July 16th

News:

The Palestinian death toll in Gaza reaches 172 and more than 1230 injured. (Ma’an)

Rockets from Gaza injure an Israeli boy in Ashdod. (Ha’aretz)

The Israeli military says it has downed a drone launched by militants from Gaza. (AP/Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post/JTA)

Hamas warns it will use new weapons if Israeli airstrikes continue. (The Media Line)

Israel warns Palestinians in Gaza to leave their homes. (PNN)

Thousands of Palestinians flee northern Gaza. (New York Times/Washington Post/Ha’aretz/The National)

Palestinian children in Gaza are traumatized by war. (Ynet)

The UNSC calls for an Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire. (AP/The National)

Pres. Abbas will ask the UN to put the state of Palestine under “international protection.”(AFP/Ha’aretz)

The EU says it is pressing for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. (Reuters)

Sec. Kerry asks PM Netanyahu to avoid further escalation in Gaza. (Ha’aretz)

The Arab League will meet in Cairo to discuss Israel's bombardment of Gaza. (AFP)

DM Ya’alon says leaders of Hamas will see the destruction Israel has inflicted on them when they come out of their hiding. (Jerusalem Post)

FM Lieberman says ending the Gaza operation now will only mean more fighting in the future. (Ynet)

Pope Francis appeals for peace in Gaza. (AFP)

Pres. Rouhani calls on the Muslim world to help Gaza. (Times of Israel)

King Abdullah of Jordan urges Israel to stop targeting civilians. (AFP/Jordan Times)

A rocket fired from Gaza knocks out a power line in Israel that supplied electricity to 70,000 Palestinians in Gaza. (Jerusalem Post)

The Shin Bet releases the chronology of the killing of a Palestinian teenager. (Times of Israel)

Israel charges three Jewish Israelis for the killing of the Palestinian teenager. (AP)

Israeli occupation forces kill a Palestinian man during clashes in the West Bank. (Reuters/Ma’an/PNN/JTA/Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)

Israeli occupation forces detain 11 Hamas members in the West Bank. (Ma’an)

Egypt opens the Rafah crossing to allow pilgrims to leave Gaza and travel to Saudi Arabia. (Ma’an)

A light rail line connecting Arab and Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem is damaged during riots. (New York Times)

Two rockets fired from Lebanon reach Western Galilee. (Ynet)

Eight Egyptians are killed in a mortar attack in Sinai. (AP)

Heavy clashes along the Syrian-Lebanese border kill several people, including a number of Hezbollah fighters. (AP/Reuters)

Iraq’s parliament fails to overcome the deep divisions hampering the formation of a new government. (The National)

Sec. Kerry will hold in-depth discussions with FM Zarif. (AP/Reuters/New York Times)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish says all sides in the conflict are cynical and Hamas seeks concessions from Egypt. (The National)

The Daily Star says what is happening in Gaza is being ignored by the rest of world. (Daily Star)

Roger Cohen says Israel is the Middle East’s status quo power par excellence. (New York Times)

David Horovitz asks if Netanyahu really supports a two-state solution. (Times of Israel)

Jeffrey Goldberg says Netanyahu cannot hold to the West Bank forever. (The Atlantic)

Natan Sachs says neither Israel or Hamas can win from this “war of attrition.” (Foreign Policy)

Akiva Eldar says Israel and Hamas are in a lose-lose situation. (Al-Monitor)

Amos Yadlin says if Hamas accepts an Israeli ceasefire proposal it means that it has been deterred. (Ynet)

Ron Ben-Yishai says Israel must send ground troops to Gaza. (Ynet)

Ha’aretz calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. (Ha’aretz)

Aeyal Gross asks if Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza. (Ha’aretz)

Rami Khouri says colonialism never ended in Palestine. (Daily Star)

Amer Al Sabaileh says Israel is experiencing a crisis, and the key to resolving it could be found in joining a regional anti-terror alliance. (Jordan Times)

Ayesha Almazroui says the Arab world must help the people of Gaza. (The National)

Vali Nasr says diplomacy can still save Iraq. (New York Times)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed looks at the significance of Izzat al-Douri and the Ba’ath Party. (Al Arabiya)

Jamal Khashoggi asks if the ISIS threat in Saudi Arabia is more dangerous than in other countries. (Al Arabiya)

Tariq Alhomayed says Sunni Arabs must confront ISIS. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Zalmay Khalilzad says the world must get ready for Kurdish independence. (New York Times)

The National says young fighters should explain the realities of war to convince young people people not to go fight. (The National)

News:

Egypt offers a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel. (AP/Ha’aretz)

Israel’s security cabinet accepts the Egyptian ceasefire deal. (New York Times/Washington Post/JTA/Times of Israel/The National)

Hamas spokesperson Abu Zuhri says they were not consulted by Egypt about ceasefire arrangements and only heard of the initiative through media outlets. (Ma’an)

Hamas continues firing rockets from Gaza into Israel. (Reuters/AFP/JTA/Jerusalem Post)

The Israeli military says it has resumed airstrikes on Gaza. (AP/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

The Palestinian death toll in Gaza reaches 192 and more than 1300 injured. (PNN)

Kerry condemns Hamas rocket fire in the face of a “goodwill effort” to secure a ceasefire. (Ynet/Reuters)

Pres. Obama praises Egypt’s ceasefire proposal. (AP/Reuters/Times of Israel)

Sec. Kerry has decided not to make to an immediate trip to the Middle East to push diplomatic efforts toward a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. (AP)

Pres. Abbas praises the Egyptian initiative. (Ynet)

Pres. Peres and Quartet Envoy Blair praise the Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire. (Ynet)

Gaza’s Ministry of Health announces a state of emergency. (IRIN)

Israeli occupation forces clash with Palestinians in the West Bank, injuring seven. (Ma’an)

Hamas publishes a photo of a drone it says it built. (New York Times)

An Israeli official says Israel has found funding for three new Iron Dome rocket interception batteries. (Reuters)

The Gaza conflict is reportedly costing Israel $32 million a day. (Ha’aretz)

PM Erdogan accuses Israel of committing “state terrorism” against the Palestinians. (AFP)

Jordan warns against consequences of war in Gaza amid regional turmoil. (Jordan Times)

The Iraqi parliament elects a new Speaker, Salim al-Jubouri. (AP/New York Times)

The Iraqi army and Shi’ite militias launch an assault to retake Tikrit. (Reuters)

Kerry says there are still big gaps in nuclear talks with Iran. (AP)

The UN says it will withdraw its staff from Libya temporarily because of the deteriorating security. (AP/Reuters)

Pres. Assad will be sworn in for a new seven-year term on Wednesday. (AFP)

Commentary:

Hassan Barari says Israel’s current war in Gaza is not the first and will most likely not be the last. (Jordan Times)

H.A. Hellyer says the people of Gaza are victims to two “wars on terror.” (Al Arabiya)

Bradley Burston calls on PM Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza. (Ha’aretz)

Amos Harel gives seven takeaways from seven days of “Operation Protective Edge.” (Ha’aretz)

Etgar Keret asks what to do when an Israeli-Palestinian peace is out of reach. (Los Angeles Times)

Salman Aldossary says the Gaza tragedy is a scene that repeats itself. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Nimrod Nir says Israelis must remember to fight terror and not the Palestinians. (New York Times)

The National says insanity is reigning in Israel’s crisis management. (The National)

Sharif Nashashibi says two Gazas exist one as presented in the major media, and the other on the ground and in social media. (The National)

Mark Perry says Israel's military offensive will backfire. (Foreign Policy)

Dan Rabinowitz says a courageous Israeli leader would declare a unilateral ceasefire. (Ha’aretz)

Linda Gradstein says Israel is debating the efficacy of a military ground operation in Gaza. (The Media Line)

The Jordan Times says Jordan has a sent a clear message to the US that it will take no part in training Syrian opposition forces on its territory. (Jordan Times)

The Daily Star says the US needs to come up with a policy for Syria. (Daily Star)

The CSM says the advance of the Islamic State in Iraq opens an opportunity for Kurds to seek an independent state.(Christian Science Monitor)

Laura Kokotailo says Americans and Kurds should be allied against ISIS. (Bas News)

July 8th

ATFP Calls for De-Escalation between Israel and the Palestinians
Press Release - Contact Information: Ghaith al-Omari - July 8, 2014 - 12:00am

ATFP Calls for De-Escalation between Israel and the Palestinians


June 30th

News:
PM Netanyahu says any future peace agreement with the Palestinians, Israel would insist on maintaining security control of the West Bank “for a very long time.” (New York Times)
US Special Envoy Indyk resigns. (New York Times/JTA/Foreign Policy)
Israel’s security crackdown raises questions about the asymmetry of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (New York Times)
14 rockets are fired at Israel from Gaza. (Ma’an/JTA/Ha’aretz)
Netanyahu warns Palestinians in Gaza over rocket attacks. (The National/AFP)
Hamas leader Marzook says Hamas is not “currently responsible” for Gaza. (Ynet)
The Israeli cabinet approves a $90 million plan for occupied East Jerusalem which focuses on increased security. (AFP/JTA) 
A poll indicates a majority of Palestinians are turning away from  the two-state solution. (Ha’aretz)
Israeli occupation forces arrest four Palestinians in the West Bank. (PNN)
Israel drops anti-Hamas Ramadan lollipops in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an/Times of Israel)
Israel authorizes 1500 Jordanians to come and work in its Red Sea resort of Eilat to combat a labor shortage. (AFP/The Media Line)
Egyptian and Palestinian officials deny presence of any fighters affiliated with ISIS in Gaza and Sinai. (Ma’an)
Netanyahu calls for an independent Kurdistan. (AP/AFP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
ISIS announces the creation of a new “Islamic State” and “caliphate.” (AP/Reuters/Washington Post/The National)
Syrian fighters hail ISIS’s declaration of an Islamic caliphate. (Reuters)
The Iraqi army is trying to dislodge ISIS insurgents from Tikrit. (Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post)
Iraqi government officials say Russian experts have arrived in Iraq to help the army fight against Sunni extremists. (New York Times/The National)
Iraqi Christians return to their villages. (AP)
ISIS demonstrates sophistication when it comes to using social media. (New York Times)
King Abdullah of Jordan fears spread of Iraq chaos. (Times of Israel/Jordan Times)
Pres. Obama is concerned that “battle-hardened militants” who have spent time in Syria and Iraq could present a rising threat to US security. (AP)
Mortar shells hit government-held areas of the Syrian city of Idlib, killing 14 people. (AP)
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia slams extremism in address marking start of Ramadan. (The National)
A blast kills two police officers near Egypt’s presidential palace in Cairo. (AP/Reuters)
Egypt will restrict sermons during the month of Ramadan to topics of faith and morality. (AP)
PM Jomaa says two Tunisian diplomats who were held for months by gunmen in Libya have been released. (AP/Reuters)
Commentary:
Daniel Kurtzer says the US must inject life into the “moribund” Israeli-Palestinian peace process. (Ha’aretz)
Michael Ratney says a viable Palestinian state will be built through hard work, tough negotiation and peaceful, well-reasoned activism. (Jerusalem Post)
Ha’aretz says the European boycott of settlements is gaining momentum. (Ha’aretz)
Smadar Perry asks if Ramadan will stop the arrival of a new “intifada.” (Ynet)
Moshe Arens says Israel needs to win the “hearts and minds” of the Palestinian people. (Ha’aretz)
Hussein Ibish urges that states for political and rhetorical imagination be kept open in Iraq and Syria. (The National)
Juan Zarate and Thomas Sanderson ask how ISIS got rich. (New York Times)
Robin Wright says Iraq is more like Lebanon than Syria. (New York Times)
Raghida Dergham says Iran seeks to appear as counterterrorism partner to the US in Iraq. (Al Arabiya)
Theodore Karasik says for now Jordan is safe from ISIS. (Al Arabiya)
Amer Al Sabaileh says Saudis are welcoming Egypt to play a key role in Arab politics. (Jordan Times)
H.A. Hellyer revisits the Egyptian protests of June 30 and July 3rd. (Al Arabiya)
Juan Cole says its too soon to give up on the Arab Spring. (Los Angeles Times)
The Daily Star says Lebanese must demand accountability and transparency from their politicians. (Daily Star)
Burhan Ghalioun and Ghassan Ibrahim debate whether Iran will change its position on Syria. (Asharq al-Awsat)

June 24th

News:

Israeli occupation forces arrest 13 Palestinians in Hebron. (Ma’an/Jerusalem Post)

PM Netanyahu says he appreciates Pres. Abbas’ “important words” against the kidnapping of the three Israeli teenagers. (Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)

DM Ya’alon updates Sec. Hagel on the kidnapping. (Ha’aretz/JTA)

Quartet Envoy Blair calls on Israel to stop its operation in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. (PNN)

The mother of one of the kidnapped teenagers tells the UN Human Rights Council that every boy and girl deserves to come home to their families. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)

The UNSC fails to agree on a statement that would have deplored the deaths of Palestinians in Israeli operations. (Ha’aretz)

Jewish “price tag” extremists vandalize cars in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ha’aretz)

Hamas leader Haniyeh says Israeli threats do not scare Palestinians. (Ma’an)

The Red Cross warns Israeli doctors against force-feeding prisoners. (Ma’an)

A Gaza power plant is expected to shut down after the last shipment of Qatar-donated fuel runs out. (Ma’an)

Sheldon Adelson will donate a total of $25 million to Ariel University which is in a settlement in the occupied West Bank. (JTA/Ha’aretz)

Palestinians are unable to return to the Yarmouk camp in Syria, despite the truce. (AFP) 

Sec. Kerry promises “intense and sustained” support for Iraq. (Reuters)

Kerry urges the Kurds to save Iraq from collapse. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Washington Post)

The UN says more than 1000 have been killed in Iraq in June. (Reuters/AP)

US Special Forces will face a complex challenge in Iraq. (AP)

A diplomatic note promises immunity from Iraqi law for US advisory troops. (New York Times)

A poll indicates most Americans disapprove of the way Pres. Obama is handling Iraq. (New York Times)

Pres. Sisi says he will not interfere in judicial rulings. (Reuters/AP/New York Times)

Sisi pledges to give up half his salary and property. (Reuters)

A suicide bombing in Beirut kills a security officer. (AP)

Next Tuesday, Turkey’s ruling AKP party will announce its candidate for the August presidential election. (Reuters)

Commentary:

Maher Mughrabi says Israel must end the occupation in for Palestinians to be able to speak out against Hamas. (Ha’aretz)

Oudeh Basharat asks who will protect the Palestinians. (Ha’aretz)

Akiva Eldar says Israel’s reaction to the kidnapping highlights its “surrender” to settlers. (Al-Monitor)

Robi Damelin says the Parents Circle Families Forum is made up of Israeli and Palestinian bereaved parents who pay the consequence of the cycle of violence. (Times of Israel)

Jeffrey Goldberg says Obama did not “break” the Middle East. (The Atlantic)

David Rothkopf says the US can’t fix the Middle East, but it can fix its policy to the region.(Foreign Policy)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed asks how much support ISIS really enjoys. (Al Arabiya)

Hassan Barari says Maliki has been the key impediment to building an inclusive Iraq. (Jordan Times)

Faisal Abbas says PM Maliki is the new Saddam of Iraq. (Al Arabiya)

The Daily Star says Iran should do something about reducing sectarian tensions in the region, instead of just talking about it. (Daily Star)

H.A. Hellyer says yesterday was a “poignant” day for press freedoms in Egypt. (Al Arabiya)

Faisal Al Yafai says Fouad Ajami was a great scholar of the Middle East but did not empathize with its people. (The National)

Will Inboden remembers Fouad Ajami. (Foreign Policy)

Jamal Al Marri and Salah Al-Saidi debate whether Gulf security is under threat. (Asharq al-Awsat)

June 23rd

News:
Pres. Abbas says there is no evidence Hamas is responsible for the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers. (Xinhua)
Some analysts think Israel is using a massive operation in the occupied Palestinian territories regarding the teenagers to scupper the agreement between Fatah and Hamas. (Xinhua)
Two Palestinians are killed and 37 are arrested in raids by Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank. (AP/ Ma'an)
The Israeli operation, in its current form, may be nearing its end. (Ha'aretz)
The PA may approach the Security Council over Israel's "aggression." (Ma'an)
A Turkish pathologist says a Palestinian detainee was beaten before dying in an Israeli jail. (Ha'aretz)
An Israeli teenager is killed in an explosion near the border with Syria. (Xinhua)
Israeli settlers open fire on Palestinian protesters near Ramallah. (Ma'an)
The Presbyterian Church in the United States votes to divest from some companies doing business in the occupied Palestinian territories. (The Guardian)
Factions agree a cease-fire in the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in Syria. (AP/BBC)
The Israeli military conducts an airstrike near the border with, or inside, Syria. (Ha'aretz/AP)
Sunni extremists now control much of Iraq's western border. (Washington Post)
The ability of the Iraqi army to turn the tide against Sunni extremists is doubted. (New York Times)
Sec. Kerry urges Iraqis to form a new, inclusive government, and says the whole region is threatened by chaos in Iraq. (New York Times/AP)
Iraqis in Baghdad fear the worst awaits them. (AP)
Kerry is on a surprise visit to Egypt, which experts say signals a breakthrough in bilateral relations. (Xinhua)
Kerry says the US is poised to resume full relations with Egypt, including US aid, while urging more moderate policies. (New York Times/AP)
Three Al Jazeera reporters are sentenced to seven years in prison in Egypt. (AP/BBC)
Noted Middle East scholar Fouad Ajami passes away. (New York Times/AP
Commentary:
Bakir Oweida says, between the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers and Israel's West Bank offensive, the Fatah-Hamas agreement may be unraveling. (Asharq Al Awsat)
Ben Caspit says the Palestinian agreement was unraveling anyway. (Al Monitor)
Shlomi Eldar says the kidnappings and offensive are forcing Hamas to rethink its strategy. (Al Monitor)
Adnan Abu Amer says Hamas is afraid Israel will deport its leaders. (Al Monitor)
Ben-Dror Yemini says Israel has a partner in Abbas. (Ynet)
Hagai El-Ad says Palestinian suffering goes undocumented in Israel, and when it is recognized it is regarded as a conspiracy. (Ha'aretz)
Rafael Ahren asks if Israel's West Bank offensive is a human rights violation. (Times of Israel)
Ryan Crocker says the US should reengage with the Iraq. (Washington Post)
Murhaf Jouejati says ISIS' advance in Iraq should mean more weapons aid for the Syrian opposition. (Al Monitor)
Abdullah Al-Madani says the GCC should move towards greater union, but Salim Bin Ahmed Sahab disagrees. (Asharq Al Awsat)
Mustafa Akyol says the Kurds are Turkey's best ally. (New York Times)

June 19th

News:
Israeli soldiers clash with Palestinians during an arrest raid in the occupied West Bank. (AP/Reuters)
Israeli occupation forces detain 30 Palestinians in the West Bank. (Ma’an/Times of Israel)
Israel launches multiple airstrikes in Gaza. (Ma’an/Ynet)
The US calls on both Israelis and Palestinians to show restraint. (Ynet)
Hamas says it is capable of starting another intifada. (Ma’an)
US Amb. to Israel Shapiro visits the families of the kidnapped teenagers. (JTA)
Former Sec. Rice and Sec. Kerry praise each other’s Israeli-Palestinian efforts. (JTA)
FM Bishop says, despite declaring East Jerusalem not occupied, Australia reaffirms its commitment to the two-state solution. (Ha’aretz/AP)
A social media campaign seeks to hijack Arab idol fans. (Ha’aretz) 
The head of the Islamic movement Sheikh Ra'ad Salah is prohibited from leaving Israel. (Ha’aretz)
Mordehai Amihai will be the vice-chair of a UN panel on Palestinian refugees. (Times of Israel)
Kerry denies Pres. Obama has been too passive in Iraq. (AP/Reuters)
ISIS hangs their flags over Iraq’s largest oil refinery. (AP)
Iraqi government officials claim they still control the major oil refinery. (New York Times)
Gen. Dempsey says Iraq has asked the US for air support in countering the Sunni rebels. (Reuters/Washington Post/The National)
PM Erdogan says U.S. air strikes in Iraq could cause heavy casualties. (Reuters)
PM Maliki shows little sign of political compromise. (Washington Post)
Iraqi soldiers express shame for abandoning their posts. (The National)
The UAE recalls its ambassador to Iraq over its sectarian policies. (The National)
King Abdullah of Jordan says Jordan is ready to deal with regional developments. (Jordan Times)
Human Rights Watch accuses Syria's Kurdish parties of abuses. (AP/Reuters)
Moroccan PM Benkirane says women would be better off at home than in the workplace. (New York Times)
The Muslim Brotherhood’s charity work in the UK is under investigation. (The National)
Commentary:
Michael Young says its time for a coordinated response in Iraq and Syria. (The National)
Roger Cohen says the US cannot accept a “jihadi state” in Iraq. (New York Times)
Nicholas Kristof says the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 should be a warning that military force sometimes transforms a genuine problem into something worse. (New York Times)
Paul Whitefield says Americans are, indeed, conflicted on what is happening in Iraq. (Los Angeles Times)
Yochi Dreazen and John Hudson say the US is experiencing “buyers remorse” with Maliki. (Foreign Policy)
E.J. Dionne says Obama sees the contradictions in the Middle East and will not act “rashly.”  (Washington Post)
Eyad Abu Shakra says the US has suddenly decided to “wake up to the threat” represented by ISIS in Iraq. (Asharq al-Awsat)
Frederic Hof says the US should not “beg” Iran to act on Iraq and Syria. (Ha’aretz)
The National says Netanyahu is “exploiting” the kidnapped teenagers. (The National)
The Jordan Times says no child, Israeli, Palestinian or of any other country, should be used as pawn for any purpose. (Jordan Times)
Peter Beinart says Palestinians in the west should speak out against Hamas’ human rights abuses. (Ha’aretz)
Amir Rotem says the Israeli closure of Gaza only perpetuates conflict with the Palestinians. (Ha’aretz)
Gershon Baskin asks who kidnapped the three teenagers. (Jerusalem Post) 
Asmaa al-Ghoul says the kidnapping of the teenagers is “no joke” for the Palestinians. (Al-Monitor)
Akiva Eldar says Netanyahu should engage Pres. Abbas on both diplomacy and security. (Al-Monitor)
Michael Young says Lebanon can parry regional fragmentation. (Daily Star)
The Daily Star says the crescendo of interest in Lebanon’s presidential election has dropped significantly. (Daily Star)
Joyce Karam says the world cup “fever” beats politics in Lebanon. (Al Arabiya)
Andrew Harper says the world must not forget its responsibility to help Syrian refugees. (Jordan Times)

June 17th

News:
Israeli occupation forces arrest 41 Palestinians in the West Bank. (AP/Reuters/Ma’an/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)
Israeli ministers will reportedly increase the pressure on Hamas and will worsen the conditions of Hamas members held in Israeli prisons. (Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)
The kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers is spurring debate over the conduct of settlers in the occupied West Bank. (New York Times)
The PA is reportedly taking steps to halt the reconciliation process with Hamas. (Times of Israel)
PM Netanyahu says Israel is operating against Hamas to bring home the kidnapped teenagers. (Ha’aretz)
The EU condemns the kidnapping of the teenagers. (Jerusalem Post)
Norway cancels a conference of PA donor countries. (Ha’aretz)
Israel launches overnight airstrikes on Gaza. (Ma’an/JTA/Ynet)
Israel closes the Kerem Shalom crossing with Gaza. (Ma’an)
The US Consulate in Jerusalem warns American citizens to take precautions andavoid demonstrations during travel in the occupied West Bank. (JTA/Ha’aretz)
The Israel Medical Association will publish a booklet advising doctors on how to treat hunger-striking prisoners. (Ha’aretz)
US forces are being positioned in and around Iraq. (AP/The National)
UNSG Ban warns of “massive” sectarian violence in Iraq. (AP) 
Sunni insurgents push further into a province northeast of Baghdad.(AP/Reuters/New York Times)
PM Maliki is reportedly spending less time focusing on reconciliation with Kurds and Sunnis. (New York Times)
Saudi Arabia warns against foreign intervention in Iraq. (The National)
The New York Times examines the crisis in Iraq. (New York Times)
Turkey imposes a ban on media reporting about the seizure by ISIS of Turkish diplomats.  (Reuters)
Pres. Sisi swears in the new Egyptian government. (AP)
A car bomb in eastern Syria kills five. (AP)
Iran and the P5+1 resume nuclear talks. (AP/Reuters/The National)
FM Hague says Britain plans to reopen its embassy in Iran. (Reuters/The National)
Commentary:
Asharq al-Awsat says the future of the Middle East depends on the crisis in Iraq. (Asharq al-Awsat)
Faisal Al Yafai says Pres. Obama’s “no war policy” leaves the US vulnerable. (The National)
Bakir Oweida says averting the partition of Iraq and Syria should be the number-one priority. (Asharq al-Awsat)
Steven Simon says ISIS will fail in Iraq and Iran will be the victor. (New York Times)
Hassan Barari says Maliki has become an obstacle to achieving stability in Iraq. (Jordan Times)
Katrina Vanden Heuvel says there is no equivalence to be drawn between Bush’s 2003 decision to invade Iraq and Obama’s 2011 decision to withdraw US troops. (Washington Post)
Eugene Robinson says Obama’s instincts about Iraq and Syria have been sound from the beginning. (Washington Post)
Aaron David Miller says Obama should break the momentum of the ISIS attacks and press Maliki to be a more inclusive leader. (Foreign Policy)
The Daily Star says  refugees are the only area in which Arab states have experienced true unity of late. (Daily Star)
Amos Harel says Israel's response to the kidnapping is aimed at driving a wedge between Pres. Abbas and Hamas (Ha’aretz)
Yair Ettinger says the kidnapping of the teenagers is turning Israelis against each other. (Ha’aretz)
Marc Goldberg says Israel’s “all-out efforts” to find the teenagers will push more Palestinians towards extremism. (Times of Israel)
Akiva Eldar says Netanyahu is wrong to blame Abbas for the kidnapping. (Al-Monitor)
Smadar Perry says the kidnapping of the teenagers is another failure for Abbas. (Ynet)
Martin Karplus says Israelis and Palestinians should work together to improve their “common homeland.” (Ha’aretz)
Abdel Latif el-Menawy says Sisi should be a man of the people. (Al Arabiya)

June 10th

News:
Israel’s parliament selects Reuven Rivlin as country’s next president. (Reuters/AP/AFP/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)
DM Ya’alon says the formula of land for peace was a mistake. (JTA/Jerusalem Post/Ynet)
Israel’s parliament has given initial approval to a law that would enable force-feedingPalestinian prisoners. (Reuters/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)
US lawmakers want Sec. Kerry to explain his decision to continue working with the PA. (JTA/Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)
US Senators are debating military aid to Israel. (Ha’aretz)
Former NSC Advisor Berger says Hamas should not be allowed to participate in Palestinian elections. (Jerusalem Post)
Hamas calls on its armed wing in the occupied West Bank to target Israeli soldiers and settlers. (Times of Israel)
Hamas says PA forces “assaulted” Hamas-affiliated protesters in Ramallah. (Ma’an)
Jewish Australians express concern about their country’s new stance on occupied East Jerusalem. (Ha’aretz)
Jordan summons an Australian diplomat over the status of occupied East Jerusalem. (Xinhua/AFP/Jordan Times)
Palestinian Professor Dajani who took students to Auschwitz resigns amid controversy. (The Media Line)
The Palestinian Environmental Authority says half of the beaches in Gaza havedangerous levels of contamination and are unfit for swimming. (Ma’an)
Israel prevents Palestinian businessman Munib Masri from entering Gaza. (Bloomberg)
Israeli Gen. Brun is optimistic about the nuclear talks with Iran. (New York Times/Ha’aretz)
Israeli Amb. Dermer derides efforts at a deal with Iran. (Ha’aretz)
A six-week offensive by ISIL in eastern Syria has killed 600 fighters and driven 130,000 people from their homes. (Reuters/AP)
Pres. Sissi condemns sexual harassment in Egypt. (AP/The National)
PM Maliki asks the parliament to declare a state of emergency after insurgents seizeMosul (Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post/The National)
Iran and Turkey pledge to work together to fight extremism. (The National)
The Lebanese parliament fails again to elect a new president. (Xinhua)
Corruption plagues Qatar’s world cup preparations. (New York Times)
 
Commentary:
The Jordan Times says Australia is disregarding international law, by deciding to stop referring to East Jerusalem as occupied area. (Jordan Times)
Zvi Bar’el says the US is being forced to compromise in the Middle East. (Ha’aretz)
Jonathan Cook says elections will be the most difficult test for the new Palestinian government. (The National)
Ha’aretz says Israel should not force-feed Palestinian hunger strikers. (Ha’aretz)
Uri Savir says Pres. Peres’ leadership is not only a reflection of Israel, but more importantly, a projection of what it should aspire to be. (Jerusalem Post)
Hassan Barari says the Syrian presidential election was designed to “rehabilitate and legitimize” Pres. Assad. (Jordan Times)
Seyed Hossein Mousavian and Nassif Hitti say time has come to consider the necessity of establishing a conference on security and cooperation in the Middle East. (Asharq al-Awsat)
Khairallah Khairallah says Hezbollah’s military involvement in Syria harmed whatever was left of Lebanese sovereignty. (Al Arabiya)
The Daily Star says, from the judiciary to the education system, Lebanon needs to overhaul its approach to sexual violence. (Daily Star)
The National says military conscription in the UAE will have many benefits. (The National)

June 9th

News:
Pope Francis says Israeli and Palestinian leaders must respond to their people’s yearning for peace. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/AFP/Ha’aretz/Ynet/Times of Israel/The National)
Israel seeks the return of PA forces to Gaza. (Ha’aretz)
European Commission Chief Barroso says the new Palestinian government must be supported. (AFP)
PM Netanyahu’s office says Israel will not unilaterally withdraw from the occupied West Bank. (Times of Israel)
Finance Minister Lapid calls settlement construction in the occupied West Bank a “waste of money.” (AP/Xinhua/JTA)
FM Lieberman says annexation is inapplicable to Israel's current situation with the Palestinians. (Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)
Israeli Interior Minister Sa’ar dismisses the idea of an independent Palestinian state, but calls for Jordan to play an integral part in solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Times of Israel)
UN Envoy Serry meets in Gaza with four ministers of the new Palestinian government. (Ma’an/AP)
Banks in Gaza remain closed as a crisis over salaries continues to challenge the new Palestinian government. (Ma’an)
The new Palestinian government brings rare hope for refugees. (The National)
Human Rights Watch says the killing of two Palestinian teenagers during a protest in the occupied West Bank might constitute an Israeli war crime. (Reuters)
Egypt is reportedly willing to permanently open the Rafah crossing. (Ma’an)
The Israeli parliament will vote for a new president. (AP)
Sec. Clinton writes in her memoir that she disapproved of early efforts by the Obama White House to push Israel toward a complete freeze of settlement activity. (Jerusalem Post/AP)
Pres. Assad declares a general amnesty for prisoners in Syria. (AP/Xinhua)
Hezbollah leader Nasrallah calls on the US to talk to Assad if it wants to settle the crisis in Syria. (Washington Post)
Lebanese Druze leader Jumblatt says Hezbollah’s intervention in Syria was a “moral mistake.” (The National)
Pres. Sisi promises to rule Egypt in an inclusive manner. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/The National)
The inauguration highlights Sisi’s shaky international standing. (Reuters)
Egypt arrests seven men for sexually assaulting a student during celebration of the inauguration of Sisi. (AP)
Libya’s Supreme Court rules the GNC’s election of PM Maiteeq was unconstitutional.  (Reuters)
The UAE issues a law requiring compulsory military service for adult males. (AP)
Commentary:
Hussein Ibish says Australia's decision to no longer call East Jerusalem occupied is an attack on international law and order.(The National)
The Christian Science Monitor says the Vatican prayers for the Middle East serve as a reminder of the universal desire for peace. (Christian Science Monitor)
Hazem Balousha says Hamas seeks to reclaim political influence by using the PLO.  (Al-Monitor)
Gabriel Webber says students in the UK have defeated BDS by bringing pro-Israel and pro-Palestine students together. (Ha’aretz)
Roger Cohen says comparing Israel to apartheid South Africa is a “moral calumny.”(New York Times)
Jose Manuel Barroso says without progress in the peace negotiations, the EU’s growing cooperation with Israel will be greatly complicated. (Ha’aretz) 
Dani Dayan proposes a plan to “create a new civil reality” in the occupied West Bank. (New York Times)
Ben Caspit says Netanyahu’s political fortunes depend on maintaining relations with Washington. (Al-Monitor)
S. Daniel Abraham asks if Israelis really want a “Jewish state.” (Ha’aretz)
Shlomo Ben-Ami says the collapse of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations should spur a fundamental reconsideration of a paradigm of peace making.  (Jordan Times)
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed asks how will Sisi confront the accumulated economic failures threatening Egypt and his presidency. (Al Arabiya)
H.A. Hellyer says Egyptians want change but it’s  not clear how much change they want, at what pace, and what they are willing to give up for it. (Al Arabiya)
Faisal Abbas write a letter to Sisi. (Al Arabiya)
Amina Al-Naqqash and Mohamed Abu Hamed debate whether Sisi will prioritize foreign policy or balance domestic and foreign policies. (Asharq al-Awsat)
Rami Khouri says the recent elections in the Arab world raise questions about Arab democracy. (Daily Star)
Amer Al Sabaileh says Jordan should adopt new and flexible strategies that guarantees it a role in the region. (Jordan Times)
The Jordan Times says Prince Zeid’s nomination to the post of UN High Commissioner for human rights is a national and personal achievement. (Jordan Times)
William Hague and Angelina Jolie say it is in our power to remove rape as a weapon of war from the world’s “arsenal of cruelty.” (The National)

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