Date

News:
Pres. Abbas says Palestinians will resume negotiations if Israel releases the fourth batch of prisoners and halts settlement construction for three months. (Ma’an)
Special Envoy Indyk talks about the breakdown of the peace talks. (Reuters/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post/JTA/Times of Israel/State Department)
NSA Rice meets with Abbas in Ramallah. (AFP/Xinhua/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)
Palestinian Chief Negotiator Erekat says Israel is being hypocritical in condemning Palestinian reconciliation agreements. (Ha’aretz)
17 human rights groups urge Palestine to join the ICC. (New York Times/AFP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
Israel fears rightists might carry out massive “hate crimes” during Pope Francis’ visit. (Ha’aretz)
Jewish “price tag” extremists vandalize a church in Jerusalem. (AFP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
Hamas leader Abu Marzouq says a Palestinian unity government would be neither Fatah nor Hamas. (Ma’an)
A priest, who is a Palestinian citizen of Israel, is sacked for backing service in the Israeli army. (AFP)
A Danish lawmaker demands Palestine to be invited to the Eurovision song contest. (Ha’aretz)
Researchers say Palestinian women are deprived of basic rights under the occupation. (Jordan Times)
A political breakdown leaves 270 Syrian rebels trapped in Homs. (Reuters)
A parliamentary committee recommends the UK must prevent its nationals from fighting in Syria. (Reuters)
The US sanctions six Syrian government officials and a Russian bank. (AP)
Field Marshall Sisi tells Egyptian media not to press issues such as freedom of speech. (AP)
Egyptian tourism’s message to the world is “come anyway.” (New York Times)
A planned visit by the head of the Maronite church to Jerusalem stirs an outcry in Lebanon. (Reuters)
The Iraqi army faces death and desertions as it struggles to maintain the Anbar offensive. (Washington Post)
Commentary:
Jeffrey Goldberg says US officials also blame Palestinians for the collapse of the peace talks. (Bloomberg)
Abdullah Hamidaddin writes a letter to an Israeli citizen. (Al Arabiya)
Steven Cook says the emergence of Islamic Jihad in Gaza suggests violence may not be far behind. (Council on Foreign Relations)
Emily Hauser asks if US ignorance killed the peace process. (Ha’aretz)
Uri Savir says the biggest obstacle for a two-state solution has been the inability to determine a border between the two states. (Jerusalem Post)
Yizhar Hess says Israeli society will pay the price for “price tag” attacks. (Ynet)
Bakir Oweida says there are double standards in the Middle East when journalists deal with the Palestinian cause. (Asharq al-Awsat)
The National says Pres. Assad’s takeover of Homs is a “hollow victory.” (The National)
The Jordan Times says Washington’s diplomatic recognition of the Syrian opposition is a “belated move.” (Jordan Times)
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says the US faces tough choices regarding the future of the Middle East. (Al Arabiya)
Alan Philps says North African countries have won hard-fought progress but still need outside support. (The National)

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