Date

News:

Palestinian-Israeli negotiations continue in deep secrecy. (New York Times)

The Arab League says it is "not optimistic" about the peace talks. (AP/Times of Israel)

Few details emerged from the recent seven-hour meeting between Sec. Kerry and PM Netanyahu. (Ha'aretz)

Pres. Abbas calls on international corporations to boycott Israeli settlements. (Ma'an/Jerusalem Post)

Palestinian officials say a new economic plan has been approved and will soon be implemented. (Xinhua)

Israel's Finance Minister Lapid says the conflict with Palestinians is mostly psychological. (Jerusalem Post)

Iran has reportedly delayed a visit to Tehran by Hamas leader Mishaal. (Times of Israel)

A former Israeli military intelligence chief says US could soon accept an Israeli strike on Iranian targets. (Times of Israel)

US Middle East policy is coming under increasing criticism from traditional allies, particularly Saudi Arabia and Israel. (New York Times)

A senior Israeli official says the gap between his country and the US on Iran is "small." (Xinhua)

Saudis are considering how far to push the United States on changing its Middle East policies. (AP)

Militant settlers attack Palestinian farmers and vehicles near Nablus. (Ma'an)

Israeli occupation forces arrest 12 Palestinians in the West Bank. (PNN)

Amnesty International urges Israel to release a Palestinian human rights lawyer. (Amnesty International/Ma'an)

Palestinians complain about noxious fumes from charcoal factories. (Ha'aretz)

Israel will hand over 36 bodies of Palestinians to the PA. (YNet)

Economic cooperation between Israel and Canada is drawing. (The Media Line)

Another Egyptian policeman is killed in Sinai. (AP)

Four are killed in Sunni-Alawite clashes in Tripoli in northern Lebanon. (Reuters)

14 people are killed in and around Baghdad in another spate of attacks. (AP)

Egypt is considering draft legislation that would strongly restrict protests. (Washington Post)

Palestinians in Gaza express themselves through graffiti art. (Al Monitor)

Palestinian LGBT activist talks about life under occupation at Cornell University. (Cornell Daily Sun)


Commentary:

Hazem Saghieh says the Muslim Brotherhood has no political model or program whatsoever. (Al Hayat)

Semih Idiz says Turkey is on the defensive regarding its ties to Hamas. (Al Monitor)

Zack Gold says Egypt and Israel finally see eye to eye on Gaza smuggling tunnels and must coordinate. (The Daily Star)

S. Daniel Abraham says if Netanyahu is serious about peace, it's time to show the courage of his convictions. (Ha'aretz)

Gershon Baskin asks why it's so difficult for Palestinians to accept Israel is a Jewish state. (Jerusalem Post)

Robert Satloff says Israel's Holocaust memorial needs to recognize unsung Arab heroes that saved Jews from the Nazis. (Foreign Policy)

Chemi Shalev condemns Israel's policies in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ha'aretz)

Eitan Haber says the peace treaty with Jordan is invaluable for Israel. (YNet)

Douglas Bloomfield says Netanyahu's biggest fear is the US is being lulled into a false sense of security by Iran. (Jerusalem Post)

Majid Rafizadeh says as talks continue, Iran is inching closer to full nuclear capability. (The National)

David Ignatius says nothing serious is being done to repair US-Saudi relations. (Washington Post)

Ariel Ben Solomon says Saudi Arabia is standing up for all US allies in the region. (Jerusalem Post)

Hassan Haidar says no Middle Eastern allies trust the United States anymore. (Al Hayat)

Frank Gardner asks how serious the dispute between the US and Saudi Arabia really is. (BBC)

Rami Khouri says Saudi Arabia is crucial for the success of Syrian peace talks. (New York Times)

Azzaman interviews former Egyptian FM Amr Moussa on the new constitution-drafting process he is leading. (Al Monitor)
 


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