May 3, 2013 | The American Task Force on Palestine

Daily News Issue Date:

May 3, 2013

News:

NEWS:

Israel's chief negotiator Livni meets Sec. Kerry in Washington. (Ha'aretz)

Palestinian officials say they expect the United States to pressure Pres. Abbas to resume talks with Israel. (Xinhua)

Fatah officials say it's too early to speak concretely about land swaps with Israel. (Ma'an)

Hamas rejects the recent Arab League statement endorsing land swaps between Israel and the Palestinians. (Xinhua)

China offers to broker a meeting between Abbas and PM Netanyahu. (JTA)

Sec. Hagel reportedly suggests to Israeli officials that a military option against Iran might be considered after that country's presidential election. (Ha'aretz)

The US has reportedly upgraded a bunker buster bomb within eye to action in Iran. (Jerusalem Post)

Five Palestinian refugees are injured in an explosion in Lebanon. (Xinhua)

Dozens of Palestinian journalists protest Israeli restrictions in the occupied West Bank. (PNN)

The relatives of prisoners criticize a PA decision to stop paying Israeli court imposed fines. (Ma'an)

The father of a Palestinian man accused of stabbing an Israeli settler says he's proud of his son. (Jerusalem Post)

The PA is working to include the word Palestine in Internet lists and domains. (Xinhua)

Netanyahu is visiting China with an emphasis on economic ties. (AP)

A disabled baby from Gaza is living in an Israeli hospital. (AP)

An alleged beating by PA police may have cost a man his ability to speak. (Al Monitor)

A new Church of Scotland report on Israel's biblical claims angers many. (Ha'aretz)

The National profiles a Palestinian singer from Gaza from the Arab Idol TV show. (The National)

Al Quds University in occupied East Jerusalem is looking for official recognition from Israel's educational authorities. (Al Monitor)

A paralyzed photographer's story highlights the challenges facing disabled Palestinians. (Al Monitor)

COMMENTARY:

The New York Times says the recent Arab League statement on land swaps is a welcome move. (New York Times)

The Jordan Times says Israel needs to respond to the overture. (Jordan Times)

Akiva Eldar says Netanyahu's ideology will prevent him from responding positively to the Arab League statement. (Al Monitor)

Brent Sasley says, despite conventional wisdom, this is an opportune time for new peace talks. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Shlomi Eldar looks at Qatar's bewildering multiple policies, including on Israeli-Palestinian peace. (Al Monitor)

Yaakov Lappin says Iran and Egypt are locked in a power struggle over influence in Gaza. (Jerusalem Post)

Anshel Pfeffer says the BDS campaign is doing harm to Israel by strengthening the settler movement. (Ha'aretz)

The Economist says Jewish settlements are driving away Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. (The Economist)

Hillel Halkin says Israel was right not to return the occupied Golan Heights to Syria, given the chaos in that country now. (The Forward)

Mohammed Suliman says most Palestinian factions in Gaza want to maintain the cease-fire with Israel in spite of a recent assassination. (Al Monitor)

Alan Dershowitz says it's disgraceful that some Jews would boo efforts to make peace with Palestinians. (Jerusalem Post)

Adam Simpson says narratives, not money, determine the influence of the pro-Israel lobby in the United States. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

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