News:

Sec. Kerry will meet with Pres. Abbas on Thursday to discuss peace talks. (New York Times)

Field Marshall Sisi says there is “real opportunity” for peace with Israel if it accepts the Arab Peace Initiative. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

FM al-Maliki urges world leaders to declare “price tag” perpetrators terrorists. (Ma’an/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Reuters)

PM Netanyahu says, if the Fatah-Hamas unity deal is implemented, he will hold Abbas responsible for every rocket fired from Gaza to Israel. (Jerusalem Post)

A new PA government will be reportedly announced before the end of May. (Jerusalem Post)

Former PM Olmert sentenced to six years for corruption. (Reuters/New York Times/AFP/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post/The National)

Turkish FM Davotuglu calls Jerusalem “Palestinian land.” (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

DM Ya’alon will not increase the number of family visits to Palestinians in Israeli prisons. (Ha’aretz)

The PA urges FIFA to fine Israel. (Ynet)

Israeli authorities approve 26 projects in Gaza. (Ma’an)

Two Palestinian citizens of Israel will take part in “Arab Idol” for the first time. (Ynet)

France is preparing a UN resolution that seeks to refer parties to the Syrian conflict to the ICC. . (Reuters)

Aid workers are questioning the effectiveness of the UN Syria aid. (Reuters)

Human Rights Watch says the Syrian army yet again used chemical weapons in April. (AP)

IMF urges more aid to Jordan to cope with the Syrian refugee crisis. (Xinhua)

Jordan’s ambassador to Libya, who was abducted last month, is freed. (AP/The National/Jordan Times)

Sisi makes a plea to Egyptian youth. (AP/The National)

KRG Pres. Barzani says Kurds could “opt out” of next Iraqi government. (Reuters)

NSA Rice says there will be no nuclear deal with Iran unless it agrees to “verifiable action.” (Reuters)

Saudi FM al-Faisal invites his Iranian counterpart to Riyadh for negotiations. (Reuters)

Commentary:

Jimmy Carter says a united Palestinian government may provide new opportunities for peace. (Washington Post)

The Daily Star says, although Palestinians should commemorate their history, they should focus on the new “Nakbas” that are on the horizon. (Daily Star)

Geoffrey Aronson says Abbas reportedly agreed to allow 80% of settlers to remain in settlements annexed to Israel. (Al-Monitor)

Akiva Eldar interviews former ICC prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo. (Al-Monitor)

Yehezkel Dror says “obsolete paradigms” doomed Kerry’s initiative. (Ha’aretz)

J.J. Goldberg says there is a new generation of IDF chiefs that can be considered “hardline doves.” (Jewish Daily Forward)

Ha’aretz says Palestinian citizens of Israel need an exemption from discrimination. (Ha’aretz)

Rachel Lerner says a dynamic conversation on Israel is useful for the Jewish American community. (JTA)

Faisal Al Yafai says Syria’s “dirty secret” is that Pres. Assad would still win the presidential election even if it were free and fair. (The National)

Hassan Hassan and Michael Weiss say there is a potential rift between Saudi Arabia and the US despite the Kingdom’s “adjusted Middle East strategy.” (The American Interest)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says the Muslim Brotherhood is angered by Sisi’s piousness. (Al Arabiya)

H.A. Hellyer, says despite a “bleak” Arab Spring, youth should not give up. (Al Arabiya)