Daily News Issue Date: 
February 27, 2015
News: 

News:

Oxfam says the rebuilding of Gaza could take more than a century if Israel maintains its blockade. (Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

Israel will use frozen Palestinian tax revenues to offset the PA’s electricity debt. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

PM Netanyahu intervenes to approve water links to the Palestinian city in the occupied West Bank, Rawabi. (Washington Post)

Israel says more commercial goods are being allowed into Gaza. (Ma’an)

Farmers in Gaza continue to suffer the consequences of massive losses incurred during last summer’s war. (Ma’an)

Italy’s parliament will vote today on recognition of the State of Palestine. (PNN/Reuters)

billboard campaign is launched in Ireland to urge the government to recognize the State of Palestine. (Ma’an)

Jordan condemns the arson attack against a Greek Orthodox seminary in occupied East Jerusalem. (Jordan Times)

The Israeli army is setting up a unit to probe alleged criminal acts during wartime. (Ha’aretz)

With borders closed, Palestinians in Gaza are unable to make the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. (AP)

Hundreds of Jewish Israelis with armed guards visit the Tomb of Joshua in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)

Nadia Hilou, the first female Palestinian Christian MK elected to the Knesset dies. (Ynet)

British artist Banksy goes to Gaza and films the devastation there in the wake of last summer's war. (Reuters/The National)

AIPAC is reportedly opposed to Netanyahu’s upcoming speech to Congress. (Times of Israel/Al-Monitor)

The White House will send NSA Rice and Amb. Power to the upcoming AIPAC conference. (AP/New York Times/JTA/Times of Israel)

Netanyahu will meet with both Democratic and Republican Senate leaders in Washington. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

former Mossad chief Dagan criticizes Netanyahu’s handling of the Iranian nuclear threat. (AP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

PM Cameron vows to use all means at his disposal to hunt down British militants such as "Jihadi John." (Reuters)

A financial report says in order for ISIS to remain financially viable it will have to further expand the territory it controls in Iraq and Syria. (Reuters)

ISIS extremists in northern Iraq destroy a priceless collection of statues and sculptures from the ancient Assyrian era. (Reuters/New York Times)

UNESCO Chief Bokova denounces ISIS's destruction of ancient statues and artifacts as "cultural cleansing" and a war crime that the world must punish. (AP)

A UN official seeks havens for Syrian refugees in Europe. (New York Times)

King Abdullah holds talks in Cairo with Pres. Sisi. (Jordan Times)

The leader of the Houthi rebel group in Yemen accuses Saudi Arabia of fueling unrest to divide the country. (New York Times)

Sec. Kerry will will travel to Switzerland next week to resume nuclear talks with Iran's FM Zarif. (AP) 

Commentary:

The Daily Star says the international community must condemn the “hate crime” in Jerusalem. (Daily Star)

Rasha Abu Jalal looks at the plight of Palestinian children in Israeli prisons. (Al-Monitor)

Shlomi Eldar interviews Palestinian journalist Majdi Arbid. (Al-Monitor)

Isaac Herzog says that although Israelis put security first and need all Americans as their ally, Netanyahu is hurting that goal. (New York Times)

Betty McCollum explains why she will not be attending Netanyahu’s speech in Congress. (Washington Post)

Ron Kampeas says Netanyahu’s speech is straining bipartisanship ahead of the AIPAC conference. (JTA)

Aaron David Miller asks if Pres. Obama’s relationship with Netanyahu is broken. (Foreign Policy)

George Hishmeh says Netanyahu’s presence in Washington next week could turn the political situation between the US and Israel upside down. (Jordan Times)

Ha’aretz says Netanyahu is insisting on damaging Israel's ties with the US. (Ha’aretz)

Carolina Landsmann says Israel’s democrats must vote for opposition leader Herzog. (Ha’aretz)

Majid Rafizadeh says striking an accord in the first phase of the P5+1 nuclear talks is very likely. (Al Arabiya)

David Brooks says the P5+1 negotiations with Iran are based on misguided premises and could have disastrous outcomes.(New York Times)

David Ignatius says America is the ally Egypt needs. (Washington Post)

Amir Taheri says Pres. Erdogan acknowledges the evils of the Assad regime but ignores the equally evil ISIS. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Mshari al-Zaydi says fighting ISIS is the duty of all Arabs. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Fareed Zakaria says Muslims must lead the battle against extremism. (Washington Post)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed asks if Yemen’s former Pres. Saleh really has $60 billion. (Al Arabiya)


American Task Force on Palestine - 1634 Eye St. NW, Suite 725, Washington DC 20006 - Telephone: 202-262-0017