Building a Better Post-Oslo Era, Carnegie Endowment/Nathan Brown
There is little argument among Palestinians that they are in the midst of a political turning point. It is clear to all what they are turning away from: the Oslo era in which they were governed by a series of makeshift structures that many vainly hoped would end the Israeli occupation and deliver a Palestinian state.
Israeli elections
Conflicting polls place Likud, Zionist Camp in lead, The Times of Israel
Two polls released on Friday were at odds over whether the Likud party or the Zionist Camp list was projected to receive the most seats in the upcoming elections, with a Yedioth Ahronoth poll giving the Labor-Hatnua joint list one mandate more than the ruling party, while a Maariv survey boasted a four-seat advantage for Likud.
Zionist Camp supports bid to disqualify Arab MK Haneen Zoabi, Ha'aretz
The Zionist Camp decided on Thursday to support a petition to disqualify MK Haneen Zoabi (Balad) from serving in the next Knesset. Although the petition was not filed by anyone associated with the Zionist Camp, a source within the party stated that the petition will receive party support once it gets to the Central Elections Committee.
'A Palestinian state isn't the solution, but it's a step in the right direction': Meet MK Jamal Zahalka, +972 Magazine
Chairman of the Balad party says that unification of Israel’s Arab parties is nothing short of historic — both in Israel and the Arab world: ‘There has never been unity between the communists, nationalists and Islamists.’ In an interview, Zahalka talks about his party’s appeal to Jewish voters, why the Joint List won’t join an Israeli government and what compromises he is willing to make to end the occupation.
Zionist Camp, leftist Meretz battle over base, Al-Monitor
“Meretz Chairwoman Zehava Gal-On is campaigning to preserve her party’s constituency, which is turning toward the Zionist Camp list in hopes of an electoral upset,” writes Mazal Mualem.
Occupation/Human Rights
No Voice: Hopes for Israeli elections from those who cannot vote, +972 Magazine
Over 200,000 people with no legal status live in Israel today. There are another 4 million in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. All of these people are directly affected by Israeli elections but they have not right to vote. This is what they have to say — about the Right and the Left, the ‘demographic threat,’ peace, war, democracy and dictatorship.
Netanyahu's visit to Congress
Pelosi plans to attend Netanyahu address reluctantly, The Jerusalem Post
3 House Democrats to Skip Netanyahu Speech, ABC News
Reps. John Lewis of Georgia, G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina and Earl Blumenauer of Oregon said they won’t attend Netanyahu’s March 3 speech.
Gaza
Israel’s looming gas empire requires a final solution in Gaza, Middle East Eye
“The fundamental obstacle to the ‘peace package’ and Israel’s interests in becoming a regional energy hegemony is the continued existence of Hamas in Gaza,” Nafeez Ahmed writes.