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Fatah extends its party congress for at least another day, as rival factions remain divided over the issue of a new voting process. While several articles address the challenges facing Fatah's efforts to conciliate the 'old guard' of the party with the reform camp. The Christian Science Monitor looks at how control over East Jerusalem has evolved over time. A former Israeli military commander tells the BBC that Palestinian youths are routinely ill-treated by the IDF while in custody. Special Mideast Envoy George Mitchell reportedly asks the Israeli leadership for commitment to a one year freeze on settlement construction. Controversy continues over the recent evictions of Palestinian families in East Jerusalem. Columnists in Israeli and Arab newspapers exchange accusations that the Arab states and Israel respectively are not willing to take steps needed for movement on Middle East peace.
As Fatah convenes its first general congress in 20 years, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas calls for nonviolent resistance and continued commitment to peace negotiations. Thomas Friedman praises the new approach of Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. Mounting concern over the Israeli eviction of Palestinians from their homes in East Jerusalem leads the US to summon the Israeli ambassador to receive an official US government objection. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu considers cutting off foreign financial support for Israeli human rights organizations. The Palestinian Authority announces that it will stop sending funds to the Gaza Strip. Settlers in the West Bank claim that an effective settlement freeze has been in place since the beginning of Netanyahu’s government and that no actual construction has been taking place.
As the Fatah party holds its first general congress in 20 years, several articles speculate on the possible consequences. Meanwhile, Fatah members not permitted to leave Gaza by Hamas are relegated to watching the congress on television. The Christian Science Monitor assesses the possibility of resignation by Israel's controversial Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. An op-ed in The Guardian discusses how the recent evictions in Jerusalem have added to international opposition to Israeli settlement activity. In Haaretz, Akiva Eldar argues that the recent growth of the Palestinian economy in the West Bank is despite Israel's actions, not because of them. The Obama administration is reportedly anticipating that it may be able to formally re-launch peace negotiations in the coming weeks.
The US, UN and others condemn Israel’s eviction of nine Palestinian families from their homes in East Jerusalem. The Obama administration plans a public relations campaign in Israel and Arab countries to rally support for the peace process. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is facing indictment on bribery and fraud charges. As Israel eases restrictions on movement and trade in the West Bank, signs of economic growth in the area are beginning to emerge. Israeli human rights groups protest against pressure from the Netanyahu government. The Speaker of the Knesset acknowledges that the establishment of the Israeli state was “a real trauma for the Palestinians.”
The New York Times, LA Times, the Economist, and Patrick Seale in the Gulf News all praise President Obama’s Middle East peace initiative and encourage him to continue to pursue an Israeli settlement freeze. The Wall Street Journal outlines Hamas’ present policies. As Israeli human rights groups challenge settlement activity in courts and seek an end to US federal tax exemptions for donations to settlements, the Israeli government considers banning foreign donations to “subversive” NGOs. Ha’aretz profiles the role of White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, and reports on the first Palestinian “planned city” in the West Bank. Asharq Al-Awsat reports on Arab foreign ministers’ conditions for normalization steps in response to a potential Israeli settlement freeze, while Zuheir Kseibati in Al-Hayat warns against such steps.
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