News:
Pres. Abbas submits applications [1] for Palestine [2] to join 15 international conventions and agencies. [3](Reuters/New York Times/Ha’aretz)
Israeli Ministers warn of punitive action [4] if the PLO pursues efforts to join international agencies [5]. (AFP/Times of Israel)
Sec. Kerry vows [6] to push peace talks forward [7] but cancels his visit [8] to Ramallah. [9](AP/PNN/Ha’aretz/The National)
US officials say Kerry feels he has “gone as far as he can” [10] for Middle East peace. [11](Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)
A Palestinian official says they do not want Kerry’s initiative [12] to fail. (AP)
The Arab League calls for an emergency meeting on April 9th [13] to discuss Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. (AFP)
Veteran Palestinian prisoners support Abbas’ applications. [14] (Ma’an)
Israel publishes tenders for 708 settlement units [15] in occupied East Jerusalem. [16] (Xinhua/Ha’aretz)
Pres. Obama [17] faces stiff opposition [18] to freeing convicted spy Pollard. [19] (Jerusalem Post/Reuters/Times of Israel)
The ex-wife of convicted spy Pollard urges the Israeli government to secure his release. [20] (AP)
Hamas rejects the extension [21] of the peace talks. [22] (Ma’an/Jerusalem Post)
Israeli occupation forces detain 10 Palestinians [23] in overnight West Bank raids. (Ma’an)
Extremist Jewish settlers assault Palestinian worshipers [24] after they stormed the Al-Aqsa mosque. (PNN)
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights [25] says the death toll in the Syrian conflict has exceeded 150,000. [26] (AP/The National)
An Egyptian police officer is killed in a bombing [27] outside Cairo University. [28] (Reuters/AP)
Parliamentary [29] election campaigns start in Iraq. [30] (AP/AFP)
Commentary:
Osama Al Sharif [31] says Abbas will probably accept an extension to the peace talks. (Jordan Times)
Bassem Khoury [32] says the PLO’s unanimous vote to resume efforts at international recognition means roles have changed. (Ha’aretz)
Yossi Mekelberg [33] says Israel has to bear more of the responsibility for the failure of the peace talks. (Al Arabiya)
The New York Times [34] says releasing convicted spy Pollard is a bad idea. (New York Times)
The Washington Post [35] says the US should refrain from releasing Pollard. (Washington Post)
The Los Angeles Times [36] says the US should not try to salvage the peace talks by releasing Pollard. (Los Angeles Times)
The Jewish Daily Forward [37] says pardoning Pollard is “unwise.” (Jewish Daily Forward)
Aaron David MIller [38] says releasing Pollard will not save the peace process. (Time)
Dennis Ross [39] says Pollard’s release seems to be justified. (Time)
Peter Feaver [40] asks if releasing a convicted spy will help the US secure Middle East peace. (Foreign Policy)
Ruth Marcus [41] says the US should free Pollard. (Washington Post)
Anshel Pfeffer [42] says if Pollard is released Israel should not accord him a hero’s welcome. (Ha’aretz)
Matthew Kalman [43] says yesterday’s appeal by Abbas’ to international bodies to recognize the state of Palestine is a “masterstroke.” (Ha’aretz)
Rami Khouri [44] says Israel is facing a backlash in the US. (The Daily Star)
Khaled Diab [45] says ending the Gaza blockade is both the “principled and pragmatic” thing to do. (The National)
Eyal Benvenisti [46]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 [47] says Russia has kept Pres. Assad in power and now it’s stuck with him. (The National)
Manuel Almeida [48] 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 [49] say PM Erdogan should be worried about how corruption allegations will damage Turkey’s standing in the West. (Foreign Policy)
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