YDA Jewish Caucus

(Haaretz) Nobody likes to talk about it. In fact, there is nothing enemies hate more – than to be told that they are alike. But just this once …
Since it's Pesach on our side, it might be the right time to bring up the central obsession of both Jewish tradition and Palestinian culture: exile, and the hope for return.

Read more at http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/707218.html

(Haaretz) The U.S. on Monday called on countries seeking to promote Middle East peace to note the praise offered by the Hamas-led Palestinian government for the suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.

Nine people were killed and dozens were wounded when a teenaged terrorist from Islamic Jihad blew himself up outside a falafel restaurant in the Neve Sha'anan area of the city.

Read more at http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/706793.html

(JSPAN) If, like me, what you’ve wished for is that some day an Israeli government will withdraw from most of the West Bank, work to eliminate poverty and narrow the growing gap between rich and poor, and end the special preferences granted Orthodoxy, the government that emerges from the March 28 election could be your dream come true.

Read more at http://www.jspan.org/?p=150

(JSPAN) AIPAC is the face and voice of American Jewry on Middle East issues. At least that is what most legislators and those in the executive branch of government believe. The dilemma is that AIPAC is: (1) influential, (2) is perceived to be very influential, which adds to its actual influence (3) the target of those who would seek to undermine pro-Israel lobbying in America in order to change America’s foreign policy regarding the Middle East, and, unfortunately, (4) does not represent the viewpoint of most American Jews. The problem is serious and does not have an easy solution.

Read more at http://www.jspan.org/?p=151

(Jerusalem Post) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called Ehud Olmert on Thursday to congratulate him on his victory in the Israeli elections, the Israeli prime minister's office said.

Read more at http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1143498770481

(Reuters) The Palestinian militant group Hamas will move one step closer to office on Monday when prime minister-designate Ismail Haniyeh presents his cabinet and government agenda to parliament for approval.

Read more at http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?

(LA Times) Lounging in the doorway of a dress shop just down the street from the towering Basilica of the Annunciation, Majdoline Mimo shook her curly head and clucked her tongue at the mention of Israel’s elections Tuesday.

“I’ll cast a blank ballot,” the young Israeli Arab woman said, as her girlfriends nodded in agreement. “I don’t see any party that really represents my goals.”

Read more at http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/

(Forward) Whatever else he might have accomplished in this week’s dramatic raid on a Jericho prison, Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert certainly put his personal stamp on Israel’s political agenda. If any Israelis were still wondering about Olmert’s leadership skills and his mastery of things military, they’ll now have the images from Jericho to carry with them when they enter the polling booth in less than two weeks.

Read more at http://www.forward.com/articles/7501

(Reuters) For many Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, Israel’s March 28 election is a do-or-die battle for their future.

In what has become the central issue of the campaign, they are fighting a plan by interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the expected winner of the poll, to remove isolated settlements as part of moves to impose Israel’s final borders by 2010.

Read more at http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L16781981.htm