News:

Pres. Abbas will meet with Sec. Kerry in London on Tuesday. (Xinhua)

Israeli ministers approve a law to block the release of Palestinian prisoners. (Reuters/Xinhua/Ha’aretz/The Media Line)

Latin Patriarch Twal says “hate crimes” threaten Pope Francis’ visit to the Holy Land. (AP/AFP/Ha’aretz)

Israel accuses Special Envoy Indyk of doing nothing to help the Middle East peace talks. (Reuters)

The UN accepts Palestine as a signatory to the UN Convention Against Corruption. (Ma’an)

Israeli Minister Steinitz says “someone” wants to sabotage US-Israeli relations. (Ha’aretz/JTA)

Finance Minister Lapid defends his decision to stay in government despite impasse in peace talks. (Jerusalem Post)

Israeli soldiers open fire on Palestinian farmers in Gaza. (PNN/Times of Israel)

Israeli forces and Palestinian students clash at Al-Quds university. (Ma’an)

Israeli occupation forces detain 16 in West Bank raids. (Ma’an)

Israeli author Amos Oz say Jewish “price tag” extremists are “Hebrew neo-Nazis.” (Ynet)

PM Netanyahu says Iran’s nuclear program is a “clear and present danger.” (Reuters)

Syria officially opens its presidential campaign. (AP/Xinhua/Times of Israel)

Thousands of Syrians return to Homs after rebels leave. (AP/The National)

ISIS criticizes al-Qaeda and says it refuses to leave Syria. (AFP)

Field Marshall Sisi promises to make improvements in people’s living conditions in Egypt within two years, if elected. (AP/The National)

US Defense Secretary Hagel will meet with GCC Ministers in Saudi Arabia. (The National)

Militants kill 20 soldiers in northern Iraq. (Reuters/AP)

US officers kill two armed civilians in Yemen. (New York Times)

Commentary:

Aaron David Miller asks why Kerry’s initiative failed. (Los Angeles Times)

Rami Khouri asks why Abbas is waiting to try to join the ICC. (Daily Star)

Elliott Abrams says the Obama administration has made settlements a new obstacle to peace talks. (The Weekly Standard)

Bruce Stokes says Americans do not care about peace in the Middle East. (Foreign Policy)

Nicholas Pelham asks where is it really better to be a Christian in Israel or in the occupied territories. (Ha’aretz)

Moshe Arens says Jewish “price tag” extremists want to prevent Palestinian citizens of Israel from integrating in Israeli society. (Ha’aretz)

Amoz Oz explains why he thinks Jewish “price tag” extremists are “Hebrew neo-Nazis.” (Ynet)

Colin Shindler says Netanyahu’s “Jewish state” demand is a “public relations stunt.” (New York Times)

Seth Lipsky asks if the Jewish American community should speak with one voice on Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Hussein Ibish says more work remains to be done to repair US-Egypt relations. (The National)

Max Reibman says Egypt’s dependence on the GCC will be a challenge for any incoming Egyptian government. (Daily Star)

The Daily Star says the international community must work with Lebanon to manage the refugee crisis. (Daily Star)

Michel Kilo says the people of Homs never hesitated to “shoulder the burden” of the Syrian revolution. (Asharq al-Awsat)

The Jordan Times says the Arab world should defend media freedom. (Jordan Times)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says the Anbar province in Iraq is now suffering from al-Qaeda criminals, rebels and tribes allied with them. (Al Arabiya)