The Middle East Sampler 3/8/2012: Palestinians Out Of The Limelight

From DG:

1) Why are they sidelined?

You say you lost your faith
But that’s not where it’s at
You had no faith to lose
And you know it 

"Positively 4th Street" by Bob Dylan

The New York Times has a "news" story today, Mideast Din Drowns Out Palestinians, which is gratuitously illustrated with a picture of Israeli soldiers firing their weapons in response to a rock throwing assault. The theme of the report is:

But when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel visited Washington this week, the conversation was dominated by Iran, not peace talks or occupation. In the region, the Arab Spring may have increased popular attention to the Palestinian cause, freeing Egyptians and others to express anti-Israel sentiments. But that has actually made things harder on the Palestine Liberation Organization, which negotiated with Israel. Popular affection has shifted to the Islamists of Hamas. They too have difficulties, however, abandoning their political headquarters in Syria, facing reduced help from Iran and contending with their increased divisions.