Daily News Issue Date: 
July 23, 2013
News: 
NEWS:
 
The White House says it still expects Israeli-Palestinian negotiations to resume shortly, but there appear to be unresolved questions. (Times of Israel/Xinhua/Reuters)
 
Palestinians repeat they received written guarantees from the United States about terms for the resumption of talks. (UPI)
 
Palestinians say they expect negotiators from both sides will meet in Washington soon, buthaven't received an official invitation yet. (Xinhua/Ma'an)
 
Israel is coming under pressure to ease restrictions that impede Palestinian economic growth in the occupied territories. (Ha'aretz)
 
Palestinians are still insisting talks be based on the 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, and are still waiting for clarification of terms. (Ha'aretz)
 
Israel reportedly asked the US to free convicted spy Pollard in exchange for its release of Palestinian prisoners. (Ha'aretz)
 
PM Netanyahu is fast tracking legislation that would require any peace agreement be put to a referendum. (AP)
 
The prospect of new negotiations is intensifying divisions between Hamas and Fatah. (AFP)
 
EU foreign policy chief Ashton says all Israeli settlement products will be clearly labeled in EU states by the end of 2013. (Ha'aretz)
 
Two of the largest Dutch retail chains announce they won't sell Israeli settlement productsanymore, a move that alarms settlers. (YNet)
 
Two more Palestinians are killed in fighting in Syria. (Ma'an)
 
An Israeli court orders the eviction of a Palestinian family from its home in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ma'an)
 
A new contingent of international peacekeepers is being dispatched to the Golan Heights. (Xinhua)
 
An Egyptian police officer is shot by gunmen in Sinai. (Ma'an)
 
The security crisis in Sinai has greatly intensified since the ouster of former Egyptian Pres. Morsi. (Al Monitor)
 
Israel welcomes the EU decision to designate Hezbollah's military wing as a terrorist organization following the bus bombing in Bulgaria. (Xinhua/Washington Post/Ha'aretz)
 
Egypt continues to intensify its crackdown on Gaza smuggling tunnels. (The National)
 
Construction in Gaza is at a standstill given Egypt's new security measures. (Al Monitor)
 
Israel opens a "virtual embassy" to GCC states on Twitter. (Ha'aretz)
 
The Israeli clothing chain Fox plans to open a shop in Ramallah. (Xinhua)
 
Israeli archaeologist Yoav Farhi makes a specialty of history through ancient coins. (Christian Science Monitor)
 
 
COMMENTARY:
 
Diana Moukalled says the "Arab Spring" has placed Palestine squarely in its broader regional context. (Asharq Al Awsat)
 
Aaron David Miller says there are five indicators to watch for to track the seriousness of new Israeli-Palestinian talks. (Foreign Policy)
 
Bernard Avishai says Sec. Kerry understands the new talks put both Israeli and Palestinian leaders on the spot. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)
 
Shibley Telhami says Kerry is right to understand that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is still at the heart of Middle East instability. (Foreign Policy)
 
The Jordan Times says the creation of a Palestinian state is inevitable. (Jordan Times)
 
Roger Cohen says both parties desperately need a two-state solution, but cling to other fantasies. (New York Times)
 
Mazal Mualem says few in his own Likud party support Netanyahu in the new negotiations or believe he is serious. (Al Monitor)
 
Ben Sales says proposed new Israeli-Palestinian talks are surrounded by unanswered questions. (JTA)
 
David Makovsky says, despite the difficulties in organizing resumed negotiations, the really difficult work lies ahead. (WINEP)
 
Hassan Barari says skepticism about the new talks is warranted. (Jordan Times) 
 
Akiva Eldar says history suggests an unhappy ending to the new round of talks. (Al Monitor)
 
Jeffrey Goldberg doubts Kerry's mission has much chance of success. (Bloomberg)
 
Yossi Beilin says both Kerry and the parties need a "Plan B," which would be an interim agreement. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)
 
Hillel Halkin says Kerry is wasting his time looking for the traditional two-state solution and what's needed is a more creative arrangement. (The Forward)
 
Bloomberg says US foreign policy should focus on Iran, not the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Bloomberg)
 
Ha'aretz says Netanyahu is wrong in arguing there is a need for a referendum on any peace agreement. (Ha'aretz)
 
Aeyal Gross says Netanyahu's draft referendum legislation is just another way of extending Israeli law into occupied Palestinian territories. (Ha'aretz)
 
Shaul Rosenfeld says the EU's growing opposition to Israel's occupation and settlement products is an unfair "double standard." (YNet)
 
David Newman says Israeli outrage at the EU guidelines reflects unrealistic expectations about international attitudes towards the occupation. (Jerusalem Post)
 
Noga Tarnopolsky looks at the complicated background and context of the EU guidelines.
 
Tzipi Livni and Sami Ramadani present opposing viewpoints on the EU designation of Hezbollah's military wing as a terrorist group. (The Guardian)
 
Benajmin Weinthal asks how effective the new EU sanctions on Hezbollah will be. (Jerusalem Post)
 
Adnan Abu Amer says Morsi's downfall may prompt some in Hamas to seek to renew ties with Iran. (Al Monitor)
 
Jonathan Schanzer says Hamas' difficulties present an opportunity to try to bankrupt the group. (Foreign Policy)
 
Hussein Ibish says Hamas has never been more isolated, desperate or out of options. (Now Media)
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