Daily News Issue Date: 
June 21, 2013
News: 

NEWS:

PM Hamdallah submits his resignation after only two weeks in office. (New York Times/AP)

The resignation appears to be connected to a power struggle with Hamdallah's two Deputy PMs. (The National/Jerusalem Post)

Pres. Abbas' top aides failed to convince Hamdallah to withdraw his resignation after a three-hour meeting. (Ma'an)

Abbas will meet with Hamdallah today to further discuss the question. (Ma'an)

Former Fatah strongman in Gaza, Dahlan, says Hamdallah's resignation is no surprise to him. (Ma'an)

Abbas faces a set of stark choices on key national issues. (AP)

Fatah warns Hamas against interfering in regional affairs, and says such actions only damage the Palestinian national interest. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Israeli security forces kill a Jewish tourist at a holy site in occupied East Jerusalem, apparently because they thought he was a Palestinian preparing an attack. (New York Times/AP)

The PA says Israel has started using registered mail to inform Palestinians in the occupied territories that their land is being confiscated. (Ma'an)

Following Austria, the Philippines now says it may withdraw its peacekeepers from the Golan Heights. (New York Times)

The Palestinian government rejects a fatwa encouraging people not to watch the last round of Arab Idol, in which the Palestinian singer Muhammad Assaf is considered a major contender. (Ma'an)

Arab Idol TV singing contest favourite Mohammed Assaf carries the hopes of Palestinians into today's final round. (The Guardian/the Atlantic)

Palestinian refugees, displaced again, fleeing the Syrian war for Lebanon face major problems. (Washington Post)

An Israeli Education Ministry official is accused of banning Arabic teachers from corresponding in Arabic. (Ha'aretz)

The US cuts military aid to Israel by five percent. (Times of Israel)

On World Refugee Day, both Israelis and Palestinians demand recognition for their refugees. (Times of Israel)

Hamas leader Salah Bardawil insists there is no "rift" with Hezbollah over Syria. (Times of Israel)

Women activists in Gaza, discouraged from public engagement, take their agenda online. (Al Monitor)

Credit card fraud is rampant in Gaza. (Al Monitor)

NGOs are using soccer to try to break down barriers and discrimination between Palestinians and Israelis. (CNN)

COMMENTARY:

Hani Habeeb says the spokesperson for the new Palestinian government is misleading the public on the excellent performance of the Fayyad government, particularly on economic issues. (Al Ayam, translated by ATFP)

Roger Cohen says Jewish Americans can have a positive impact on peace, just as Irish-Americans did. (New York Times)

Raja Shehadeh says Palestinians are starting to understand the importance of architecture. (New York Times)

The Washington Post interviews PM Netanyahu and rising Israeli political star Yair Lapid. (Washington Post)

Zafrir Rinat says a new settlement is being built on the ruins of the Palestinian village of Al-Dawayima, which bears a tragic heritage. (Ha'aretz)

Niva Lanir says there is a pro-apartheid caucus of about 40 MKs in the present Knesset. (Ha'aretz)

David Landau says people are underestimating Pres. Peres, his repentance for helping to establish settlements and strong embrace of a two-state solution. (Ha'aretz)

Former FM Lieberman says Israel can't rely on international peacekeeping troops anywhere. (Jerusalem Post)

Yermi Brenner and Josh Nathan-Kazis say Jewish-American organizations are not heeding Sec. Kerry's plea for support on peace. (The Forward)

The Forward praises the American Jewish Committee for speaking up in favor of peace and a two-state solution. (The Forward)

Akiva Eldar says the election of a moderate in Iran and the Arab Peace Initiative mean Israel could exchange nuclear demilitarization for comprehensive peace. (Al Monitor)

Greg Garrison profiles Palestinian-American author Abe Fawal. (All Alabama)


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