NEWS:
Tensions flare and fire is exchanged across the Israel-Gaza border following the death of a prisoner in Israeli custody from allegedly undertreated cancer. (New York Times)

Israel warns Gaza militants about the dangers of any escalation. (AP)

Hamas says it expects more attacks from Israel. (Xinhua)

Ma'an publishes an obituary of the late prisoner, Maysara Abu Hamdiyeh. (Ma'an)

Palestinians across the West Bank and Gaza observe a one-day general strike in protest at his death. (AFP)

Pres. Abbas blames Abu Hamdiyeh's death on "Israeli arrogance." (PNN)

PM Fayyad calls for international monitoring of Israel's prisons. (PNN)

A Palestinian minister says the prisoner's death shows the PLO must join the ICC. (Ma'an)

Israeli occupation forces detain 20 Palestinians in the West Bank. (Ma'an)

The Israeli military again says it fired back against ordinance coming across the frontier between Syria and the occupied Golan Heights. (New York Times)

Abbas will meet Sec. Kerry in Jordan on Sunday. (Ma'an)

Kerry is also due to visit Turkey. (Reuters)

Experts say the Palestinian-Jordanian agreement on Jerusalem gives Amman a much larger role in the future of the city and negotiations with Israel. (AFP)

Jewish Israelis and Palestinians discuss the quest for freedom at a Passover Seder in the occupied West Bank. (CSM)

The Israeli military is providing equal protection for all settlements, whether authorized or wildcat outposts. (Ha'aretz)

Some Fatah officials accuse disgraced former Fatah leader in Gaza Dahlan of poisoning the late Pres. Arafat. (AP)

Hamas is continuing a widespread crackdown on art and artists in Gaza. (Al Monitor)


COMMENTARY:
Ha'aretz says it's outrageous that the Israeli military is providing so many benefits to unauthorized wildcat settlement outposts. (Ha'aretz

Amos Harel says the PA is using the prisoner's death to keep up a popular struggle against Israeli occupation. (Ha'aretz)

Lynn Grassmeyer says another generation of Israelis and Palestinians are reaching a crisis point. (The Tennessean)

Shmuel Rosner says it will be even more difficult for Israel to delineate operating borders with Palestine than a settlement freeze. (New York Times)

Khaled Abu Toameh says, given that Islamists and others are raping women in the name of religion in Libya and elsewhere, women ought to think twice about going on aid convoys to Gaza. (Gatestone)

Amira Hass defends rock-throwing against Israeli occupation forces by Palestinian youths. (Ha'aretz)

Judy Montagu says Israel's apology to Turkey might feel like "giving in," but it's breathed new life into an important relationship. (Jerusalem Post)

The National says the reelection of Mishaal as Hamas leader provides an opportunity for Abbas and the Arab states. (The National)

Adel Zaanoun says Mishaal might even be able to improve Hamas' relations with the West. (Arab News)

Shlomi Eldar says it was Israel's military offensive in Gaza last year that resurrected Mishaal's waning career. (Al Monitor)

Hazem Saghieh says Israel has concluded that sectarian and ethnic cantons are being formed in Syria. (Al Hayat)

The Daily Star laments that while Israel is starting to effectively exploit offshore natural gas reserves, Lebanon is dithering. (The Daily Star)

Emily Hauser profiles a short documentary about the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem that recently won a Peabody award. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Aaron David Miller says, if he's really lucky, Pres. Obama might be able to leave the Middle East slightly better off than when he first came into office. (Foreign Policy)

Carlo Strenger looks at a new book by Rashid Khalidi, which takes a dim view of the US role as Middle East peace broker. (Ha'aretz)

Natasha Gill says Israelis and Palestinians can continue to greatly dislike each other and still achieve a mutually beneficial peace agreement. (The Forward)

Henry Siegman asks if Kerry can rescue the two-state solution. (Huffington Post)

NEWS

PM Fayyad is hospitalized with a stomach ailment. (Foreign Policy/AP)

Hamas leaks the fact that it has reelected Khaled Mishaal as head of its Politburo. (AP)

Hamas imposes a new law enforcing rigid gender segregation in schools and prohibiting any interaction with Israelis. (New York Times/Xinhua)

Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention protest following the death of one of their colleagues due to cancer, allegedly due to insufficient care. (AP)

Pres. Abbas says there is no need for a minisummit on reconciliation with Hamas in Cairo. (Xinhua)

Israel's Navy prepares to defend offshore natural gas deposits it is exploiting. (Reuters)

A Palestinian researcher says Israel has arrested over 1000 Palestinians, and over 200 children, since the beginning of the year. (PNN)

Israeli police arrest five settlers in connection with the near-fatal shooting of a Palestinian a few weeks ago. (+972)

A new poll suggests most Palestinians still support a two-state solution and that Jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti is their most popular politician. (Jerusalem Post)

Millions allegedly embezzled from the PA by former official Muhammad Rashid may have ended up in Canada. (Globe and Mail)

Cancer rates are increasing in Gaza. (Al Monitor)

The Israel Project is being transformed by its new leadership. (The Forward)

COMMENTARY

Hussein Ibish says by reconfirming Mishaal as its leader, Hamas is once again avoiding change. (Now)

Amira Hass explains that Israeli restrictions on Palestinian movement in the occupied territories long preceded the emergence of suicide bombings. (Ha'aretz)

Chaim Levinson asks what the settlers learned from the first intifada 25 years ago. (Ha'aretz)

The National says Abbas must end his campaign against his critics. (The National)

Shaul Rosenfeld says Pres. Obama doesn't understand the risks Israel has taken for peace. (YNet)

Zalman Shoval says the argument that "peace is the best security" isn't very convincing to many Israelis. (Jerusalem Post)

J.J. Goldberg says Israel's new government has no clear position on a two-state solution and is badly divided. (The Forward)

Writer William Sutcliffe says the Israeli occupation was "so much more brutal than I thought it could be." (The Guardian)

Alan Eisner says AIPAC's new strategy of reaching out to liberals is bound to fail. (The Forward)

Ali Ibrahim looks at the many different roles played by smuggling tunnels on the Gaza-Egypt border. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Ahmed Othman says the United States and Israel now have a simple choice: allow Iran to go nuclear or take military action to prevent that. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

APN interviews Yossi Alpher on the latest developments regarding Israel. (APN)

NEWS:

Pres. Abbas approves the new PA budget as submitted by PM Fayyad. (Xinhua)

Abbas and Jordan's King Abdallah agree to cooperate to protect Arab and Islamic sites inoccupied Jerusalem. (Xinhua/Ma'an)

Hamas leader Haniyyeh meets with the chief of Egypt's intelligence services. (AP)

Hamas accuses Fatah of blocking reconciliation talks. (Xinhua)

Settlers attack Palestinian school buses. (Ma'an)

Israeli occupation forces clash with Palestinians during "Land Day" commemorations. (AP)

Palestinians say seven children are injured when settlers stoned school buses in the occupied West Bank. (Ma'an)

Abbas is accused of clamping down on critics in civil society. (AP)

Israel begins to exploit offshore natural gas reserves. (New York Times)

The Israeli military says it could withstand an attack from Syrian chemical weapons. (Reuters)

Christians in the Middle East and Palestine celebrate Easter weekend. (AP)

Hamas officials say Pres. Obama's visit to the region was counterproductive for Palestinian reconciliation. (Xinhua)

Israel's military is dealing with complications arising from having women and ultra-Orthodox male service members. (LA Times)

Palestinian Americans continue to face grave difficulties under the Israeli occupation. (The National)

A short documentary by Just Vision Media about the Palestinian neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah in occupied East Jerusalem wins a Peabody award. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

COMMENTARY:
Suzanne Nossel asks why it took so long for Israel to apologize to Turkey over the flotilla affair. (Foreign Policy)

Gideon Levy says Israeli cruelty reached the point of no return in the 2008-2009 Gaza war. (Ha'aretz)

Amira Hass says the new PA budget shows its dependence on Israel and the United States. (Ha'aretz)

Shoula Romano Horing says Obama still can't be trusted by Israelis. (YNet)

Ha'aretz says the Israeli military should stop arresting Palestinian children. (Ha'aretz

Asharq Al-Awsat says Abbas refuses to take part in any Arab League summit which Hamas also attends. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Joseph Dana says natural gas is the key to Israeli-Turkish reconciliation. (The National)

Abdullah Al Shayji says Obama has achieved nothing with regard to Iraq and Syria or the two-state solution. (Gulf News)

Shlomi Eldar interviews Yara Mashour, editor of the Israeli Arabic-language magazine Lilac. (Al Monitor)

NEWS:

Pres. Abbas approves the new PA budget as submitted by PM Fayyad. (Xinhua)

Abbas and Jordan's King Abdallah agree to cooperate to protect Arab and Islamic sites inoccupied Jerusalem. (Xinhua/Ma'an)

Hamas leader Haniyyeh meets with the chief of Egypt's intelligence services. (AP)

Hamas accuses Fatah of blocking reconciliation talks. (Xinhua)

Settlers attack Palestinian school buses. (Ma'an)

Israeli occupation forces clash with Palestinians during "Land Day" commemorations. (AP)

Palestinians say seven children are injured when settlers stoned school buses in the occupied West Bank. (Ma'an)

Abbas is accused of clamping down on critics in civil society. (AP)

Israel begins to exploit offshore natural gas reserves. (New York Times)

The Israeli military says it could withstand an attack from Syrian chemical weapons. (Reuters)

Christians in the Middle East and Palestine celebrate Easter weekend. (AP)

Hamas officials say Pres. Obama's visit to the region was counterproductive for Palestinian reconciliation. (Xinhua)

Israel's military is dealing with complications arising from having women and ultra-Orthodox male service members. (LA Times)

Palestinian Americans continue to face grave difficulties under the Israeli occupation. (The National)

A short documentary by Just Vision Media about the Palestinian neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah in occupied East Jerusalem wins a Peabody award. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

COMMENTARY:
Suzanne Nossel asks why it took so long for Israel to apologize to Turkey over the flotilla affair. (Foreign Policy)

Gideon Levy says Israeli cruelty reached the point of no return in the 2008-2009 Gaza war. (Ha'aretz)

Amira Hass says a new PA budget shows its dependence on Israel and the United States. (Ha'aretz)

Shoula Romano Horing says Obama still Be trusted by Israelis. (YNet)

Ha'aretz says the Israeli military should stop arresting Palestinian children. (Ha'aretz

Asharq Al-Awsat says Abbas refuses to take part in any Arab League summit which Hamas also attends. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Joseph Dana says natural gas is the key to Israeli-Turkish reconciliation. (The National)

Abdullah Al Shayji says Obama has achieved nothing with Iraq to Syria or the two-state solution. (Gulf News)

Shlomi Eldar interviews Yara Mashour, editor of the Israeli Arabic-language magazine Lilac. (Al Monitor)

NEWS
The PA cabinet approves PM Fayyad's new budget, passing the matter for approval to Pres. Abbas. (Ha'aretz)

Abbas pardons a Palestinian journalist for allegedly "insulting" him on Facebook, after one-year prison term was yesterday upheld by a Palestinian court. (Ma'an/New York Times/AP)

Israel is using archaic Ottoman laws to give "state lands" in the occupied West Bank to settlers and Israeli companies. (The National)

Christians in Jerusalem mark Good Friday. (AP)

Israel's military beefs up its presence in the occupied territories in preparation for Land Day. (Ma'an)

Occupation forces have detained over 50 Palestinians suspected of being members of a "terror cell" in the past two months. (Ha'aretz)

Israel deploys more military medical officers on the border between Syria and the occupied Golan Heights. (AP)

Israel reopens the border crossings with Gaza. (Xinhua)

Palestinians are having to confront the fact that dependence on foreign aid makes them vulnerable to unreliable sources. (CSM)

Two pro-Palestinian activists are allegedly gang raped in Libya. (Ma'an)

An Israeli soldier held captive by Hamas recounts the details of his capture and captivity. (Jerusalem Post)

Israel's Foreign Ministry is investigating who leaked cables about how to deal with the film "The Gatekeepers." (Ha'aretz)

A new poll shows a drop in the number of Jewish Israelis who view Pres. Obama as hostile. (Jerusalem Post)

Egypt is resuming efforts to promote Palestinian national unity. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
 

COMMENTARY
Hussein Ibish looks at the complexities facing any potential Palestinian effort to get the ICC to investigate Israel's actions in the occupied territories. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Dalia Hatuqa looks at the continued significance for Palestinians of Land Day. (Al Monitor)

Anna Lekas Miller looks at the impact of the release of long-withheld US aid to the PA. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

The Washington Post says Israeli-Turkish rapprochement is a ray of hope in an otherwise dismal Middle East. (Washington Post)

Eddie Boxx looks at the need for the United States to work with its Gulf partners to create a missile defense system, especially with Iran in mind. (WINEP)

Yoel Marcus says Obama didn't just go to Israel to reiterate friendship, but also the need for a peace agreement with the Palestinians and reconciliation with Turkey. (Ha'aretz)

Trudy Rubin says Obama gave a great speech in Jerusalem, but probably didn't mean a lot of what he said. (Jerusalem Post)

Charles Krauthammer says Obama's visit exposed Palestinian recalcitrance. (Washington Post)

Zeev Sternhell says Israel can get into wars by its own choice but has to be coerced into peace agreements, usually by the United States. (Ha'aretz)

Avraham Burg asks what comes next now that the Oslo process is "dead." (Ha'aretz)

The Jerusalem Post joins the chorus of Israelis demanding the government "get tough" with rock-throwing Palestinians. (Jerusalem Post)

Leonard Fein says the late New York Times columnist Anthony Lewis cared about Israel more than his critics. (The Forward)

The Forward says Jewish Israelis and other Jews are torn between fear and empathy. (The Forward)

George Hishmeh says Israel is becoming more isolated. (Jordan Times)

NEWS
Pres. Obama's Middle East trip renews the debate over Israeli-Palestinian peace. (VOA)

Israel admits that less than 1% of what it deems "state lands" in the occupied West Bank have been allocated to Palestinian use. (Ha'aretz)

Turkey is reportedly now pushing for accelerated Palestinian unity talks. (Ha'aretz)

The PA reportedly opposes a visit to Gaza by PM Erdogan. (Jerusalem Post)

The World Bank is planning a "microwork" project in the occupied West Bank to try to create 55,000 new part-time Palestinian jobs. (Jerusalem Post)

Hamas leader Misha'al accuses Obama of retreating on the issue of settlements. (Ma'an)

Hamas leader Zahar pledges the organization will not interfere in Egyptian affairs, and claims other Palestinians are spreading false rumors about this. (Ma'an/Ahram Online)

Israel reopens Gaza border crossings. (AP/AFP)

One man is killed, and three are injured, as a Gaza smuggling tunnel collapses. (Xinhua/Ma'an)

A Palestinian court rejects an appeal from Mohammed Dahlan against lifting his immunity from prosecution on serious charges. (Xinhua)

Ex-prisoners from the West Bank now expelled to Gaza our finding a local taste for a dessert from back home. (New York Times)

A new cookbook showcases Gaza cuisine. (AP)

Hebrew study is growing among Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. (The Media Line)

Palestinian NGOs face political pressure and scrutiny in both the West Bank and Gaza. (Al Monitor)

Palestinian refugees fleeing the war in Syria are facing major obstacles entering Egypt, along with other Arab states. (PNN)

An Israeli-Palestinian business arbitration center is established. (YNet)

COMMENTARY
The New York Times hosts a wide-ranging debate on what Obama can accomplish on Israeli-Palestinian peace. (New York Times)

Raja Shehadeh remembers the late New York Times columnist Anthony Lewis' fairness on the Middle East. (New York Times)

Farid Zakaria says Obama's strategy of appealing to Israel's conscience on the occupation is the best strategy for creating a Palestinian state. (Washington Post)

Ziv Lenchner says the Israeli public is oblivious and will not "budge until things go up in flames." (YNet)

David Ignatius says his trip shows Obama is again ready to lead in the Middle East. (Washington Post)

Douglas Bloomfield says Sec. Kerry is now positioned to pick up where Obama left off. (Jerusalem Post)

David Andrew Weinberg agrees that the ball is now in Kerry's court. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Harry Hagopian says Obama's trip fail to lay the basis for real hopes for peace. (Now)

Aluf Benn says Israel is moving away from tacit support for the Assad regime in Damascus. (Ha'aretz)

Nader Bakkar doubts Hamas was involved in attacks on Egyptian soldiers. (Ahram Online)

Akiva Eldar and Daniel Bar-Tal say the campaign against the film "The Gatekeepers" by Israeli officials is part of a trend to silence all effective dissent. (Ha'aretz)

Noam Sheizaf interviews former Israeli negotiator Shaul Arieli, who insists a two-state solution is still possible. (+972)

NEWS:
The new PA budget, presented by PM Fayyad, calls for $1.4 billion in external financing this year. (Ma'an)

Palestinian factions welcome Qatar's proposal to host a reconciliation summit in Cairo. (Xinhua)

Israeli occupation forces arrest five Hamas activists in Hebron. (Ma'an)

Israeli occupation authorities seize privately held Palestinian land to expand a checkpoint. (Ma'an)

An Israeli occupation commander says Palestinian violence in the West Bank is increasing. (Jerusalem Post)

Palestinians reassert that they have a right to go to the Hague if peace talks with Israel totally fail. (Ha'aretz)

Turkey is reportedly asking Israel for $1 million per fatality from the flotilla incident. (Jerusalem Post)

Settler leaders urge the Israeli military to take former FM Lieberman's advice and authorize soldiers to open fire on rock-throwing Palestinians. (YNet)

Local Gaza journalists boycott a meeting on Hamas' restrictive new press laws. (Al Monitor)

Palestinian refugees fleeing Syria face multiple obstacles trying to enter Jordan. (The Atlantic)

COMMENTARY:
Ha'aretz says Israel needs to be very cautious dealing with developments on the frontier between Syria and the occupied Golan Heights. (Ha'aretz)

Eva Illouz looks at the tension between Israel's "Jewish" and "democratic" characters. (Ha'aretz)

Sami Michael says there is an epidemic of racism in Israeli society. (YNet)

Former FM Lieberman condemns PM Netanyahu's apology to Turkey. (YNet)

Nathan Guttman asks, with former DM Barak gone, who will be the point person in the new Israeli government to deal with the United States. (The Forward)

William Kolbrener says Pres. Obama may have given Netanyahu space to maneuver on peace, assuming he wants it. (The Forward)

Mohammad Fadhel joins those saying Obama's visit to the region shows he's given up on the two-state solution. (Gulf News)

Osama Al Sharif agrees Obama has abandoned the Palestinians. (Jordan Times)

Former Israeli minister Ephraim Sneh says a Palestinian state is "unavoidable." (Al Monitor)

Victor Kotsev sees many encouraging signs for renewed peace efforts. (Sada)

Matt Hill says Israel is "addicted to settlements," and Obama should "stop enabling its self-destruction." (The Independent)

NEWS
Egyptian kidnappers release two tourists, one of whom is a Palestinian citizen of Israel. (Ha'aretz/Reuters)

Israeli occupation forces impose a general closure of the West Bank through the end of Passover. (JTA/Jerusalem Post)

A new tour is giving Israelis a closer look at Ramallah, in some ways. (New York Times)

Israeli human rights group call on their government to ease new restrictions on Gaza fishermen. (AFP)

An Israeli general suggests the possibility of creating a "buffer zone" across the Syrian border If the Damascus regime is overthrown. (Reuters)

Pres. Abbas arrives in Doha for the latest Arab League summit. (Ma'an)

A hunger striking Palestinian prisoner is again said to be in mortal peril. (Xinhua)

The PA says it wants membership in Interpol to better fight corruption. (Xinuha)

Australia's Foreign Minister his country wants Israel to explain the 2010 death of alleged Mossad agent Ben Zygier. (Ha'aretz)

Qatar proposes the creation of a $1 billion fund for Palestinians in East Jerusalem, and contributes the first $250 million. (Reuters/Jerusalem Post)
 

COMMENTARY
Ha'aretz says Sec. Kerry's vigorous engagement with Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy shows Pres. Obama's visit was not a one-time event. (Ha'aretz)

Akiva Eldar says Pres. Abbas can force PM Netanyahu's hand by returning to negotiations even without a settlement freeze. (Al Monitor)

Hussein Ibish looks at exaggerated optimism and pessimism about Obama's trip. (Now)

Ron Kampeas says Obama built-up political capital during the trip, but it's unclear how he's going to use it. (JTA)

Nathan Jeffay asks if young Israelis are really going to follow Obama towards peace. (The Forward)

The Economist says the trip looks a lot different from the Palestinian point of view. (The Economist)

Aaron David Miller says Obama's trip was nothing new or impressive. (Foreign Policy)

Ben Lynfield thinks the trip shows Obama has given up on peace. (The National Interest)

Maud Newton looks at the passionate pro-Israel stance of some American Evangelical Christians. (New York Times)

Khaled Elgindy says the US needs to take Palestinian, as well as Israeli, politics into consideration. (LA Times)

Linah Alsaafin describes the struggles of a Palestinian family trying to hold onto its landing the occupied West Bank. (Al Monitor)

Ben Gittleson profiles Obama’s new National Security Council coordinator for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

NEWS:
The aftermath of Pres. Obama's Middle East trip raises hopes of a US push on Israeli-Palestinian peace, particularly as Turkey and Israel repair their relations. (New York Times)

Palestinian officials say they've agreed to enter into exploratory talks about new negotiations, but reject another partial, temporary settlement freeze. (Xinhua/AP)

The Israeli government appears more committed to settlements than ever. (CSM)

A new poll suggests most Israeli right-wingers would accept a two state agreement, including a division of Jerusalem. (Ha'aretz)

Palestinian officials say the US is trying to bring Arab states into its renewed peace efforts, and expect a new US initiative in the next few weeks. (AP/Times of Israel)

Palestinian officials say the PA economy still faces a crisis despite the release of $500 million in US aid. (Ma'an)

Israel says it's going to resume transferring Palestinian tax revenues to the PA immediately. (AFP)

PM Erdogan says it will take time to fully restore ties with Israel. (AP)

Israel denies the new understanding with Turkey involves ending the blockade of Gaza. (Reuters/Xinhua)

On Sunday, Israel extended the closure of the only commercial crossing into Gaza. (Xinhua)

The Israeli-Turkish rapprochement appears based on shared concerns about Syria. (CSM)

Josh Rogin describes the circumstances of the phone call that began mending Israeli-Turkish relations. (Foreign Policy)

A Hamas court in Gaza issues a death sentence on a Palestinian accused of collaborating with Israel. (Ma'an)

The Israeli military says it fired into Syria after being attacked across the frontier with the occupied Golan Heights. (Reuters)

A Palestinian citizen of Israel student who heckled Obama explains his outburst. (New York Times)

Palestinian officials complain Christians in the occupied West Bank received less than half of their requested permits from Israel to visit Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. (Ma'an)

Occupation forces dismantle a Palestinian tent protest against the planned E1 settlement expansion. (Ma'an)


COMMENTARY:
Warren Bass says Obama showed PM Netanyahu and Pres. Abbas how to marshal public opinion on peace. (Foreign Policy)

Thomas Friedman says Israelis and Palestinians need to work with Obama to restart peace talks urgently. (New York Times)

Dana Milbank says Obama looked more like a tourist than a peacemaker. (Washington Post)

Ari Shavit says the challenge of ending occupation is closely linked to finding solutions regarding Iran. (Ha'aretz)

The Jerusalem Post says "regional realities" compelled Netanyahu to apologize to Turkey. (Jerusalem Post)

Hassan Barari agrees the Israeli-Turkish rapprochement is pragmatic. (Arab News)

Chemi Shalev says that Israel got "tough love" from Obama. (Ha'aretz)

Adel Safty says Obama clearly won over a lot of skeptical Israelis, but wonders if it will be enough to make much of a difference. (Gulf News)

Bradley Burston says Obama's trip has prompted him to drop his long-standing cynicism. (Ha'aretz)

Raghida Dergham says the second Obama administration is crushing the hopes of the first. (Al Hayat)

Nasouh Al Majali says Obama's visit only proved American priorities are not focused on peace. (Jordan Times)

Arnaud de Borchgrave says the fate of Jordan is critical to US, Turkish, Arab and Israeli policies. (UPI)

NEWS:
Pres. Obama challenges young Israelis and Palestinians to take the lead on peace. (New York Times)

Obama warns Israel that its future as a Jewish and democratic state is at risk because of the occupation. (New York Times/LA Times)

Obama and Pres. Abbas both say the settlement issue is an obstacle to peace, but Obama says it shouldn't block the resumption of negotiations. (Xinhua)

The White House issues transcripts of remarks given by Obama and Abbas after their meeting, and Obama's speech to the people of Israel and the region. (White House)

Obama seems to be repositioning himself as a peace broker, but Palestinians seem skeptical. (LA Times/CSM)

Obama's visit poses tough choices for Palestinians, who appear to be having a mixed reaction to his trip. (AP/The Media Line)

Pres. Peres reportedly tells Obama that PM Netanyahu's coalition will make it difficult for him to take steps towards peace. (Ha'aretz)

Obama meets with a chilly reception in Bethlehem. (Ha'aretz)

Israel is increasingly becoming a walled-off fortress. (NBC)

Hamas complains to Egypt after Israel suspends some aspects of the cease-fire agreement following the firing of two rockets into southern Israel. (Reuters)

Hamas places new restrictions on travel for Palestinians out of Gaza. (Al Monitor)


COMMENTARY:
Hussein Ibish says Obama was trying to use public diplomacy as a corrective to dysfunctional state-level diplomacy on peace. (Foreign Policy)

The New York Times says Obama's speech was a rhetorical success, but now needs to be followed up with serious diplomatic measures, and Daniel Levy agrees. (New York Times/Foreign Policy)

Edward Djerejian says the US needs to lay out a clear diplomatic framework for the resumption of negotiations, including terms of reference. (Jerusalem Post)

Michael Cohen says Obama's rhetoric about peace is at odds with a continued diplomatic impasse. (The Guardian)

Lara Friedman says Obama's speech was a huge step in the right direction. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Ha'aretz says Israelis need to listen carefully to Obama. (Ha'aretz)

Jeffrey Goldberg says Obama's speech would have been booed by some if he had given it at an AIPAC meeting. (The Atlantic)

Yossi Verter says Obama's speech sent a clear message to Israel -- you have a great country but you must end the occupation -- and was a rebuke to Netanyahu. (Ha'aretz)

Alon Pinkas says Obama sees Israel as a strong country that has to make some tough choices instead of always looking for sympathy. (YNet)

Amiel Ungar says Obama's charm won't be enough to convince most Israelis he's right. (Ha'aretz)

Gal Beckerman says Obama's speech was rhetorically historic, and that has to be considered a kind of progress. (The Forward)

Ian Black says Obama's speech displayed emotional and political intelligence. (The Guardian)

Dalia Hatuqa says many Palestinians see Obama's visit as a reminder of broken promises. (CSM)

The Economist says Obama needs to strongly push back against the idea that a two-state solution is no longer possible. (The Economist)

The Jerusalem Post claims most Israelis want peace, but most Palestinians just don't. (Jerusalem Post)

Karl Vick examines the sources of ongoing Palestinian frustration with Obama. (Time)

Ahmad Majdoubeh says Obama has to begin to worry about his legacy in the Middle East. (Jordan Times)

Asmaa al-Ghoul says Mother's Day in Gaza is a time for sorrow, not joy. (Al Monitor)