August 2nd

NEWS:
 
Pres. Obama has telephone calls with Pres. Abbas and PM Netanyahu. (Reuters/AFP/Ha'aretz)
 
Netanyahu and Obama reportedly agree to continue to coordinate over peace talks with the Palestinians. (Xinhua)
 
A new Gallup poll shows Palestinians see peace as crucial to their future but are skeptical about the new talks. (Gallup)
 
Both Israelis and Palestinians are facing significant internal resistance to new negotiations. (Reuters)
 
Israel is opening a checkpoint in Hebron for the first time in 12 years as a "goodwill gesture." (Al Monitor)
 
Journalists in Gaza protest against Hamas closures of several key media outlets. (Ma'an)
 
Bedouins in Israel continue to fight a mass forced relocation program. (AP/Ma'an)
 
The Palestinian Cabinet condemns Israel's decision to block EU projects in "Area C" and Gaza. (PNN)
 
Israeli diplomats disavow responsibility for being caught off guard by the EU occupation guidelines. (Ha'aretz/Times of Israel)
 
Netanyahu and other Israeli MKs have an argument with Arab MKs over "who was there first." (Jerusalem Post)
 
Iran's new president describes Israel as "an old wound," which should be removed. (AP)
 
The BBC looks at Iran's annual "Jerusalem Day." (BBC)
 
Toronto bans a "Jerusalem Day" that has been held there in recent years. (The Forward)
 
Netanyahu welcomes new American sanctions on Iran. (Xinhua)
 
US embassies, including in Israel and across the Middle East, will be closed this Sunday for security reasons. (Xinhua)
 
West Bank water shortages force Palestinians to "lease" land from Israeli settlers. (Ha'aretz)
 
An Australian comedian satirizes the peace process in Jerusalem performances. (The Media Line)
 
Hamas warns of a "humanitarian crisis" in Gaza if the crossing with Egypt is not reopened. (Ahram Online)
 
Egypt's smuggling tunnel mass closures spell economic, and possibly political, disaster for Hamas. (Spiegel Online)
 
Ha'aretz profiles the family and experiences of a long-standing Palestinian prisoner in Israel. (Ha'aretz)
 
 
COMMENTARY:
 
ATFP intern Rachel Bessette asks if Israelis are going to listen to their own security professionals who are unanimous that a two-state solution is essential. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)
 
Michael Cohen says Israel seems to be waking up to the fact that it has to choose between international isolation or ending the occupation. (The Guardian)
 
Stacie Goddard says referenda can be crucial to the success of  peace agreements. (New York Times)
 
Nathan Guttman says vehement criticism from both sides probably means Martin Indyk is a good choice for Special Envoy. (The Forward)
 
Claude Salhani also thinks Indyk might be up to a tough job. (Huffington Post)
 
Shlomi Eldar says it's necessary to fight off pessimism if peace talks are to succeed. (Al Monitor)
 
Frida Ghitis is fairly pessimistic. (Miami Herald)
 
Alan Berger says the parties have no option other than a two-state solution. (Boston Globe)
 
The Philadelphia Inquirer says Israeli-Palestinian peace isn't a Middle East panacea but it would be a huge step forward. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
 
Daniel Levy says, if the US really wants Middle East peace, it probably needs a new Israeli leadership and PM. (Ha'aretz)
 
Arnaud de Borchgrave says Netanyahu doesn't trust his chief negotiator, and she doesn't trust him. (UPI)
 
George Hishmeh says the American negotiating team needs more balance. (Jordan Times)
 
Maysoon Zayid says Palestinian prisoners are used as pawns in the peace process. (Daily Beast/Open Zion) 
 
Sayed Kashua says he yearns for the day when he won't be embarrassed to say openly he is a Palestinian citizen of Israel. (Ha'aretz)
 
Mazal Mualem interviews extremist Likud MK Gamliel, a strident opponent of peace. (Al Monitor)
 
Einat Wilf says some Israelis and Palestinians are attached to the status quo and feel threatened by peace talks. (Al Monitor)
 
Daniel Weinberg mocks the idea that Israel needs to make more concessions to the Palestinians. (Jerusalem Post)
 
Haviv Rettig Gur says a new Israeli electoral reform plan is actually a blessing in disguise for Arab citizens. (Times of Israel)
 
Ehud Yaari thinks Hamas may be losing its grip on Gaza. (WINEP)
 
Arad Nir says Turkey is stalling on reconciliation with Israel. (Al Monitor)
 
Gordon Lubold looks at how Sec. Hegel, once criticized by pro-Israel groups, is now considered a great friend. (Foreign Policy)
 
Bill Van Esveld says everyone is abusing Palestinians' human rights. (Human Rights Watch)

August 1st

 

NEWS:

 

The first round of new Israeli-Palestinian negotiations ends in Washington in a somber mood. (Ha'aretz)

As an adjunct to the talks, US Gen. John Allen is reportedly already on the ground working on security-related issues. (Jerusalem Post/UPI)

Sec. Kerry reportedly tells members of Congress Israel is likely to retain 85% of settlement blocs in any agreement. (PNN)

EU foreign policy chief Ashton says a peace agreement is possible. (AFP)

Pres. Peres says there is no alternative to peace. (AFP)

Many analysts and ordinary people are deeply pessimistic about the prospects for success in the new negotiations. (AFP/BBC/The National)

There seems little enthusiasm or expectations for the talks in Ramallah. (Times of Israel)

PM Netanyahu may be seeking to buy time in a troubled Middle East through the negotiations. (Reuters)

Israel is justifying its planned eviction of 1,300 Palestinians in the West Bank to save time and money for occupation forces. (Ha'aretz)

Iran is strengthening its links with Islamic Jihad in Gaza. (New York Times/Los Angeles Times)

The fuel crisis in Gaza is intensifying. (YNet/The Media Line)

Gaza youths are seeking to improve their lives by establishing various clubs. (Al Monitor)

Hamas says it has documents proving that Fatah has been engaged in an "incitement" campaign against them in Egypt. (Ma'an)

The PA religious affairs minister calls for the people of Gaza to rise up against Hamas rule. (UPI)

The PA calls for an investigation into comments by Israeli Economy Minister Bennett that he "killed a lot of Arabs in my life." (Ma'an)

An Israeli military legal advisor justifies the arrest of a five-year-old Palestinian boy. (Jerusalem Post)

Israeli Foreign Ministry officials end a four-month-long strike. (Xinhua)

American officials say additional Israeli strikes on Syria are likely because some targeted missiles remain intact. (New York Times)

A Jewish Israeli man is indicted on charges of spying for Iran. (YNet/Jerusalem Post)

Palestinians increasingly seek employment in the high-tech industry. (Christian Science Monitor)

Netanyahu may nix a lucrative Israeli-European deal over recent EU guidelines about Israel's occupation. (Jerusalem Post)

Israelis and Palestinians are seeking cooperation in food trucks. (Ha'aretz)

Debra Kamin profiles a Brooklyn-born weapons instructor who is training settlers to use weapons. (Foreign Policy)

 

COMMENTARY:

David Ignatius says Kerry may have trapped the sides into needing to make a deal. (Washington Post)

Raphael Ahren says Netanyahu will now have to actually start negotiating about hitherto taboo subjects like Jerusalem. (Times of Israel)

Orly Azoulay says Pres. Obama may be keeping a distance now, but at some point he will have to engage the negotiations directly if they are to succeed. (YNet)

The Daily Star says Obama's hands-off attitude may reflect his own skepticism about the prospects for success. (The Daily Star)

Andrew Hammond says Obama might be looking for a long-term legacy in Middle East peace. (Gulf News

Michael Young questions Obama's ability to succeed in any major foreign policy endeavor, including Middle East peace. (The Daily Star)

Ron Kampeas says Middle East turmoil and pessimism about the future are driving Kerry's urgency on peace. (JTA)

J.J. Goldberg tries to read the body language of Israeli and Palestinian negotiators. (The Forward)

The National asks if Israel is willing to listen to friendly advice from new US Special Envoy  Indyk. (The National)

Bloomberg says the new negotiations are fine, but they shouldn't be branded as the discredited "peace process." (Bloomberg)

Aaron David Miller outlines the steps Kerry must take for talks to succeed. (Politico)

Jeffrey Goldberg says he doesn't believe a final status agreement is possible and hopes a "Plan B," such as an interim agreement, is on the cards. (Bloomberg)

Jonathan Cook says if peace talks fail they will intensify the crisis facing Palestinians. (The National)

Daniel Nisman says a weakened Hamas can now be pressured into choosing between moderating or collapsing altogether. (Christian Science Monitor)

Ari Shavit says, for the talks to succeed, US officials must show pragmatism and creativity. (Ha'aretz)

Natasha Gill says Israelis need to accept that Palestinians will never embrace the Zionist historical narrative. (Ha'aretz)

Gershon Baskin says negotiations must be explicit and terms clearly understood by both sides. (Jerusalem Post)

Oved Yehezkel says a referendum is no substitute for leadership on peace. (Ha'aretz)

Stephen Walt says real Middle East peace requires magnanimity from both sides, especially Israel. (Foreign Policy)

Akiva Eldar says Netanyahu might have rejoined negotiations mainly to court American support regarding Iran. (Al Monitor)

Ha'aretz says the most dangerous racism in Israel is the unnoticed discrimination against Arabs built into daily life. (Ha'aretz)

Jeremy Harding says life under occupation makes even book festivals difficult for Palestinians. (The Guardian)

Shlomi Eldar says now that Israel isn't seen as directly responsible for the latest crisis in Gaza, few care about it. (Al Monitor)


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