ATFP News Roundup July 29, 2013 | The American Task Force on Palestine

Daily News Issue Date:

July 29, 2013

News:

NEWS:

Israelis say all core issues will be addressed while Palestinians suggest borders will have a priority. (Reuters)

Both sides, and other observers, express doubts about the likelihood of success in the talks. (AP/Time)

PM Netanyahu has reportedly agreed to the release of 104 long-standing Palestinian prisoners. (New York Times/Xinhua/Ma'an/Washington Post)

The prisoner release is seen as a crucial step in reviving the negotiations. (Xinhua/Ha'aretz)

Israel's Shin Bet chief says peace talks will improve security on the ground, but hasreservations about the prisoner release. (Ha'aretz/YNet/Times of Israel)

Hamas calls the prisoner release "a pretext." (Xinhua)

The Israeli cabinet approves draft legislation that would subject any peace agreement with the Palestinians to a referendum. (Xinhua)

Palestinians say they have been assured the US would not support Israel seeking an "interim" agreement. (Jerusalem Post)

Martin Indyk is reportedly expected to be appointed new Middle East Special Envoy. (Reuters)

USA Today outlines problems facing any future negotiation on occupied East Jerusalem. (USA Today)

Hamas is still trying to cope with the consequences of the overthrow of former Pres. Morsi. (Christian Science Monitor)

Another Palestinian refugee is killed in Syria. (Ma'an)

GCC states are reportedly putting wide-ranging sanctions against Hezbollah in place. (Times of Israel)

Israeli occupation forces shoot and wound a Palestinian farmer in Gaza. (Xinhua)

Child workers maintain many cemeteries in Gaza. (Al Monitor)

The security situation in Sinai continues to deteriorate, beyond the control of either Egypt or Israel. (National Journal)

Ron Dermer is officially appointed as the new Israeli ambassador to the United States.

COMMENTARY:

Hussein Ibish 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 says the new negotiations should focus on '67 and not '48 issues. (The Forward)

J.J. Goldberg looks at the role played in restarting negotiations by Sec. Kerry's top aide Frank Lowenstein. (The Forward)

Leonard Fein says Kerry has shown the tenacity and will required to succeed. (The Forward)

Oudeh Basharat says Pres. Abbas has played the politics well and the ball is now in Israel's court. (Ha'aretz)

Raphael Ahren says the talks may not succeed but Netanyahu has made sure Israel will be the winner if they fail. (Times of Israel)

Husam Itani says Hezbollah doesn't care about being blacklisted by the GCC. (Al Hayat)

Alexander Yakobson says Israelis and Palestinians face two choices: two states for two peoples or the law of the jungle. (Ha'aretz)

Amos Harel looks at a new Israeli movie, "Bethlehem," about the second intifada. (Ha'aretz)

Barak Ravid says the prisoner release controversy shows Netanyahu has become a hostage to his own rhetoric. (Ha'aretz)

Ravid also says Likud ministers finally realized the threat the diplomatic impasse poses to Israel. (Ha'aretz)

The Jerusalem Post says Israel never should've agreed to the prisoner release. (Jerusalem Post)

Yoaz Hendel also says the prisoner release "sends the wrong message." (YNet)

Bruce van Voorst says Kerry has much to learned from Henry Kissinger about Middle East diplomacy. (Foreign Policy)

Adel Safty says Israel is inexplicably exonerated for denying Palestinians their basic national rights. (Gulf News)

Akiva Eldar says it's no surprise US courts refuse to force the government to recognize Jerusalem as part of Israel. (Al Monitor)

Jonathan Tepperman says Netanyahu is raising the issue of Iran again but won't do anything about it himself. (New York Times)

Amira Hass says Palestinian East Jerusalem residents aren't placated by Israeli reassurances, and with good reason. (Ha'aretz)

Jonathan Cook looks at Hany Abu-Assad's new film "Omar." (The National)

Rachel Neeman says Israel's West Bank rail project shows the state has lost touch with reality. (Ha'aretz)

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