ATFP News Roundup May 7, 2014 | The American Task Force on Palestine

Daily News Issue Date:

May 7, 2014

News:

News:

Pres. Peres says a 2011 peace agreement he had secretly negotiated with Pres. Abbas was blocked by PM Netanyahu. (AFP/Ha’aretz/JTA)

An aide to Abbas, Mohammad Al-Madani, confirms Peres account of a peace deal three years ago. (Times of Israel)

Israel’s National Security Advisor Cohen urges the US and the EU to blame Palestinians for the failure of the peace talks. (Ha’aretz)

NSA Rice is holding meetings in Israel. (AP/Reuters/AFP/Ynet/Jerusalem Post/JTA)

Israel is reportedly spying on the US at an “alarming level.” (AFP/Ha’aretz)

Israel rejects reports of its “extensive espionage” on the US. (Xinhua)

US Congress prepares hearings to reconsider aid to the PA after the agreement between Fatah and Hamas. (Jerusalem Post)

Israel transfers Palestinian tax revenues to the PA. (Reuters)

FM Lieberman criticizes Palestinian citizens of Israel who joined the “Nakba” protests. (AFP)

The EU demands greater transparency from Palestinians if they expect aid money to continue. (JTA)

The EU urges Israel to halt home demolitions in Area C. (Ma’an)

Israeli Chief Negotiator Livni holds an emergency meeting on how to stop “price tag” attacks. (Jerusalem Post)

Jewish “price tag” extremists vandalize the window of a Druze business in Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Egyptian authorities close the Rafah crossing. (PNN)

The conflict between Palestinians and settlers stalls a solution to the sewage crisis in the occupied West Bank (AP)

The PA is “pressuring” Lebanon to allow entry of Palestinian refugees fleeing Syria. (Ma’an)

Syrian rebels begin evacuating the city of Homs. (AP/Reuters/New York Times/Xinhua)

Pres. Obama will meet with Syrian opposition leader Jarba. (AP)

Field Marshall Sisi says US tried to delay former Pres. Morsi’s ouster. (New York TImes)

Security authorities arrest 62 militants for allegedly having ties to Syrian and Yemeni terrorists in Saudi Arabia. (AP)

Commentary:

Munib al Masri says the main Palestinian players all seek a historic agreement with Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Yossi Mekelberg says its Israel’s national interest and moral obligation to make peace with the Palestinians. (Al Arabiya)

Emily Hauser says the “iNakba” app is a brilliant idea. (Jewish Daily Forward)

Zvi Bar’el says Israel is maintaining an “ugly occupation,” not “apartheid” in the Palestinian territories. (Ha’aretz)

Ron Kronish says Israelis need to demand “quick action” from their government to fight “price tag” attacks. (Times of Israel)

Marwan Muasher explains how Arabs can defeat sectarianism. (New York Times)

Michael Young says the Obama administration’s behavior in the Middle East is paradoxical. (The National)

Osama Al Sharif says although Sisi will likely win the upcoming presidential election, it will not be an easy victory. (Jordan Times)

Mshari Al-Zaydi asks if the Arab world is currently living through the era of the second “fitna.” (Asharq al-Awsat)

Hassan Hassan says Syria’s rebels may be transforming and gaining ground. (The National)

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