Daily News Issue Date: 
April 17, 2015
News: 

News:

The PLO says the evacuation of civilians from Yarmouk is “virtually complete.” (Ha’aretz)

The PLO marks Palestinian Prisoner's Day by demanding that Israel end its "captivity" of the Palestinian people under occupation. (Ma’an

Hamas leader al-Haya calls for the abduction of Israelis. (Ma’an/AFP)

20 Palestinian journalists are currently being held in Israeli jails. (Ma’an)

Israel will deploy a revolutionary new tunnel detection system along the Gaza border. (Times of Israel)

The Israeli army closes off a village in the occupied West Bank after stone-throwing incidents. (Ha’aretz)

Gaza temporarily stops exporting tomatoes to Israel. (Ma’an)

The Washington Post looks at the future of the Joint List. (Washington Post)

Pres. Assad says Turkish military and logistical support was the main factor that helped insurgents seize Idlib from government control last month. (Reuters)

The UN calls on Western nations to shelter Syrian refugees. (New York Times)

The UNSC sees video evidence of a chemical attack in Syria. (New York Times/Times of Israel)

ISIS militants clash with Iraqi security forces inside the Baiji refinery. (Reuters) 

Gen. Dempsey says the US is focusing airstrikes to protect Baiji. (AP)

Yemen’s newly appointed VP Bahah says he hopes to avert a Saudi-led invasion to restore unity to the country. (Reuters)

UNSG Ban calls for an immediate halt to the fighting in Yemen. (Reuters/AP/The National)

The war in Yemen is allowing an al-Qaeda group to expand. (New York Times)

The UN launches an appeal for $275 million to aid the people in Yemen. (Reuters)

Australian FM Bishop will head to Tehran on Saturday. (Times of Israel)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish says everyone who cares about peace should boycott settlements. (NOW)

Ron Kampeas asks if the Obama administration is “making nice” with Israel.(JTA)

Israel Harel calls on opposition leader Herzog to join a unity government. (Ha’aretz)

Bob Corker says bipartisan legislation will aid transparency on the Iran deal.  (Washington Post)

David Rothkopf says the current deal is a massive payment to temporarily put Iran’s nuclear program on hold. (Foreign Policy)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed looks at the problems with the current Iran deal. (Al Arabiya)

Amir Taheri asks if the Obama administration has made an agreement with Iran more difficult. (Asharq al Awsat)

H.A. Hellyer says the region must look beyond the Iran framework deal before it's too late. (The National)

The National says Yemen’s problems, like those in Iraq, extend far beyond the country’s porous borders. (The National)

Manal Omar and Sarhang Hamasaeed say the plan for Iraq's future needs to go deeper than defeating ISIS. (Foreign Policy)


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