News:
Pres. Obama plans [1] to take a more personal role [2] in the Middle East peace talks. (The New York Times/The Jerusalem Post)
Sec. Kerry says [3] peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians will extend beyond [4] the April deadline. (Reuters/Xinhua)
PLO negotiator [5] Erekat says he rejects the [6] US move to extend peace [7] talks. (AFP/The Times of Israel/The National)
The US is convening an investors conference [8] to help the Palestinian economy. (JTA)
A PLO official says Pres. Abbas’ successor could turn to “armed resistance.” [9] (Ynet)
Palestinian women seek tougher laws to combat [10] honor killings. (AP)
Amnesty International says [11] some killings of Palestinians by Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank could be considered “war crimes.” [12](Reuters/Ma’an)
Israeli occupation [13] forces kill a Palestinian [14] man in the West Bank [15]. (Reuters/Ma’an/Ha’aretz)
Israeli occupation forces deport 23 Palestinian families [16] from the Jordan Valley. (PNN)
A teacher, who is a Palestinian citizen of Israel [17], is “strip-searched” before flying with her Jewish students for a school trip.(Ha’aretz)
Israel takes a risk [18] with airstrikes against Hezbollah [19]. (AP/The Jerusalem Post)
Hezbollah has reportedly amassed tens of thousands of troops [20] for the decisive Syrian battle in Qalamoun. (USA Today)
The State Department accuses the Syrian regime [21] of retaliating against the Syrian opposition’s peace negotiators by arresting their relatives. (The New York Times)
Syria delivers mustard gas [22] to the port of Latakia. (The New York Times)
A mortar attack kills five [23] people in a government-controlled neighborhood in Syria. (AP)
Widespread incredulity greets Egypt’s announcement of cures for both AIDS and Hepatitis C [24]. (The New York Times)
An apparent gas explosion in Qatar [25] kills 12 people. (Reuters)
Iran and Qatar will establish a free trade zone [26]. (Xinhua)
21 more people [27] are killed across Iraq. (Xinhua)
Commentary:
Gideon Levy [28] says the day the US becomes committed to Kerry’s efforts, a peace deal will be made between Israel and the Palestinians. (Ha’aretz)
Shai Franklin [29] says there is “backhanded” Jewish support for Kerry’s initiative. (The Jerusalem Post)
Alan Elsner [30] says AIPAC must back Kerry’s initiative. (The Guardian)
Ari Shavit [31] says Israel has a “golden opportunity” to make peace. (Ha’aretz)
Yossi Mekelberg [32] says the recognition of Israel as a “Jewish state” should not be at the expense of the legitimate rights of the Palestinians. (Al Arabiya)
Efraim Halevy [33] says Israel should beware the “Jewish statehood” trap. (Ynet)
Zvi Bar’el [34] says Economy Minister Bennett needs to decide if he counts Palestinian citizens of Israel or not. (Ha’aretz)
The Daily Star [35] says the Israeli airstrike on the Lebanese-Syrian border highlights Hezbollah’s conundrums in Syria.(The Daily Star)
Michael Young [36] says Hezbollah does not deserve a “special role” as protector of Lebanon. (The Daily Star)
Joyce Karam [37] says Israel has a new “game plan” for both Hezbollah and Syria. (Al Arabiya)
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed [38] asks if the crisis in Ukraine weakens Russia and therefore also Syria and Iran. (Al Arabiya)
Brian Jenkins [39] says al-Qaeda and ISIS are fighting over the future of “Salafist-Jihadism”. (The Daily Star)
Diana Moukalled [40] says the execution of the poet Shaabani shows the true face of the current Iranian regime. (Al Arabiya)
Frank Costigliola [41] says Obama should rediscover George Kennan’s wisdom when it comes to foreign policy. (The New York Times)
Adnan Oktar [42] says educating both men and women, and living by the “moral values of the Qur’an,” are the solutions to gender discrimination. (The Jordan Times)
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