On March 31, Israel's 32nd government was sworn in before the Knesset with a vote of 69-45. Under the premiership of right-wing Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu, the government is the largest Israel has seen, with 30 cabinet ministers. The bloated cabinet has already been the source of much criticism, given that one of Netanyahu's declared priorities is the faltering economy.

His other priority, he told the Knesset, is Israel's security, in other words, the Palestinians in particular. Perhaps to set a positive tone for his new government, Netanyahu tried to candy-coat his words. "We will carry out ongoing negotiations for peace with the Palestinians in an attempt to reach a permanent agreement," he said. "We don't want to rule another people, and the agreement will give the Palestinians all the rights to rule themselves, except for those that endanger Israel." There was no mention of an independent Palestinian state or allusion to the two-state solution.

Almost immediately, Israel's new foreign minister, extreme-right wing leader Avigdor Lierberman sprung to action, announcing that the government was not bound by the commitments outlined at the Annapolis summit in November, 2007.

On April 1, on his first day on the job, Lieberman said Annapolis had "no validity" because it was not officially approved by the government. The Annapolis agreement calls for a cessation of settlement building and advocates the two-state solution. The only agreement Israel is bound to according to Lieberman is the roadmap.

The Palestinians were hardly pleased with Lieberman's words. Palestinian Presidential advisor Yasser Abed Rabbo called the Israel Beitinu "an obstacle to peace", adding that the Palestinians were not obligated to work with such an anti-peace figure as Lieberman.

Tzipi Livni, Israel's former foreign minister and head of the now opposition party Kadima, berated Lieberman, who said he erased all of Israel's peace efforts in 20 seconds. On April 2, Lieberman went on to say that Israel would not withdraw from the Syrian Golan Heights. He also said his government would move to disarm Hamas and fight "terrorism".

Apparently, US President Barack Obama, despite welcoming the formation of the new Israel government, is aware of the challenges it presents. On April 2, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in London, Obama met with Saudi King Abdullah and reiterated his support for the Arab peace initiative and the two state solution. US State Department Spokesperson Robert Wood also insisted that his government would push for the establishment of a Palestinian state. "We're going to be working hard to see what we can do to move the process forward. But we're under no illusions. It's not going to be easy."

According to Arab leaders during the 21st session of the Arab summit in Doha on March 31, the initiative, first introduced in 2002, would not be on the table forever. Among other points, the member states reiterated their support for the Palestinian people and called for an end to Israel's intransigence in negotiations and their unilateral measures on the ground. The members also insisted that Israel be given a limited timeframe to implement its signed commitments.

Meanwhile, the Palestinians have suspended their own conciliation talks after an apparent impasse. According to Palestinian and Egyptian sources, the dialogue between factions, primarily Hamas and Fateh, has been postponed until the end of April, after hitting several dead ends on key issues. Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman has reportedly suggested to Hamas and Fateh to form a "transitional government" until elections are held, which would be acceptable to the international community, meaning that its members adhere to previously signed agreements.

Egypt also announced on March 31 that negotiations over a prisoner swap between Hamas and Israel would be suspended until the new government under Netanyahu takes a clear stance on the matter.

Until the issue of a new Palestinian government is resolved, the resigned government of Salam Fayyad is carrying out business as usual. On April 1, Prime Minister Fayyad said his cabinet would continue working despite coming to the end of its term. The premier said he was awaiting a decision from President Mahmoud Abbas over the government, adding that the current government would continue with its duties so as to avoid a "constitutional vacuum."

Palestinians everywhere commemorated Land Day on March 30th, marking the 33rd anniversary of the protests against land confiscation and deaths of six Palestinians inside the Green Line at the hands of Israel's military forces. Marches and protests were held throughout the Palestinian territories and inside Israel and trees were planted on land in Jerusalem being threatened with confiscation.

Unfortunately, Jerusalem is under the constant threat of Israeli domination at several levels. On April 2, 35 Jewish settlers broke into a home in the Sa'adiyeh neighborhood of the Old City, taking over the house which belongs to the Jaber family. The raid, which took place at two in the morning, was conducted under the protection of the Israeli police. Neighbors clashed with settlers and authorities but could not prevent the settlers from entering the home. The Jaber family says the settlers' claim of ownership is false and has been proven thus in courts.

On the same day, Hebron settlers took over four Palestinian shops in Hebron's old city near the market already closed off by military orders for the past 15 years.

On April 1, the Israeli district and magistrate court of Jerusalem approved the eviction of the Ghawi and Hanoun families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of the city. The move comes months after the eviction of the Kurd family from their home by Jewish settlers. Twenty-seven more homes are also threatened with eviction in Sheikh Jarrah by settler claims of ownership.

In the West Bank, a Palestinian is said to have entered the orthodox settlement of Beit Ayin, located between Jerusalem and Hebron on April 2, killing one teenage boy and injuring another with an axe. Israeli forces raided and have clamped a curfew on the nearby village of Safa since then, taking over three homes and making several arrests in search of the perpetrator, who managed to escape.

Also in the West Bank, six Palestinians were injured during the weekly anti-wall protests in Nilin and Bilin, including two children and a Reuters' journalist.

In Gaza, two Palestinians were killed on April 4 near the Israel-Gaza border. Initial reports from the Israeli army claim the two were trying to plant explosives when they were shot by the army.

In the corridors of the United Nations, concerned voices have been raised against Israel's ongoing siege on the Gaza Strip. On April 3, John Ging, head of the UN Relief and Works Agency in Gaza, said the amount of goods Israel allows into the Strip was "wholly and totally inadequate." Ging, who was very vocal during the 22-day Israeli offensive on Gaza, called on Israel to ease restrictions on incoming goods, saying they were "devastating to the people."

The United Nations has appointed Richard Goldstone, a South African Jew, to the committee charged with probing Israel's war crimes during the Gaza invasion. The committee, set up upon a January decision by the Human Rights Council, has an additional four members. "It is in the interest of all Palestinians and Israelis that the allegations of war crimes and serious human rights violations related to the recent conflict on all sides be investigated," Goldstone said in a statement.