News:
Sec. Kerry will meet [1] with Pres. Abbas on Thursday to discuss peace talks [2]. (New York Times)
Field Marshall Sisi [3] says there is “real opportunity” for peace [4] with Israel if it accepts the Arab Peace Initiative. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
FM al-Maliki urges [5] world leaders [6] to declare “price tag” [7] perpetrators terrorists [8]. (Ma’an/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Reuters)
PM Netanyahu says, if the Fatah-Hamas unity deal is implemented [9], he will hold Abbas responsible for every rocket fired from Gaza to Israel. (Jerusalem Post)
A new PA government [10] will be reportedly announced before the end of May. (Jerusalem Post)
Former PM [11] Olmert [12] sentenced to six [13] years [14] for [15] corruption [16]. (Reuters/New York Times/AFP/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post/The National)
Turkish FM [17] Davotuglu calls Jerusalem “Palestinian land.” [18] (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
DM Ya’alon [19] will not increase the number of family visits to Palestinians in Israeli prisons. (Ha’aretz)
The PA urges FIFA [20] to fine Israel. (Ynet)
Israeli authorities approve 26 projects [21] in Gaza. (Ma’an)
Two Palestinian citizens of Israel will take part in “Arab Idol” [22] for the first time. (Ynet)
France is preparing a UN resolution [23] that seeks to refer parties to the Syrian conflict to the ICC. . (Reuters)
Aid workers are questioning the effectiveness of the UN Syria aid [24]. (Reuters)
Human Rights Watch [25] says the Syrian army yet again used chemical weapons in April. (AP)
IMF urges more aid [26] to Jordan to cope with the Syrian refugee crisis. (Xinhua)
Jordan’s ambassador [27] to Libya, who was abducted last month [28], is freed [29]. (AP/The National/Jordan Times)
Sisi [30] makes a plea to Egyptian youth [31]. (AP/The National)
KRG Pres. Barzani [32] says Kurds could “opt out” of next Iraqi government. (Reuters)
NSA Rice says [33] there will be no nuclear deal with Iran unless it agrees to “verifiable action.” (Reuters)
Saudi FM al-Faisal invites [34] his Iranian counterpart to Riyadh for negotiations. (Reuters)
Commentary:
Jimmy Carter [35] says a united Palestinian government may provide new opportunities for peace. (Washington Post)
The Daily Star [36] says, although Palestinians should commemorate their history, they should focus on the new “Nakbas” that are on the horizon. (Daily Star)
Geoffrey Aronson [37] says Abbas reportedly agreed to allow 80% of settlers to remain in settlements annexed to Israel. (Al-Monitor)
Akiva Eldar interviews former ICC prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo [38]. (Al-Monitor)
Yehezkel Dror [39] says “obsolete paradigms” doomed Kerry’s initiative. (Ha’aretz)
J.J. Goldberg says there is a new generation of IDF chiefs that can be considered “hardline doves.” (Jewish Daily Forward)
Ha’aretz [40] says Palestinian citizens of Israel need an exemption from discrimination. (Ha’aretz)
Rachel Lerner [41] says a dynamic conversation on Israel is useful for the Jewish American community. (JTA)
Faisal Al Yafai [42] says Syria’s “dirty secret” is that Pres. Assad would still win the presidential election even if it were free and fair. (The National)
Hassan Hassan and Michael Weiss [43] say there is a potential rift between Saudi Arabia and the US despite the Kingdom’s “adjusted Middle East strategy.” (The American Interest)
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed [44] says the Muslim Brotherhood is angered by Sisi’s piousness. (Al Arabiya)
H.A. Hellyer, [45] says despite a “bleak” Arab Spring, youth should not give up. (Al Arabiya)
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