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April 17, 2012 | | EXCLUSIVE In a letter obtained exclusively by The Daily Beast, Palestine’s president threatens legal action against Israel if Netanyahu doesn’t agree with demands, including a freeze on settlement expansion in the West Bank and the acceptance of the 1967 borders, plus land swaps as a basis for negotiations between the two sides. Dan Ephron reports. NOPE Just days after banning three top contenders from the presidential race, the military junta ruling Egypt rejecting those candidates’ appeals to be allowed to participate in the country’s upcoming election. The shocking move tossed out the Muslim Brotherhood’s top candidate, as well as the former spy chief of ousted president Hosni Mubarak, and shattered voters’ hopes for a democratic election. Supporters of the candidates gathered outside the military commission’s headquarters to protest Tuesday. ASSAULT So much for the ceasefire. Despite the U.N. observer mission now in the country, the Syrian regime widened shelling to another town, according to activists. After a brief lull when the ceasefire went into effect, the Syrian Army has been increasing attacks. At least 26 people were reportedly killed on Monday. French foreign minister Alain Juppé said on Tuesday that the tough international sanctions imposed on Damascus have cut its financial resources in half—and Juppé said the "ruling clan" of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have been damaged. CRACKDOWN President Obama on Tuesday announced a proposed crackdown on oil companies manipulating the oil markets to raise gas prices—a move that Republicans immediately denounced as being political. Obama also called for more funding for government oversight. Under Obama’s proposal, civil penalties for firms involved in market manipulation would rise to $10 million from $1 million and would be assessed for each day rather than on a per-violation basis. Maximum criminal penalties would rise to $10 million as well. Republicans said the White House’s proposal would only restrict oil production. ARREST British authorities arrested Abu Qatada, who allegedly raised money for terrorist groups and inspired a 9/11 hijacker. The arrest was the latest in a legal saga involving the U.K., the European Union, and Jordan, Qatada’s home country. Qatada was imprisoned in Britain for six years before his release in February; the European Court of Human Rights had blocked his deportation to Jordan on the grounds that he could be tried with evidence obtained through torture. The U.K. now says it will resume its efforts to deport him. | | 
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