News:
News:
PM Netanyahu
tells settlers he is fighting for them, but there are international constraints. (Ha’aretz)
Israeli lawmakers
introduce legislation to annex 90 Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. (Reuters)
Israeli Chief Negotiator Livni
threatens to pull out of the coalition if Israel were to
annex the West Bank. (Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)
The EU
gives €200 million to the PA and UNRWA in order to provide vital basic services to the Palestinian people. (PNN)
South African politician De Klerk says Israel could become an
apartheid state without the creation of a Palestinian state. (JTA)
Libyan warplanes
strike Islamist
militias in Benghazi. (Reuters/The National)
Commentary:
Gal Beckerman analyzes the Pope’s visit to two very different walls. (Jewish Daily Forward)
Haviv Rettig Gur says Pope Francis “triumphed over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” (Times of Israel)
Gershon Baskin says the two-state solution is still viable. (Jerusalem Post)
Matthew Levitt and Neri Zilber say Hamas’ and Fatah’s ability to make progress on security, institutional, and political changes will dictate the future of Palestinian politics. (WINEP)
Ori Nir says Israeli politicians are alienating progressive American Jews. (Ha’aretz)
Michael Young says if Pres. Assad will be re-elected his Iranian and Russian backers will start facing difficulties. (The National)
Joyce Karam says Pres. Obama is shifting to a conflict-management strategy in Syria. (Al Arabiya)
The Daily Star says the turnout of Syria’s election day in Lebanon should send an important message to Lebanese officials. (Daily Star
Faisal Al Yafai says the end of the Israeli occupation in Lebanon empowered the most confrontational elements in both countries. (The National)
Michael Young says Iran is benefitting from chaos in the Arab world. (Daily Star)
Joanne Leedom-Ackerman says Tunisia could be the “first Arab Spring success,” but its not there yet. (Christian Science Monitor)