the US to free convicted spy Pollard [10] in exchange for its release of Palestinian prisoners. (Ha'aretz)
PM Netanyahu is fast tracking legislation [11] that would require any peace agreement be put to a referendum. (AP)
The prospect of new negotiations is intensifying divisions [12] between Hamas and Fatah. (AFP)
EU foreign policy chief Ashton says all Israeli settlement products [13] will be clearly labeled in EU states by the end of 2013. (Ha'aretz)
Two of the largest Dutch retail chains announce they won't sell Israeli settlement products [14]anymore, a move that alarms settlers [15]. (YNet)
Two more Palestinians [16] are killed in fighting in Syria. (Ma'an)
An Israeli court orders the eviction of a Palestinian family [17] from its home in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ma'an)
A new contingent of international peacekeepers [18] is being dispatched to the Golan Heights. (Xinhua)
An Egyptian police officer is shot [19] by gunmen in Sinai. (Ma'an)
The security crisis in Sinai has greatly intensified [20] since the ouster of former Egyptian Pres. Morsi. (Al Monitor)
Israel welcomes the EU [21] decision to designate Hezbollah's military [22] wing as a terrorist organization following the bus bombing in Bulgaria [23]. (Xinhua/Washington Post/Ha'aretz)
Egypt continues to intensify its crackdown [24] on Gaza smuggling tunnels. (The National)
Construction in Gaza is at a standstill [25] given Egypt's new security measures. (Al Monitor)
Israel opens a "virtual embassy" [26] to GCC states on Twitter. (Ha'aretz)
The Israeli clothing chain Fox plans to open a shop in Ramallah [27]. (Xinhua)
Israeli archaeologist Yoav Farhi makes a specialty of history through ancient coins [28]. (Christian Science Monitor)
COMMENTARY:
Diana Moukalled [29] says the "Arab Spring" has placed Palestine squarely in its broader regional context. (Asharq Al Awsat)
Aaron David Miller [30] says there are five indicators to watch for to track the seriousness of new Israeli-Palestinian talks. (Foreign Policy)
Bernard Avishai [31] says Sec. Kerry understands the new talks put both Israeli and Palestinian leaders on the spot. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)
Shibley Telhami [32] says Kerry is right to understand that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is still at the heart of Middle East instability. (Foreign Policy)
The Jordan Times [33] says the creation of a Palestinian state is inevitable. (Jordan Times)
Roger Cohen [34] says both parties desperately need a two-state solution, but cling to other fantasies. (New York Times)
Mazal Mualem [35] says few in his own Likud party support Netanyahu in the new negotiations or believe he is serious. (Al Monitor)
Ben Sales [36] says proposed new Israeli-Palestinian talks are surrounded by unanswered questions. (JTA)
David Makovsky [37] says, despite the difficulties in organizing resumed negotiations, the really difficult work lies ahead. (WINEP)
Akiva Eldar [39] says history suggests an unhappy ending to the new round of talks. (Al Monitor)
Jeffrey Goldberg [40] doubts Kerry's mission has much chance of success. (Bloomberg)
Yossi Beilin [41] says both Kerry and the parties need a "Plan B," which would be an interim agreement. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)
Hillel Halkin [42] says Kerry is wasting his time looking for the traditional two-state solution and what's needed is a more creative arrangement. (The Forward)
Bloomberg [43] says US foreign policy should focus on Iran, not the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Bloomberg)
Ha'aretz [44] says Netanyahu is wrong in arguing there is a need for a referendum on any peace agreement. (Ha'aretz)
Aeyal Gross [45] says Netanyahu's draft referendum legislation is just another way of extending Israeli law into occupied Palestinian territories. (Ha'aretz)
Shaul Rosenfeld [46] says the EU's growing opposition to Israel's occupation and settlement products is an unfair "double standard." (YNet)
David Newman [47] says Israeli outrage at the EU guidelines reflects unrealistic expectations about international attitudes towards the occupation. (Jerusalem Post)
Noga Tarnopolsky [48] looks at the complicated background and context of the EU guidelines.
Tzipi Livni and Sami Ramadani [49] present opposing viewpoints on the EU designation of Hezbollah's military wing as a terrorist group. (The Guardian)
Benajmin Weinthal [50] asks how effective the new EU sanctions on Hezbollah will be. (Jerusalem Post)
Adnan Abu Amer [51] says Morsi's downfall may prompt some in Hamas to seek to renew ties with Iran. (Al Monitor)
Jonathan Schanzer [52] says Hamas' difficulties present an opportunity to try to bankrupt the group. (Foreign Policy)
Hussein Ibish [53] says Hamas has never been more isolated, desperate or out of options. (Now Media)
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