Date

NEWS:

Sec. Kerry holds meetings with Israeli and Palestinian officials in Amman and may reveal a new initiative in coming weeks. (Jerusalem Post)

Senior Israeli negotiator Livni says some Israelis are using security as an excuse not to pursue peace. (Jerusalem Post)

A senior economic adviser to Pres. Abbas says the political climate is not appropriate for Kerry's plans to revive the Palestinian economy and says Palestinians won't make concessions for economic gains alone. (Ma'an)

Many Palestinians are leery of Kerry's focus on the economy and insist aid is no substitute for negotiations. (Christian Science Monitor/The National)

Palestinian officials complain that the US, UK and Arab states are trying to steamroll them into accepting Kerry's proposal for renewed negotiations. (Ha'aretz)

DM Yaalon says a shipment of Russian S-300 missiles has not left for Syria yet, but Israel may act if it does. (Reuters)

A senior Palestinian official criticizes the participation of Palestinian companies in a programming forum held in Israel. (Xinhua/Ma'an)

Religious Zionism is emerging as Israel's most powerful pressure group. (Ha'aretz)

Palestinian workers describe commuting to jobs in Israel as "torturous." (Ma'an)

Some American Jewish leaders are quietly concerned about proposals to arm Syrian rebels. (The Forward)

Israeli fashion designers are beginning to see advantages in manufacturing in the occupied West Bank. (Ha'aretz)

A group of prominent activists say UEFA should not allow Israel to host the European Under-21 finals next month, given its policies towards the Palestinians. (The Guardian)

Senior Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood figure El-Erian says Fatah is seeking to undermine security in Sinai. (Ahram Online)

A Palestinian singer from Gaza inches closer to winning this year's Arab Idol TV singing contest. (Washington Post)

COMMENTARY:

The National says the US plan to boost the Palestinian economy is vital. (The National)

David Horovitz says Kerry's economic proposal is "ridiculous." (Times of Israel)

Khaled Abu Toameh says Palestinians are complaining Kerry is trying to "bribe them" to "sell out." (Gatestone Institute)

David Ignatius examines Kerry's Middle East peace initiative. (Washington Post)

Akiva Eldar says a new poll suggests that if PM Netanyahu adopted the principles of the Arab Peace Initiative, most Israelis would back him. (Al Monitor)

S. Daniel Abraham says Steven Hawking's conference boycott was wrong but Israeli policies are self-destructive. (Ha'aretz)

Amira Hass says neither Israelis nor Palestinians want to be reminded how many of each other's children they have killed since 2000. (Ha'aretz)

Robert Menendez says Middle East turmoil will only strengthen the US-Israel alliance. (Ha'aretz)

Eyal Megged says, whether Israelis like it or not, Jerusalem is a divided city. (Ha'aretz)

Chris Gunness says recent attacks on UNRWA are ill-informed and wrong. (YNet)

Kenneth Bandler says Israeli-Palestinian high-tech cooperation could be very useful. (Jerusalem Post)

AP interviews Deputy FM Elkin, who says he's proud to be an Israeli settler in occupied Palestinian territories. (AP)

NEWS:
 
Sec. Kerry advances a $4 billion plan for investment in the Palestinian economy and insists the plan can work. (AFP/New York Times/AP)
 
Kerry and Pres. Abbas will meet today to discuss peace efforts. (Xinhua)
 
 
Some PA officials complain that Abbas is keeping them in the dark about his diplomatic strategy. (Jerusalem Post)
 
The lead Palestinian negotiator says Israelis want peace but PM Netanyahu must be convinced. (Jerusalem Post)
 
Kerry calls on Israeli and Palestinian officials to "show leadership" on peace. (New York Times)
 
Pres. Peres says Israelis must overcome skepticism about the possibility of peace. (New York Times)
 
An Israeli cabinet minister says isolated Jewish settlements in the West Bank should be evacuated. (Xinhua)
 
Jordan's King Abdullah says extremism has "grown fat" off of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (AP)
 
Leading Israeli and Palestinian businessmen unveil a new business-led push for Israeli-Palestinian peace. (Times of Israel)
 
Abbas vows to form a new government "within weeks." (Ma'an)
 
At the World Economic Forum, Abbas calls for more international investment in Palestine. (Ma'an)
 
80 international aid agencies urge the EU to follow through on pledges to aid Palestinians in "Area C." (Reuters/Ha'aretz)
 
The PA says it is raising the Palestinian VAT by 1% in June. (Ma'an)
 
Israeli experts say a cyber attack from Syria was thwarted. (AP)
 
Israeli forces are drilling for unconventional warfare. (Xinhua)
 
A pregnant woman is killed in a clan dispute in Gaza. (Ma'an)
 
The ex-Shin Bet deputy chief says Israeli authorities are stymied in their efforts to curb right-wing Jewish violence and need new tactics. (Ha'aretz)
 
The Israeli Education Ministry may again consider using a book that takes a new look at the Palestinian experience and history. (Ha'aretz)
 
A refugee from Gaza is widely expected to win the Arab Idol TV singing contest this year. (The Guardian)
 
Home-visit jobs for women are growing in the occupied West Bank. (The Media Line)
 
A leader of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood says a Jewish prophesy suggests Pres. Morsi will "liberate Jerusalem." (Al-Masry Al-Youm)
 
 
COMMENTARY:
 
J.J. Goldberg says Israel's cabinet needs to decide if it is for or against a two-state solution and peace. (The Forward)
 
Barak Ravid says Kerry is taking a huge gamble that will yield either stunning success or humiliating failure. (Ha'aretz)
 
Ethan Bronner says in prosperity and calm, most Israelis have stopped thinking in terms of a Middle East conflict. (New York Times)
 
Haviv Rettig Gur says the US knows the process is at least as important to it as a real conflict-ending outcome. (Times of Israel)
 
Chemi Shalev says Israeli policy-makers may be concerned about Pres. Obama's counter-terrorism speech. (Ha'aretz)
 
Yitzhak Laor says Israeli political views are defined by positions on the occupation. (Ha'aretz)
 
Khaled Diab says Israel's Mohammed al-Dura report is "a slanderous farce and blood libel" against Palestinians. (Ha'aretz)
 
AP interviews UNRWA chief Filippo Grandi about the plight of Palestinian refugees caught in the Syrian conflict. (AP)
 
Gideon Levy asks right-wing Israeli thugs what kind of country they want to live in. (Ha'aretz)
 
Emily Hauser says in its new report on the death of Muhammad al-Dura, Israel is relying on smear tactics that actually work. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)
 
Efraim Inbar explains what he thinks Israel's interests are in Syria. (Jerusalem Post)
 
Tzachi Hanegbi says Israel cannot rely on the US to act in its defense. (Jerusalem Post)
 
Shlomi Eldar looks at the Israel-Egypt-Hamas triangle of interested in Sinai. (Al Monitor)
 
Jonathan Cook says domestic disputes in Israel don't benefit the Palestinians. (The National)
 
The Times of Israel interviews British author William Sutcliffe on his new novel, "The Wall." (Times of Israel)

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