Daily News Issue Date:
July 30, 2013
News:
NEWS:
The negotiations will enter their second day today, after a "constructive and productive" [3]beginning. (AFP)
Many analysts think [4] an agreement is a distant prospect [5], and Pres. Obama says the "toughest work" [6] remains to be done. (AP/Xinhua)
There is deep skepticism [7] in public opinion on both sides. (Reuters)
Israel's deputy Foreign Minister rules out [8] the possibility of a Palestinian state. (Times of Israel)
Some analysts think [9] Israeli and Palestinian leaders are driven by not wanting to be seen in Washington as obstructionist. (Christian Science Monitor)
Many of the figures involved [10] in the new talks are long-standing players [11] in the process. (AP/Los Angeles Times)
Martin Indyk [12] is formally appointed new US Special Envoy for Middle East peace, although he has previously expressed skepticism [13] about prospects for a deal. (AP/Ha'aretz)
Israeli settlements remain a major challenge [14] for Israeli-Palestinian peace. (Washington Post)
Pres. Abbas says no Israeli soldiers or settlers [15] can remain inside a Palestinian state. (Reuters)
Israel's Economy Minister Bennett boasts “I have killed lots of Arabs [16] in my life – and there is no problem with that.” (Jerusalem Post)
Palestinians say the Syrian government has arrested two Palestinian [17] journalists. (Ma'an)
Israel is preparing to supply fuel to Gaza [18] as Egypt's border closures continue to intensify shortages. (Ha'aretz)
Abbas meets with Egyptian leaders [19] in Cairo. (Jerusalem Post)
Hamas accuses Abbas [20] of "fabricating" a smear campaign against the group in Egypt. (Times of Israel)
Hamas launches a wave of counter-criticism against Egyptian media [21]. (Al Monitor)
Arab clients face complex and unusual problems [22] at some Israeli banks. (Ha'aretz)
COMMENTARY:
Hussein Ibish and David Makovsky [23] discuss the new peace talks on PBS NewsHour. (PBS)
The Boston Globe [24] says Middle East peace is a crucial American national interest. (Boston Globe)
Roger Cohen [25] says there's hope Netanyahu can prove a peacemaker. (New York Times)
Aaron David Miller [26] says while there is reason for significant skepticism, the US has no choice but to try again for Middle East peace. (New York Times)
Harriet Sherwood [27] says Abbas and Netanyahu may seem far apart on key issues, but neither underestimates Sec. Kerry's resolve. (The Guardian)
Andrew Hammond [28] says Pres. Obama is looking to the Middle East for his long-term legacy. (The Guardian)
Salman Masalha [29] says Israeli and Palestinian leaders should start telling their people the truth: if two states don't exist, neither will. (Ha'aretz)
Ha'aretz [30] says Netanyahu is beginning to show the first signs of being a statesman. (Ha'aretz)
Ilene Prusher interviews Yossi Beilin [31] on his advice for negotiators. (Ha'aretz)
Karl Vick [32] explains the significance of the prisoner release. (Time)
Shlomo Gazit [33] says Israel shouldn't have agreed to the prisoner release. (Ha'aretz)
Akiva Eldar [34] says releasing prisoners is an essential part of any peace process. (Al Monitor)
Jeffrey Goldberg [35] says Israel chose to release murderers rather than freeze settlements. (Bloomberg)
Reuven Rivlin [36] says a clear and unequivocal referendum may be necessary to avoid civil conflict in Israel in the case of a peace deal. (Jerusalem Post)
Grant Rumley [37] looks at potential Palestinian alternatives to the peace process. (The National Interest)
Moshe Ronen [38] says Israel's decision not to cooperate with the EU in the occupied territories is childish and counterproductive. (YNet)
UK Amb. Gould [39] says Israel is enriching Hamas by forcing trade into smuggling tunnels, rather than through legitimate means. (YNet)
Eric Yoffie [40] says synagogues shouldn't apologize for shunning hatemongering Islamophobic speakers. (The Forward)
Adnan Abu Amer interviews Jordanian MB leader Arshid [41], who claims former Pres. Morsi was ousted "for opposing Israel." (Al Monitor)
Gershom Gorenberg [42] says the Israeli far right doesn't only underestimate the number of Palestinians, it overestimates the number of settlers. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)
Elliott Abrams and Uri Sadot [43] say no one really knows how many settlers there are in the occupied Palestinian territories. (Foreign Policy)
Daniel Altman [44] says it's actually China that stands to gain the most from new Middle East peace talks. (Foreign Policy)
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