NEWS
Tensions continue to mount in the occupied West Bank as Palestinians bury three who recently died, with Israel blamed. (New York Times)

Thousands of Palestinians continue to protest over the deaths. (AP/Reuters)

Protests are particularly intense in Hebron. (Ma'an)

In spite of the tensions, all parties seem to have a stake in preventing a total breakdown of order. (CSM)

PM Fayyad denounces the use of live fire against protesters by Israeli occupation forces. (PNN)

An Israeli military investigation shows no shots were fired at occupation forces during the deadly incidents. (Ha'aretz)

Pres. Abbas blames Israel for the escalation in tensions and says they endanger US peace efforts. (AFP)

Abbas reiterates he will not pursue any further moves at multilateral institutions in order to give US peace efforts a greater chance. (The National)

Abbas reportedly tells Sec. Kerry PM Netanyahu must present a map delineating his vision of borders to prove he is serious about peace. (Ha'aretz)

Israelis debate whether Palestinians have any right to engage in rock-throwing protests against the occupation. (AP)

The UN is closing food distribution centers in Gaza after a mob storms one of its compounds to process the suspension of cash assistance to thousands of families. (AP)

A British researcher says the Israeli-Palestinian Joint Water Committee reflects another example of Israel's ability to coerce the Palestinians. (Ha'aretz)

Hamas again denies meddling in Egypt's internal affairs. (AP)

The Times reports that Hamas fighters are training Syrian rebels. (Jerusalem Post)

Israel holds Hamas responsible for restraining even more extreme groups in Gaza. (Xinhua)

UC Riverside's student government revokes a resolution urging university divestment in companies doing business with Israel's military. (LA Times)

A French court fines Air France €13,000 for removing a pro-Palestinian passenger from a flight to Israel because she was not Jewish. (BBC)


COMMENTARY
ATFP Pres. Ziad Asali says America's greatest challenge in the Middle East is an intensified program of public diplomacy. (Baltimore Sun)

Hussein Ibish outlines the challenges facing Kerry in trying to revamp Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Maysoon Zayid denounces Hamas' oppression of women. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Hassan Haidar says Hamas' own extremism is fostering even greater extremism by other groups in Gaza. (Al Hayat)

Amos Harel says the incoming Israeli military commander in the occupied West Bank will mainly be preoccupied with preventing another intifada. (Ha'aretz)

Cellu Rozenberg says Amira Hass' defense of stone-throwing Palestinian protests is illogical and immoral. (Ha'aretz)

Michael Palmer says the FBI should investigate deaths of American-citizen Israeli settlers because of rock-throwing by Palestinian protesters in the occupied territories. (The Forward)

The Jerusalem Post claims it wants peace as much as Jewish Americans who called for confidence building measures, but doesn't believe it's possible and says their proposals are not worth "the risk." (The Jerusalem Post)

Uri Savir says Israelis must learn to distinguish between international support for Israel's existence and opposition to many of its policies. (Jerusalem Post)

The National says Abbas' agreement to suspend efforts to join other multilateral institutions opens a window for progress on peace. (The National)

Marwan Kabalan says mutual concerns about Syria motivated the Israeli-Turkish rapprochement. (Gulf News)

Shlomi Eldar interviews Hamas' activist Ghazi Hamad who insists the organization will accept a state in the 1967 borders, but will not recognize Israel. (Al Monitor)

Gamal Abuel Hassan says the Israeli-Egyptian security relationship is essentially the same under Pres. Morsi as it was under Mubarak. (Al Monitor)

Zvi Bar'el agrees that Morsi is finding it almost impossible to really change Egypt's policy towards Hamas. (Ha'aretz)


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