In a noticeable change of position Hamas decries the use of Qassam rockets as damaging to the Palestinian national interest (1). An opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times criticizes candidates exploitation of the American Muslim-Jewish divide (2). In The New Yorker Connie Bruck looks at controversial multibillionaire Sheldon Adelson’s political commitment to Israel (5). The tenuous ceasefire between Hamas and Israel continues despite recent rocket fire, though Gaza crossings remain closed (6) (8) (12). A last-minute compromise to between the two main Israeli political parties saves the parliament from dissolution and early elections (7) (9).

A State Department Press Release features Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s remarks prior to the Berlin Conference held earlier today (1). The ceasefire between Hamas and Israel is reportedly broken as Palestinian rockets from Gaza land in southern Israel (4) and two Palestinians are killed in the West Bank (11). The suicide of an Israeli policeman at French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s departure ceremony mars his visit after a productive meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (5). Progress on security assistance reported at the Berlin conference (6), but challenges remain (7).