Daily News Issue Date: 
June 28, 2013
News: 

NEWS:

Sec. Kerry is back in Israel for more talks with PM Netanyahu at the beginning of another round of peace efforts. (AP/AFP)

Rumors persist that Kerry would like to broker a meeting between Netanyahu and Pres. Abbas. (Washington Post)

Netanyahu may be sending signals that he is ready for compromises. (AP/Ha'aretz)

Secret Israeli-Palestinian talks about the release of pre-Oslo prisoners may have been ongoing. (Ma'an)

Likud ministers say they're concerned that peace moves may split their party. (Jerusalem Post)

The BBC looks at a proposed massive investment project in the Palestinian economy. (BBC)

King Abdullah II of Jordan says Israel's unilateral measures and "repeated violations" against holy sites in Jerusalem undermine peace opportunities. (Xinhua)

The Israeli government is considering recognizing 40 more "unauthorized" settlement housing units, against opposition from Israel's Supreme Court. (Jerusalem Post)

Israel is considering demolishing an EU-funded humanitarian project for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. (Xinhua/Ha'aretz)

OHCHR warns of the possibility that Palestinian anger could lead to another round of violence in the occupied territories. (PNN)

Islamic Jihad reportedly ends its three-day schism with Hamas. (Times of Israel)

The EU is making another €10 million contribution to help fund PA services to address extreme poverty in the occupied Palestinian territories. (PNN)

Palestinians say Israeli soldiers shot and wounded a Palestinian man during clashes in Qalandiya refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. (Ma'an)

DM Ya'alon advises newly graduated Israel Air Force pilots to be ready for action at any moment. (Xinhua)

Israel says it has arrested a five-man PFLP cell in the occupied West Bank. (Xinhua)

Hamas says PM Erdogan is to visit Gaza next week. (Xinhua)

Egyptian security forces say they don't plan to close Gaza border crossings during the planned June 30 protests against Pres. Morsi. (Ma'an)

Egypt continues to crack down on smuggling across the Gaza border. (AP/Times of Israel)

Palestinians await the final episode of the "reality TV" contest "The President." (Ma'an)

OCHA is expanding its relief program for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. (PNN)

The UN renews its peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights for another six months. (Reuters)

COMMENTARY:

Hisham Melhem says a sectarian cancer is consuming the Arab world. (An-Nahar, translated by ATFP)

The Forward says Kerry's efforts are more important to Israelis and Palestinians, even if they don't realize it, than they are to Americans. (The Forward)

Abraham Cooper and Harold Brackman say Kerry's challenge is to empower "the right Palestinians." (New York Daily News)

Yoel Marcus says Netanyahu is slowly going through the same process former PM Sharon did in understanding the dangers of occupation for Israel. (Ha'aretz)

Rami Livni also thinks Netanyahu is a late convert to the need for peace with the Palestinians. (Ha'aretz)

Akiva Eldar says Netanyahu faces a choice between moving forward on peace and splitting his own party. (Al Monitor)

J.J. Goldberg says we haven't yet seen real movement from Netanyahu, but the possibility of movement. (The Forward)

Chemi Shalev says outrage by settlers and their supporters that McDonald's won't open a branch in a settlement shows how far they've distanced themselves from reality. (Ha'aretz)

Nadine Epstein says moderate voices on both sides must be strengthened for Israeli-Palestinian peace to stand a chance. (Christian Science Monitor)

The Economist asks what's next for Palestinians after the resignation of PM Hamdallah. (The Economist)

Adnan Abu Amer interviews Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya about his organization's loss of support from Iran. (Al Monitor)

Mazal Mualem interviews Israeli Deputy Interior Minister Faina Kirshenbaum, who describes Abbas as "a political corpse." (Al Monitor)

Joyce Karam says Fadel Shaker and Mohammed Assaf represent two models of how to handle Arab pop stardom. (Al Arabiya)


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