Daily News Issue Date:
July 29, 2013
News:
NEWS:
Israelis and Palestinians [1], meeting in Washington, resume direct negotiations [2] for the first time since 2010 [3]. (New York Times/AP)
Israelis say all core issues [4] will be addressed while Palestinians suggest borders will have a priority. (Reuters)
Both sides [5], and other observers [6], express doubts about the likelihood of success in the talks. (AP/Time)
PM Netanyahu [7] has reportedly agreed [8] to the release of 104 [9] long-standing Palestinian prisoners [10]. (New York Times/Xinhua/Ma'an/Washington Post)
The prisoner release [11] is seen as a crucial step [12] in reviving the negotiations. (Xinhua/Ha'aretz)
Israel's Shin Bet chief [13] says peace talks will improve security [14] on the ground, but hasreservations about the prisoner release [15]. (Ha'aretz/YNet/Times of Israel)
Hamas calls the prisoner release "a pretext." [16] (Xinhua)
The Israeli cabinet approves draft legislation [17] that would subject any peace agreement with the Palestinians to a referendum. (Xinhua)
Palestinians say they have been assured the US would not support [18] Israel seeking an "interim" agreement. (Jerusalem Post)
Martin Indyk [19] is reportedly expected to be appointed new Middle East Special Envoy. (Reuters)
USA Today outlines problems facing any future negotiation on occupied East Jerusalem [20]. (USA Today)
Hamas is still trying to cope [21] with the consequences of the overthrow of former Pres. Morsi. (Christian Science Monitor)
Another Palestinian refugee is killed [22] in Syria. (Ma'an)
GCC states are reportedly putting wide-ranging sanctions against Hezbollah [23] in place. (Times of Israel)
Israeli occupation forces shoot and wound [24] a Palestinian farmer in Gaza. (Xinhua)
Child workers [25] maintain many cemeteries in Gaza. (Al Monitor)
The security situation in Sinai continues to deteriorate [26], beyond the control of either Egypt or Israel. (National Journal)
Ron Dermer is officially appointed [27] as the new Israeli ambassador to the United States.
COMMENTARY:
Hussein Ibish [28] says Hamas isn't doing anything to try to protect itself or the people of Gaza following Morsi's downfall. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)
Yossi Alpher [29] says the new negotiations should focus on '67 and not '48 issues. (The Forward)
J.J. Goldberg [30] looks at the role played in restarting negotiations by Sec. Kerry's top aide Frank Lowenstein. (The Forward)
Leonard Fein [31] says Kerry has shown the tenacity and will required to succeed. (The Forward)
Oudeh Basharat [32] says Pres. Abbas has played the politics well and the ball is now in Israel's court. (Ha'aretz)
Raphael Ahren [33] says the talks may not succeed but Netanyahu has made sure Israel will be the winner if they fail. (Times of Israel)
Husam Itani [34] says Hezbollah doesn't care about being blacklisted by the GCC. (Al Hayat)
Alexander Yakobson [35] says Israelis and Palestinians face two choices: two states for two peoples or the law of the jungle. (Ha'aretz)
Amos Harel [36] looks at a new Israeli movie, "Bethlehem," about the second intifada. (Ha'aretz)
Barak Ravid [37] says the prisoner release controversy shows Netanyahu has become a hostage to his own rhetoric. (Ha'aretz)
Ravid [38] also says Likud ministers finally realized the threat the diplomatic impasse poses to Israel. (Ha'aretz)
The Jerusalem Post [39] says Israel never should've agreed to the prisoner release. (Jerusalem Post)
Yoaz Hendel [40] also says the prisoner release "sends the wrong message." (YNet)
Bruce van Voorst [41] says Kerry has much to learned from Henry Kissinger about Middle East diplomacy. (Foreign Policy)
Adel Safty [42] says Israel is inexplicably exonerated for denying Palestinians their basic national rights. (Gulf News)
Akiva Eldar [43] says it's no surprise US courts refuse to force the government to recognize Jerusalem as part of Israel. (Al Monitor)
Jonathan Tepperman [44] says Netanyahu is raising the issue of Iran again but won't do anything about it himself. (New York Times)
Amira Hass [45] says Palestinian East Jerusalem residents aren't placated by Israeli reassurances, and with good reason. (Ha'aretz)
Rachel Neeman [48] says Israel's West Bank rail project shows the state has lost touch with reality. (Ha'aretz)
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