“The rapturous reception for the Republican frontrunner revealed the gap between AIPAC and the majority of American Jews,” writes FMEP’s Mitchell Plitnick.

“At the end of the conference, AIPAC’s “delegates” left for home reassured: that Israel’s hardline government could do no wrong; that Israel would continue to be supported and defended against any and all pressures to change its policy toward the Palestinians; and that every politician could be forced to bend before their pressure and made to say exactly what they want to hear,” writes James Zogby.

Obama has an opportunity to create a historic change of direction and to move the peace process beyond the highest hurdle of all – the first one. Refraining from vetoing a resolution on the subject in the UN Security Council will enable the process to move in a different track: for negotiations to take place between two states, Israel and Palestine, with all of the protections that the UN accords its members.

Imad Abu Shamsiyyeh and his family are terrified of retribution for a video taken on Friday by Imad, a volunteer member of Israeli rights group B’Tselem. The video depicts an Israeli soldier shooting and killing a motionless, wounded Palestinian in the southern occupied West Bank district of Hebron after a stabbing attack on another Israeli soldier.

“When Israeli leaders keep pushing the message that killing Palestinian attackers is a laudable act, is it any wonder that the shooters become our national heroes?” asks Natasha Roth.

“Only one-fifth of Israelis say the prime minister, defense minister, and the IDF chief of staff did the right thing when they condemned the killing. Fully 68 percent believe otherwise,” writes Dahlia Scheindlin.

“As it plans for the future, Israel’s security and political establishment is committed to establishing a foundation for continuing rule that preserves its key security achievements while improving upon what Israelis see as its shortcomings,” writes Geoffrey Aronson.

“Netanyahu is trying to paint Israel as a terror-stricken victim, while at the same time painting his country as one that has successfully defeated terrorism. No matter how he spins it, he cannot hide the fact that Israel is also an occupying power,” writes Samah Salaime.