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)

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