April 10th

News:
Pres. Abbas is reportedly ready to extend peace talks. (Ma’an/PNN/Jerusalem Post)
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators will meet again today alongside US mediators. (Jerusalem Post)
Israel says its “deeply disappointed” by Sec. Kerry’s remarks on the peace talks. (New York Times/Ha’aretz/JTA)
FM Lieberman says Kerry didn’t blame Israel for the crisis in the peace talks. (Ha’aretz/Ynet)
The State Department says Netanyahu’s decision to reduce contacts with the PA is “unfortunate.” (JTA)
UN Sec. General Ban Ki-Moon says Palestinians will join the 15 international conventions by May 2nd. (Ha’aretz)
Economy Minister Bennett urges PM Netanyahu to annex settlements. (Reuters/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)
Israeli negotiators reportedly suggested deporting 10 Palestinian prisoners to Gaza but the Palestinians reject the idea. (Ma’an)
The Arab League blames Israel for the “dangerous stalemate” in the peace talks. (AFP/Xinhua/The National)
The IDF and Gaza gunmen exchange fire across the border. (Times of Israel)
Israeli occupation forces arrest five Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. (PNN)
A video shows Israeli police brutally beating two Palestinian men in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ha’aretz)
Kuwait says three of its citizens have been abducted in Syria. (Reuters)
The US designates Ansar Beit al-Maqdis a “foreign terrorist organization.” (AP)
The Egyptian government steps up its campaign to control mosques. (Reuters)
An Egyptian judge dismisses a video presented by the prosecution as evidence in the Al Jazeera reporters’ trial. (AP)
Kuwait expects GCC Ambassadors to return to Qatar this week. (The National)
Commentary:
Steven Spiegel says Kerry should not give up on his initiative. (Los Angeles Times)
Roger Cohen says Kerry should take a break from the Middle East peace process. (New York Times)
Ha’aretz says Israelis deserve a government that admits it has no desire for a peace agreement. (Ha’aretz)
Ari Shavit says Marwan Barghouti should create an alliance with former PM Fayyad. (Ha’aretz)
Gershon Baskin says Israel should allow Palestine to exist and negotiate agreements on a state-to-state basis. (Jerusalem Post)
David Bosco says the ICC’s record with Palestine suggests that it would be eager to avoid involvement. (Foreign Policy)
Gideon Levy says most Palestinians are people of good will who want to live in peace with the Israelis. (Ha’aretz)
The National says the Assad regime has not yet won the war. (The National)
Joyce Karam says the US has turned the page on the old Middle East order. (Al Arabiya)
The Daily Star says Pres. Obama’s foreign policy is undermining the US standing in the international community. (Daily Star)
Eyad Abu Shakra says the real solution for Lebanon lies in the election of a “wise and fair-minded president.” (Asharq al Awsat)
Khairallah Khairallah says Britain has exposed the Muslim Brotherhood. (Al Arabiya)
Abdul Hamid Al Ansari says the status of women in Arab societies must be “modified.” (The National)

April 9th

News:
Sec. Kerry appears to place blame on Israel for the impasse in the peace talks. (State Department/AP/New York Times/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)
PM Netanyahu orders his ministers to stop meeting with their Palestinian counterparts. (AP/Reuters/Ma’an/Ha’aretz)
The PA accuses Israel of preventing “a constructive solution to the challenges facing the peace process.”(Jerusalem Post)
Tit-for-Tat measures might replace Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. (Reuters)
Pres. Abbas arrives in Egypt for an emergency meeting of Arab League foreign ministers. (Ma’an)
Prisoner release is a central issue in the peace talks impasse. (Washington Post)
Many Palestinians are not impressed by the peace talks and are frustrated with politicians from both sides. (Global Post)
Palestinian Christians say Israeli police are spoiling Easter celebrations. (Ha’aretz)
Extremist Jewish settlers assault Palestinian school girls in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)
Israeli bulldozers demolish Bedouin homes across the Negev desert. (Ma’an)
Economy Minister Bennett unveils two initiatives to encourage entrepreneurship in the “Arab sector.” (Jerusalem Post)
Tiyul-Rihla’s tours use history as a key to mutual understanding between Israelis and Palestinians. (Times of Israel)
A gunman kills two Lebanese soldiers. (AP)
Egypt arrests another journalist said to work for Al Jazeera. (Reuters)
Car bombs in Baghdad kill at least 24. (AP)
The Saudi Shura Council says it will end a ban on sports in state girls’ schools. (The National)
The US says Iran’s choice of UN Envoy is “not viable.” (New York Times)
Commentary:
Hussein Ibish says recent cases involving athletes and artists show Gaza is still under Israeli occupation. (Now)
Osama Al Sharif says the failure of Kerry’s initiative may be the end of the two-state solution. (Jordan Times)
Aaron David Miller asks if Kerry will abandon his initiative or stick to his belief that a deal can be reached. (Foreign Policy)
Zvi Bar’el says when Israelis, both right and left, look at Kerry, they see a reflection of themselves. (Ha’aretz)
Peter Beinart says Pres. Obama’s efforts to broker a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians failed three years ago. (Ha’aretz)
Henry Siegman explains why he thinks the US is irrelevant to Middle East peacemaking. (Ha’aretz)
Oded Eran and Robbie Sabel say Israel and the US should consider supporting full UN membership for the State of Palestine. (Jerusalem Post)
Yossi Mekelberg says both the Israelis and Palestinians do not realize that beyond brinkmanship there is desperation. (Al Arabiya)
Sharif Nashashibi says the release of Marwan Barghouti could bring peace between the Palestinians and Israel. (The National)
Jamal Khashoggi says Abbas’ application to sign 15 conventions is the Palestinians’ greatest achievement. (Al Arabiya)
Ha’aretz says DM Ya’alon should “clamp down” on settler terror against Palestinians. (Ha’aretz)
Michael Young says Lebanon must move quickly to benefit from its gas reserves. (The National)
The Jordan Times says Jordan and the Vatican are promoting the same Muslim and Christian values of peace, tolerance, and coexistence. (Jordan Times)

April 8th

News:

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators meet again with no sign of a breakthrough. (Reuters)

Pres. Obama will meet with Sec. Kerry to discuss the future of the peace talks. (AFP/Times of Israel)

FM Lieberman warns the Palestinians that a prisoner release will not happen as long as they try  to join international agencies. (AP/Ynet)

Pres. Abbas will ask the Arab League for economic aid. (Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

The Arab League says there is still a chance to move negotiations forward. (Ma’an)

The release of the Palestinian prisoner Marwan Barghouti is linked to the peace talks. (New York Times)

Former Pres. Carter backs the PLO move to sign 15 conventions. (Ma’an)

Palestinians want Russia and the EU to change the format of peace talks. (Ynet)

Extremist Jewish settlers injure six Israeli soldiers and destroy a military post. (Xinhua/Ha’aretz/JTA)

Hamas leader Haniyeh warns Palestinian refugees in Lebanon against inter-Palestinian violence. (Ma’an)

Thousands of Palestinians living in occupied East Jerusalem have been living without water for over a month. (AP)

Israel’s High Court upholds a decision by the military to prevent a Palestinian olympian from leaving Gaza.  (AP/Ha’aretz)

King Abdullah of Jordan meets with Pope Francis. (AP/Jordan Times)

The World Food Program says Syrian wheat production has hit an all time low. (Reuters)

An Israeli official says Pres. Assad again used chemical weapons two weeks ago. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Syrian Information Minister Zoabi says the presidential election will not be delayed. (Reuters/Xinhua)

A gunman kills a Dutch priest in the Syrian city of Homs. (AP/New York Times)

Syria’s polio outbreak has now officially spread to Iraq. (New York Times)

Women activists in Egypt are worried that their rights in the new constitution have not yet been implemented. (AP)

PM Erdogan says Turkey’s next elected president will be a more powerful figure. (Reuters)

In parts of the Anbar province there will be no balloting due to fighting. (AP/Xinhua)

A young Iraqi hopes books will stop his peers from migrating. (Washington Post)

Commentary:

Hassan Barari says neither the Palestinians nor the Israelis are capable or willing to offer the concessions necessary for peace. (Jordan Times)

Aaron David Miller outlines five rules for saving Kerry’s initiative. (New Republic)

Dennis Ross provides his suggestions for how to move the process forward. (WINEP)

J.J. Goldberg says Palestinians have been easing the terms for renewing talks with Israel. (Jewish Daily Forward)

Klaus Schwab says there is a strong constituency in Israel and Palestine to make peace a reality. (Times of Israel)

Daniel Landes says ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a Jewish imperative. (Ha’aretz)

Nehemia Shtrasler says PM Netanyahu wants the peace talks to keep going but he will not give up the West Bank. (Ha’aretz)

Yoram Schweitzer, Benedetta Berti and Shlomo Brom look at the erosion of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza. (INSS)

The Daily Star says the violence that has erupted in the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon undermines their “legitimate struggle.” (Daily Star)

The Jordan Times says Syrian refugees in Jordan should not resort to violence. (Jordan Times)

The Los Angeles Times says the US should pressure Egypt to stop the crackdown on opposition groups. (Los Angeles Times)

H.A. Hellyer asks if there is a link between government policies and the rise of terrorism. (Al Arabiya)

Octavia Nasr says with every political battle, Lebanon sinks deeper into the abyss. (Al Arabiya)

The National says young Arabs are seeking to emulate the UAE’s success. (The National)

April 7th

News:

The US Consulate in Jerusalem says Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have requested to meetwith each other. (AP/New York Times/AFP/PNN/Ha’aretz)

PM Netanyahu says Israel will respond to any Palestinian UN initiative. (AP/New York Times/Washington Post/Ha’aretz)

Pres. Abbas reportedly will send Chief Negotiator Erekat to the US with a new plan to revive negotiations, if Israel frees prisoners. (Ha’aretz)

Israeli Chief Negotiator Livni says Netanyahu and Abbas should talk directly. (Ynet)

Fatah official Shaath says PLO will seek membership in 48 international organizations and conventions if peace talks fail. (Ma’an)

FM Lieberman opposes any return to Sec. Kerry’s initiative. (Ha’aretz)

Many think there are strong signs that indicate that this round of peace talks is over. (Christian Science Monitor)

Many are pointing the finger at Israeli Housing Minister Ariel as the primary culprit in sabotaging the most recent US initiative. (Buzzfeed)

Labor leader Herzog says the Knesset should put together an alternative coalition which woulddesire peace. (Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

Arab Foreign Ministers will hold an emergency meeting due to the PA’s request to discuss the peace talks. (Ma’an) 

Israel’s High Court of Justice urges the state to rethink its detention policies for Palestinian minors.(Jerusalem Post)

22 Palestinian women join the first PA commando unit. (AP)

An Arab youth survey includes Palestine for the first time. (The National)

A group of Christians says Israel violates Palestinian religious freedoms each Easter. (Ma’an)

An ex-Palestinian prisoner teaches Hebrew to Palestinian children. (AP)

Israeli occupation forces detain a Palestinian man near Bethlehem. (Ma’an)

Israeli websites are attacked by pro-Palestinian “hacktivists.” (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

A senior IDF commander’s jeep is vandalized in an Israeli settlement. (Ha’aretz)

Clashes in a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon kill seven. (AP/Jerusalem Post)

Hezbollah says Pres. Assad’s government is no longer in danger of falling. (AP)

Former Russian PM Stepashin says Assad told him that most of the fighting in Syria would be over by the end of the year. (Reuters)

A surge of violence in Syria kills 12. (New York Times)

An Egyptian court upholds the sentence for three prominent activists. (AP/Reuters)

Al-Qaeda chief Al Zawahiri’s brother is to stand trial in Egypt. (The National)

An explosion in Fallujah kills over 17 Iraqi soldiers. (New York Times)

Commentary:

Faisal Al Yafai says Israel alone cannot end its own occupation. (the National)

Oudeh Basharat says neither Palestinians nor Israelis should give up on Abbas. (Ha’aretz)

Amer Al Sabaileh says the impact of the US pulling back from the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations would be dramatic.(Jordan Times)

Gideon Levy says the Palestinians cannot be blamed for the failure of the talks. (Ha’aretz)

Avi Issacharoff looks at how the Palestinians view the collapse of peace talks. (Times of Israel)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says Kerry’s Middle East “peace dream” has ended. (Al Arabiya)

Avirama Golan tells Kerry to go away and let Israel’s “true colors shine.” (Ha’aretz)

Moshe Arens says Kerry has finally understood that the peace process was a “farce.” (Ha’aretz)

Rami Khouri says former Amb. Kurtzer offers a valuable plan for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. (Daily Star)

Tal Harris says there are concrete measures that still need to be taken before negotiations end. (Jerusalem Post)

Sharif Nashashibi asks if the Palestinians will ever go to the ICC. (Al Arabiya)

Thomas Friedman says Sheldon Adelson and Ayatollah Khamenei are both working to destroy Israel. (New York Times)

Shmuel Rosner says the only way of restraining Sheldon Adelson in Israel is by establishing other newspapers. (New York Times)

Eric Yoffie asks why young Jewish-Americans are “drifting away from Israel.” (Ha’aretz)

Ayesh Ali Awas and Nabil Naeem debate if security measures or ideology are more effective in defeating Al-Qaeda. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Hussein Ibish says Lebanon is unable to cope with the Syrian refugee crisis. (The National)

April 4th

News:
Sec. Kerry warns that the US is evaluating its role in the Middle East peace talks. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Washington Post/Ha’aretz)
Kerry calls Pres. Abbas and PM Netanyahu to save the peace talks. (JTA)
Israel cancels its fourth promised prisoner release. (Xinhua/AFP/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post/The National)
Palestinian officials propose seven conditions that must be met by Israel to extend negotiations. (Ma’an/PNN)
Palestinian negotiator Erekat says the leaked list of demands does not represent the official Palestinian stance. (Ha’aretz)
Israel punishes Palestinians with new restrictions in the occupied West Bank. (Ha’aretz)
Israeli Finance Minister Lapid accuses Palestinians of “intentionally” derailing the peace process. (Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)
The Palestinian leadership is confident that the US will not punish its decision to join 15 international organizations. (Ynet)
Israel strikes Gaza after a militant attack. (AP/New York Times/Ma’an/Ha’aretz)
Hamas accuses PA security forces of arresting 144 of its members in the West Bank. (Ma’an)
Syrian refugee children in Lebanon find safety from war but face new dangers on the streets. (Washington Post)
Iraq’s Amb. to the US Faily calls on the US to strengthen ties with Iraq. (New York Times)
29 US Senators urge Pres. Obama to deny a visa to the Iranian Ambassador to the UN. (AP)
The Turkish government unblocks Twitter after a court rules the ban illegal. (New York Times/Times of Israel)
Commentary:
Jeffrey Goldberg says Kerry can’t be faulted for wanting Middle East peace. (Bloomberg)
Kori Schake offers diplomatic advice to Kerry. (Foreign Policy)
Charles Krauthammer calls Kerry’s initiative “disastrous.” (Washington Post)
The National says Palestinians should consider all their options, including the ICC. (The National)
Uri Savir says recent developments are a testament to the weakness of the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships.(Jerusalem Post)
Gideon Levy says the occupation is Israel’s “biggest act of corruption.” (Ha’aretz)
Ari Shavit and Tal Niv debate whether Israel can end the occupation “unilaterally.” (Ha’aretz)
Joanna Kramer says there needs to be “a great student constituency for peace.” (New Voices)
Carolina Landsmann says only “blindness” allows Israelis to see themselves as living in a democracy. (Ha’aretz)
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says the British government has a better understanding of the nature and complexity of the situation in Egypt then the Americans.  (Al Arabiya)
Brooklyn Middleton says there is “no bright light” at the end of Syria’s devastating humanitarian crisis. (Al Arabiya)
Alan Philps says PM Erdogan will learn that populist leaders thrive or fail due to the urban-rural divide. (The National)
Lally Weymouth interviews PM Jomaa. (Washington Post)
Saleh Mutlaq fears a civil war in Iraq. (Foreign Policy)

April 3rd

News:

Sec. Kerry says Israeli and Palestinian leaders “must lead” to prevent peace talks from collapsing. (AP/Reuters/New York Times/AFP/Ha’aretz/Wall Street Journal)

Kerry calls Pres. Abbas to prevent talks from collapsing. (Ma’an)

A critical meeting between American Envoy Indyk and Palestinian and Israeli negotiators reportedly ended in failure. (PNN/Jerusalem Post)

A Palestinian official says talks with Israel can continue only if they define the borders of a future Palestinian state. (Times of Israel/The National)

US officials accuse Israeli Housing Minister Ariel of deliberately sabotaging talks. (Ha’aretz)
mitments. (Xinhua/Ynet)

Palestinian Representative to the UN Mansour delivers the treaty accession letters to the various bodies. (Xinhua)

There appears to be an American consensus that the release of convicted spy Pollard would be “futile.” (Ha’aretz)

American lawmakers threaten to withhold Palestinian aid. (Al Monitor)

Jewish “price tag” extremists vandalize 40 cars of Palestinian citizens of Israel. (Xinhua/Ma’an/Ha’aretz)

Employees of Israel’s Foreign Ministry announce end of their strike. (New York Times/Ynet)

Israel refuses to let a Gaza-based athlete run in a Bethlehem marathon. (Ha’aretz)

The UN says Syrian refugees in Lebanon now exceed 1 million. (AP/Reuters)

Turkey continues to block Twitter, despite a court ruling. (AP/Reuters)

The Muslim Brotherhood urges Britain not to yield to foreign pressure in conducting a review of the group.(Reuters)

PM Jomaa says he wants to “fix” the Tunisian economy. (AP)

Commentary:

The Jordan Times says the “delaying tactics” of both Israelis and Palestinians are too familiar to be taken seriously. (Jordan Times)

Abdallah Schleifer says the only option for Israelis and Palestinians is a two-state solution. (Al Arabiya)

Grant Rumley says Abbas’ move to seek membership in 15 international organizations does not necessarily mean the end of the peace process. (Foreign Policy)

Ha’aretz asks where is PM Netanyahu leading Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Ari Shavit says Kerry must find a “Plan B” to deliver peace to Israel and the Palestinians. (Ha’aretz)

Douglas Bloomfield says Palestinians and Israelis should both be blamed for the failure of the peace talks. (Jerusalem Post)

David Horovitz says the deep asymmetry between Israelis and Palestinians is “dooming the negotiations.” (Times of Israel)

Joyce Karam says releasing convicted spy Pollard will not save the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. (Al Arabiya)

Peter Beinart says Sheldon Adelson represents a “culture of hate.” (Ha’aretz)

The Washington Post says the US will not be judged well by historians because it failed to stop the “mass slaughter” in Syria. (Washington Post)

The National asks what more can the UAE do in Syria. (The National)

Taylor Luck says this week marks the anniversary when the international community failed the entire Syrian population. (Jordan Times)

Mohammed Fahad al-Harthi says Pres. Obama’s visit to Saudi Arabia affirms the strategic relationship between the US and the Kingdom.(Al Arabiya)

Mshari Al-Zaydi says the UK’s recent moves against it are a turning point in the history of the Muslim Brotherhood. (Asharq al-Awsat)

April 2nd

News:

Pres. Abbas submits applications for Palestine to join 15 international conventions and agencies.(Reuters/New York Times/Ha’aretz)

Israeli Ministers warn of punitive action if the PLO pursues efforts to join international agencies. (AFP/Times of Israel)

Sec. Kerry vows to push peace talks forward but cancels his visit to Ramallah.(AP/PNN/Ha’aretz/The National)

US officials say Kerry feels he has “gone as far as he can” for Middle East peace.(Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

A Palestinian official says they do not want Kerry’s initiative to fail. (AP)

The Arab League calls for an emergency meeting on April 9th to discuss Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. (AFP)

Veteran Palestinian prisoners support Abbas’ applications. (Ma’an)

Israel publishes tenders for 708 settlement units in occupied East Jerusalem. (Xinhua/Ha’aretz)

Pres. Obama faces stiff opposition to freeing convicted spy Pollard. (Jerusalem Post/Reuters/Times of Israel)

The ex-wife of convicted spy Pollard urges the Israeli government to secure his release. (AP)

Hamas rejects the extension of the peace talks. (Ma’an/Jerusalem Post)

Israeli occupation forces detain 10 Palestinians in overnight West Bank raids. (Ma’an)

Extremist Jewish settlers assault Palestinian worshipers after they stormed the Al-Aqsa mosque. (PNN)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the death toll in the Syrian conflict has exceeded 150,000. (AP/The National)

An Egyptian police officer is killed in a bombing outside Cairo University. (Reuters/AP)

Parliamentary election campaigns start in Iraq. (AP/AFP)

Commentary:

Osama Al Sharif says Abbas will probably accept an extension to the peace talks. (Jordan Times)

Bassem Khoury says the PLO’s unanimous vote to resume efforts at international recognition means roles have changed. (Ha’aretz)

Yossi Mekelberg says Israel has to bear more of the responsibility for the failure of the peace talks. (Al Arabiya)

The New York Times says releasing convicted spy Pollard is a bad idea. (New York Times)

The Washington Post says the US should refrain from releasing Pollard. (Washington Post)

The Los Angeles Times says the US should not try to salvage the peace talks by releasing Pollard. (Los Angeles Times)

The Jewish Daily Forward says pardoning Pollard is “unwise.” (Jewish Daily Forward)

Aaron David MIller says releasing Pollard will not save the peace process. (Time)

Dennis Ross says Pollard’s release seems to be justified. (Time)

Peter Feaver asks if releasing a convicted spy will help the US secure Middle East peace. (Foreign Policy)

Ruth Marcus says the US should free Pollard. (Washington Post)

Anshel Pfeffer says if Pollard is released Israel should not accord him a hero’s welcome. (Ha’aretz)

Matthew Kalman says yesterday’s appeal by Abbas’ to international bodies to recognize the state of Palestine is a “masterstroke.” (Ha’aretz)

Rami Khouri says Israel is facing a backlash in the US. (The Daily Star)

Khaled Diab says ending the Gaza blockade is both the “principled and pragmatic” thing to do. (The National)

Eyal Benvenisti says FM Lieberman’s plan to transfer Arab areas to a future Palestinian state violates Israel’s basic obligation as a democratic state. (Ha’aretz)

Michael Young says Russia has kept Pres. Assad in power and now it’s stuck with him. (The National)

Manuel Almeida says the Assad regime is discrediting international law by exploiting every opportunity to use it in its favor. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Jonathan Schanzer and Emanuele Ottolenghi say PM Erdogan should be worried about how corruption allegations will damage Turkey’s standing in the West. (Foreign Policy)

April 1st

News:
Jewish “price tag” extremists spray hate graffiti on a monastery in Israel. (AP/AFP/PNN/Ha’aretz)
Israel may impose a partial settlement freeze to keep peace talks going with the Palestinians. (Reuters/Ha’aretz) 
The US may be considering the release of convicted spy Jonathan Pollard. (AP/New York Times/Washington Post/Ha’aretz)
Israeli Construction and Housing Minister Ariel says Pollard would not want to be freed for Palestinian prisoners. (Jerusalem Post)
Sec. Kerry will meet with Pres. Abbas in Ramallah tomorrow. (PNN)
Gen. Dempsey says the instability in the Middle East creates opportunity for Israeli-Arab alliances. (JTA)
King Abdullah of Jordan meets with Israeli opposition leader Herzog. (AFP/Jerusalem Post/Jordan Times)
Israeli occupation forces detain a teenage Palestinian girl in Hebron. (Ma’an)
The decline of Hamas and the increasing strength of Islamic Jihad may result in a new wave of chaos in Gaza. (Ha’aretz)
FIFA has reportedly threatened to expel Israel over restrictions on Palestinians. (Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)
The Lebanese army tries to halt Syria-related clashes in the country. (AP)
A cast of young Syrian refugees in Jordan is inspired by Shakespeare. (New York Times)
Al-Qaeda says Saudi Arabia’s new counter-terrorism measures show that the Kingdom is controlled by the US. (Reuters)
PM Cameron orders an inquiry into the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood in Britain. (New York Times)
Commentary:
ATFP Youth Outreach Coordinator Tala Haikal says youth need to see peace as an idea that is still fresh. (Huffington Post)
Hussein Ibish says moderates are increasingly surrounded by rhetorical extremism on all sides in the Israeli-Palestinian dynamic. (Now)
Jeffrey Goldberg says releasing Pollard will not bring peace to the Middle East. (Bloomberg)
Shane Harris asks why the US and Israel are talking about freeing convicted spy Pollard. (Foreign Policy)
Alan Dershowitz and Irwin Cotler make the argument for why Pres. Obama should release Pollard. (Jerusalem Post)
Nahum Barnea says the US should withdraw from the peace talks. (Ynet)
Uzi Baram says the Turkish experience proves it is possible to change the character of a secular state. (Ha’aretz)
David Schenker worries that as sectarian tensions rise in Lebanon, the prospect of a degraded and discredited army is growing. (Los Angeles Times)
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says PM Erdogan’s recent victory in local elections cannot save the Muslim Brotherhood. (Al Arabiya)
The New York Times says Erdogan’s pledge to make sure his political enemies “pay a price” is “disturbing and undemocratic.”(New York Times)
Bulent Aras says the rift in the GCC is leading to a new balance of power in the Gulf region. (Daily Star)
Ali Ibrahim says Pres. Mansour has gained the respect of many Egyptians due to his good performance and “eloquent speeches.” (Asharq al-Awsat)
Bakir Oweida says the Arab world is going through an unprecedented phase of chaos. (Al Arabiya)
The National says at its 35 year anniversary it will not be wishing “happy birthday” to Iran’s revolution. (The National)

March 31st

News:

Sec. Kerry returns to the Middle East to try to salvage the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.(AP/Reuters/Ha’aretz)

Kerry may be suggesting language about Israel as a “Jewish homeland.” (Ynet)

Israel offers to free more Palestinian prisoners to extend peace talks. (AFP/Ha’aretz)

Released Palestinian prisoners remake their lives after years in an Israeli prison. (New York Times)

Palestinians are evaluating their options should peace talks fail. (Washington Post)

DM Ya’alon praises Israel’s ties to the Pentagon in an effort to mend relations. (Xinhua/Ha’aretz)

Czech police say the late Palestinian Ambassador was holding an explosive device when he died. (New York Times)

Israel confiscates 300 Dunams of land in the occupied West Bank for settlements. (Ma’an)

Gaza’s crossing to Egypt reopens after a 50-day closure. (The National)

A Palestinian is injured by Jewish settlers in Jerusalem. (PNN)

Palestinians commemorate Land Day. (Xinhua/Ma’an/AFP)

Former Israeli PM Olmert is convicted of taking bribes. (New York Times/Ha’aretz)

The Syrian regime accuses Turkey of sending foreign fighters to Latakia. (AP)

Hezbollah leader Nasrallah says his forces were late in joining the conflict in Syria. (The National)

Egyptians will elect a new president in late May. (AP/Washington Post/The National)

An Egyptian court sentences 33 Muslim Brotherhood members. (AP)

Pres. Obama tells Saudi King he will not agree to a bad deal with Iran. (Chicago Tribune)

PM Erdogan comes out as a winner in contentious local election.(AP/Washington)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish says both Israel and the Palestinian need  “tough love.” (The National)

Lara Friedman says Israeli and Palestinian leaders need to find a recognition formula that reconciles two opposing national narratives. (Ha’aretz)

Amer Al Sabaileh questions the ability of Pres. Abbas to be a real leader for Palestinians. (Jordan Times)

Jackson Diehl says Kerry’s “profound misreading” of the Middle East is enabling the “bad guys.” (Washington Post)

Yitzhak Laor says Israel needs no recognition as the “Jewish state.” (Ha’aretz)

Amal Mousa says the discourse and culture of death has not brought Hamas any significant results.(Asharq al-Awsat)

Oudeh Basharat says Palestinian citizens of Israel can achieve a just distribution of resources. (Ha’aretz)

Rami Khouri says he is saddened that Gen. Sisi’s supporters are using images of the late Pres. Nasser. (Daily Star)

H.A. Hellyer says Sisi’s presidential bid leaves a number of crucial questions unanswered. (Al Arabiya)

Simon Henderson says Prince Bandar bin Sultan remains the key player in the US-Saudi relationship. (Foreign Policy)

Diana Moukalled asks why the Syrian crisis needs a celebrity ambassador. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Michael Karam says Lebanon must address its own health if it wants to promote health tourism. (The National)

March 28th

News:
The US is “pushing hard” to get Israelis and Palestinians to extend the peace talks. (Ha’aretz) 
The Palestinians say Israel will not release the prisoners on Saturday as scheduled. (AFP/Jerusalem Post/JTA)
UN Special Coordinator Serry expresses concern over prisoner release impasse. (Times of Israel)
An EU report says Israeli policies are aimed at cementing its “unilateral and illegal annexation” of East Jerusalem. (Ha’aretz)
Extremist Jewish settlers prepare to move into a major property in occupied East Jerusalem. (AFP)
Palestinian students visit Auschwitz in the first organized visit of its kind. (Ha’aretz)
Pres. Obama seeks to reassure Saudi Arabia in his visit to the Kingdom. (New York Times/Times of Israel/The National)
The UN warns of increasing links between militants in Iraq and Syria. (Reuters)
The UN says the Syrian refugee crisis poses a major threat to Lebanon’s stability. (Reuters)
Saudi Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz is appointed second-in-line to succeed the King. (Reuters)
Ansar Beit al-Maqdis extremists threaten workers in Sinai. (AP/AFP)
The Turkish government defends its YouTube ban. (AP)
A series of bombings in Iraq kill 33. (New York Time/Xinhua)
Qatar will buy $23 billion worth of weaponry including Apache helicopters. (The National)
Commentary:
Ali Jarbawi says Palestinians are more interested in Pres. Abbas’ feud with former Fatah official Dahlan than the peace talks. (New York Times)
Yuval Rabin and Charles Bronfman say opening up a regional track with Arab states could improve prospects for peace. (Ynet)
Raed Omari says Israel’s “Jewish State” demand adds new complications to an already overburdened peace process. (Al Arabiya)
The National says Israel’s “Jewish state” boils down to a vision of apartheid. (The National)
Ha’aretz says the killing of a Palestinian teenager in the occupied West Bank is a “war crime.” (Ha’aretz)
Eyal Megged says only FM Lieberman can bring peace to Israel. (Ha’aretz)
David Ignatius says Obama is ready to expand aid to the Syrian opposition. (Washington Post) 
The CSM outlines what Obama should ask from Saudi Arabia. (The Christian Science Monitor)
The National says, if elected, Gen. Sisi must be a president for all Egyptians. (The National)
The Daily Star says if Egyptians cannot vote freely and respect the result, any result would be hollow. (Daily Star)
Amir Taheri says Iran is considering a “power grab” in Lebanon. (Asharq al-Awsat)
Majid Rafizadeh says the Iranian elite is united in supporting executions. (Al Arabiya)

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