News:

Christian leaders in Jerusalem protest what they say is an unprecedented wave of grave vandalismby Jewish extremists. (AP)

Israel reportedly refuses US and Palestinian requests to bring forward the next round of prisoner releases. (Xinhua/Ma'an/Ha'aretz)

US Middle East peace envoy Indyk is expanding his team of experts and advisers. (Al Monitor)

Israeli Finance Minister Lapid says Israel doesn't need Palestinian recognition it is a Jewish state. (Ha'aretz)

A Palestinian is injured by Israeli gunfire at a disturbance at a West Bank checkpoint. (Xinhua)

The PFLP urges Pres. Abbas to stop negotiations with Israel. (Xinhua)

Some Fatah officials are reportedly urging Abbas to designate jailed leader Marwan Barghouti his successor. (Times of Israel)

PLO Secretary-General Abed Rabbo reportedly calls PM Netanyahu "Israel's number one extremist." (Times of Israel)

MKs who violated Israeli law to meet Abbas in "Area A" say they did it in pursuit of peace. (The Media Line)

Hamas is under increasing pressure due to Egypt's intensifying blockade. (BBC)

Hamas chief Mashaal will meet PM Erdogan in Ankara. (Ma'an)

The PA and Hamas are quarreling over who from the occupied territories will make the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. (Los Angeles Times)

Hamas is holding the passports of 60 would-be pilgrims in Gaza. (Ma'an)

The US is rumored to be preparing to reduce aid to Egypt, but the White House strongly denies this. (New York Times/AP/USA Today)

Gunmen kill two Egyptian soldiers in canal cities. (Xinhua)

Libya says relations with the US won't be harmed by a recent raid in which a top Al Qaeda operative was captured. (AP)

Iran is reportedly offering a deal to reduce nuclear activity in exchange for sanctions relief. (Jerusalem Post)

An Israeli drone crashes into the Mediterranean. (Xinhua)

Israeli pilots have completed a workshop to train them to survive in enemy territory. (Xinhua)

Israeli women of the Machsom Watch group are united in opposing the occupation. (Deutsche Welle)


Commentary:

Hussein Shobokshi says American inaction in the Middle East has presented Russia with new opportunities. (Asharq Al Awsat)

The National says the new World Bank report on how much the occupation is costing Palestinians should help change more minds. (The National)

Hugh Naylor looks at how Bethlehem's economy is being strangled by the occupation. (The National)

Hazem Balousha says a potential US-Iran deal is worrying Islamic Jihad in Gaza. (Al Monitor)

Orit Perlov says both Hamas and Hezbollah must either reform or collapse. (INSS)

Marc Grey says two pending bills in the Knesset would muzzle Israel's minorities. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Bradley Burston says Netanyahu provides endless fodder for the anti-Israel left. (Ha'aretz)

Raif Zreik says the Oslo agreements changed everything for Israel's Palestinian citizens. (Ha'aretz)

The late Rabbi Yosef's legal advisor says he would have given up land for peace, including holy places in Jerusalem. (Al Monitor)

The CSM says one way to reduce tensions in Egypt is to stop using competing fatwas. (Christian Science Monitor)

Neta Alexander looks at the Palestinian movie "Omar" and the Israeli movie "Bethlehem." (Ha'aretz)

Nechama Duek underscores the importance of Israeli-Turkish relations. (YNet)

Dan Diker says a silent majority of Arabs agrees with Netanyahu's approach towards Iran. (Jerusalem Post)

The Jerusalem Post complains about various aspects of Abbas' meeting with Israeli MKs. (Jerusalem Post)

Hazem Saghieh says compromise in Tunisia might still save both the "Arab Spring" and the Muslim Brotherhood. (Al Hayat)

Al-Hayat interviews Egyptian FM Fahmy, who says relations with the US are "troubled." (Al Monitor)

Ehud Yaari looks at the durability of the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty. (WINEP)