News:

Pres. Obama says Palestinians deserve an end to the occupation. (Ma’an\Ynet\Asharq al Awsat)

Despite Obama’s demand, PM Netanyahu’s coalition guidelines makes no commitment to a Palestinian state. (Ha’aretz)

ICC prosecutor Bensouda says without cooperation, the Gaza war probe will rely on evidence from just one side. (Ha’aretz\Times of Israel\AP)

A prominent group of EU diplomats says US policy with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has failed and a new EU led approach is needed. (Jerusalem Post)

The occupied West Bank’s electricity grid will be connected to Jordan. (Ma’an)

The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics says it has recorded a population of 12.1 millionpeople worldwide, the majority of whom live outside of the territories. (AFP\Times of Israel\Ynet)

An Israeli court sentences a Palestinian man for incitement and for supporting a terroristorganization based on his Facebook posts. (New York Times\JTA)

Armed men open fire at the Palestinian president's guards while in their vehicle near Balata refugee camp. (Ma’an)

Israel is stepping up its diplomatic initiatives as fears grow over FIFA suspension. (Ha’aretz)

Obama will meet with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayeh today. (Reuters)

Obama tells an Arab newspaper that he will remain tough on Iran. (New York Times)

Saudi-led air strikes hit the rebel-held Yemeni capital Sanaa hours before a five-day humanitarian truce takes effect. (Reuters\AP\New York Times\Washington Post\The National)

Iran warns the Saudi-led coalition targeting Yemeni rebels that blocking an Iranian aid ship bound for Yemen will "spark a fire." (AP)

ISIS extremists have dug trenches around natural gas and hydrogen tanks at Iraq's largest refinery, raising the stakes in a battle. (Reuters)

Israel says Hezbollah positions put Lebanese at risk. (New York Times)

ICC prosecutor Bensouda says she can investigate alleged crimes by ISIS in Libya. (Reuters)

Commentary:

Adnan Abu Amer says Hamas is seeking a rapprochement with Saudi Arabia to improve its leverage in Palestinian reconciliation talks. (Al-Monitor)

Ahmad Melhem says Hamas and Fatah are focusing on trivial issues instead of taking advantage of former Pres. Carter’s reconciliation efforts. (Al-Monitor)

Joseph Dana says football is the latest theatre of struggle between Israel and Palestinians. (The National)

Ron Kampeas says the mistrust between Netanyahu and Obama is “personal and cynical.” (JTA)

Ben Sales looks at how a women’s party is challenging the status quo in an Arab-Israeli city. (JTA)

Aaron David Miller says Israel watchers have been expecting icy relations between Obama and Bibi to worsen -- but the post-election period may offer an unexpected thaw.  (Foreign Policy)

Eric Yoffie explains what Jewish Americans want from Netanyahu. (Ha’aretz)

The Washington Post says the absence of King Salman at the US-GCC summit is an unmistakable signal of dissatisfaction with the US. (Washington Post)

The National says at the upcoming Camp David summit Gulf leaders will make their views known to Obama. (The National)

Jeremy Shapiro and Richard Sokolsky says the Camp David summit is an opportunity for Washington to send the Gulf a tough message. (Foreign Policy)

Andrew Bowen says Obama underestimates the challenge Iran poses to the security of the region and the GCC. (Al Arabiya)

David Ignatius says Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey are now cooperating on Syria. (Washington Post)

David Ignatius says the US must fight ISIS’ “brand appeal.” (Washington Post)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says an Iranian nuclear deal will empower hardliners. (Al Arabiya)

News:

Israeli Gen. Turgeman says Israel and Hamas share “common interests.” (Reuters\Times of Israel\Ynet\Jerusalem Post)

A senior Palestinian official says the US and the EU are pressuring the PA to renew peace talks with Israel. (Jerusalem Post)

Civil servants hired by Hamas go on strike in Gaza. (Ma’an)

Japan criticizes a recent decision by Israeli authorities to approve construction of 900 settler homes in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)

Israeli forces demolish a mosque under construction in a Bedouin village near Beersheba. (Ma’an)

A Palestinian engineer is pioneering a machine to make seawater potable for residents of Gaza. (Ma’an\Times of Israel)

Palestinian-American teenager Tariq Abu Khdeir who was beaten by Israeli police was reportedly received by the White House last month. (Ha’aretz\Times of Israel)

A proposal to expand the number of government ministers narrowly passes a first reading in the Knesset. (JTA\Ynet)

The White House is countering perceptions that King Salman’s absence from a summit later this week could undermine US efforts to assure Gulf states against Iran. (Reuters\AP\New York Times)

The US and EU warn that Libyan state institutions risk being exploited by rival forces. (Reuters)

Sec. Kerry hopes to explore Russia’s flexibility on Syria and Ukraine during talks with Pres. Putin. (Reuters)

An international aid group says Syria has been contaminated with weapons and bombs that the lives of 2 million children are at constant risk. (AP)

Two Iraqi Sunni leaders denounce the Iraqi government for failing to build a multi-sectarian nation. (New York Times)

Egyptian media is publishing attacks against Pres. Sisi. (Reuters)

The P5+1 resume nuclear talks with Iran in Vienna. (Ha’aretz)

Commentary:

Shlomi Eldar says Hamas’ military wing is blocking attempts to reach a long-term ceasefire with Israel. (Al-Monitor)

Ron Kampeas analyses the role of Israel-Palestine in an African-American play. (JTA)

Daniella Peled asks what PM Cameron’s re-election means for Israel. (Ha’aretz)

David Rothkopf looks at the decline of the US’ special relationships with Israel and the UK. (Foreign Policy)

Shaun Brimley, Ilan Goldenberg and Nicholas Heras ask if Pres. Obama can save the Camp David US-GCC summit. (Foreign Policy)

Faisal J. Abbas says the upcoming US-GCC summit should be about more than “words and weapons.” (Al Arabiya)

The Daily Star says the Saudi volte-face on King Salman’s attendance at the GCC summit should rightly be seen as a snub to Obama. (Daily Star)

Jamal Khashoggi says Iranian “madness and insolence” have increased not just in Syria, but also in Yemen. (Al Arabiya)

News:

Human Rights Watch accuses the Palestinian security forces of arresting and questioning West Bank students over their political opinions. (AFP)

A delegation of eight members from a European observers mission to monitor the Rafah border crossing arrives in Gaza. (Ma’an)

The PLO says PM Netanyahu's new right-wing religious "government of war" is a blow to an already stagnating peace process. (AFP/Ha’aretz)

Israeli forces release Palestinian singer Shadi al-Burini after detaining him for several hours while he was shooting a video at the Huwwara checkpoint. (Ma’an)

Jewish settlers harass the head of the Palestinian Football Association and the South African head of an anti-racism group during a tour in Hebron. (Ma’an)

Europe and the US are keeping a watchful eye on Israel’s legislative plans. (Reuters)

AP looks at the key figures in Israel’s new government. (AP)

Pres. Obama in his message congratulating Netanyahu on forming a new Israeli governmentemphasizes the importance of a two-state solution. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

The Syrian army, backed by Hezbollah fighters, makes advances in mountainous areas along Syria's border with Lebanon. (Reuters)

The US begins training Syrian rebels in Jordan to fight ISIS. (AP/New York Times)

Saudi-led warplanes bomb targets in Yemen's Saada province and drop leaflets asking civilians to leave one district a day after promising a harsh response. (Reuters/AP)

Sec. Kerry meets with Gulf ministers to discuss Iran and Yemen. (Reuters)

The US Senate votes overwhelmingly to pass a bill giving Congress the right to review, and potentially reject, an international agreement with Iran. (Reuters/AP)

A senior al-Qaeda leader dies in a Yemen drone strike. (New York Times)

Commentary:

David Ignatius says Netanyahu is struggling at home. (Washington Post)

Raphael Ahren says for first time in 20 years, talks with the Palestinians don’t appear in any coalition agreement. (Times of Israel)

Ha’aretz says Israel's new government will lead a racist legislation while working to “gut the courts.” (Ha’aretz)

Nathan Guttman identifies seven things about Netanyahu’s new cabinet. (The Forward)

Siobhan O’Grady profiles Israel’s new Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. (Foreign Policy)

Carolina Landsmann says the possibility presented by Bennett and adopted by the right wing, of eternal Israeli rule over the Palestinians, is impossible. (Ha’aretz)

Ami Ayalon says the US and the international community should take the lead on a two-state solution. (Al-Monitor)

Fareed Zakaria says tides in the region have shifted in Israel’s favor. (Washington Post)

Jane Arraf says the threat of ISIS, combined with meager US and Iraqi government support, is driving Sunni tribes into the arms of Iranian-backed Shiite militias. (Foreign Policy)

The Daily Star says Hezbollah now finds itself again providing crucial life support to the Syrian regime across the border. (Daily Star)

Michael Young says Qalamoun is a test of Hezbollah’s hopes. (Daily Star)

Khairallah Khairallah says Hezbollah is laundering weapons and power. (Al Arabiya)

News:

Israel approves the construction of 900 settler homes in occupied East Jerusalem. (AFP/Times of Israel)

Palestinian Chief Negotiator Erekat says the new Israeli government will be belligerent and work against peace. (AFP/PNN/JTA)

The PA is spearheading an effort to have Israel added to a UN list of human rights violators. (JTA)

The Israeli army will check for Hamas tunnels near the Gaza border kibbutz. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Jewish settlers attack the car of a senior adviser to PM Hamdallah near Nablus. (Ma’an)

The heads of Israeli and Palestinian football will meet in Zurich in a bid to head off a Palestinian bid to expel Israel from the sport's governing body. (AFP)

Movie experts call on the Gaza Ministry of Culture to reopen the movie theaters that were closed down during the first intifada. (Al-Monitor)

PM Netanyahu clinches a deal to form a new government. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/JTA)

The Syrian army and Hezbollah advance in areas along the Lebanese border. (Reuters/The National)

Hundreds of members of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood have returned from exile and are hoping to rebuild the movement. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia says all options are open including ground operations to stop mortar attacks on its border towns by Yemen's Houthis. (Reuters)

In a letter to the UN, Yemen urges ground intervention to save the country. (Reuters/AP)

Sec. Kerry says aid needs in Yemen are dire. (New York Times)

Saudi Arabia agrees to a temporary halt in Yemen attacks after talks with Kerry. (Washington Post)

Changes in Saudi Arabia's leadership make the conservative kingdom's strategic positions less predictable. (Reuters)

The mayor of Tehran Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf becomes a patron of the arts. (New York Times)

Commentary:

Nahum Barnea says the new Israeli government can only survive thanks to Netanyahu’s authority and fear of elections. (Ynet)

Akiva Eldar says the balance of power in the Knesset is clearly in favor of those supporting a two-state solution. (Al-Monitor)

Shmuel Rosner says Netanyahu and his partners haven't been magnanimous in victory. (New York Times)

Peter Beinart says violence doesn't erase the legitimacy of grievances – in Baltimore, Tel Aviv or the West Bank. (Ha’aretz)

Hussein Ibish says the stakes have never been higher for relations between the US and its Gulf allies. (NOW)

Joyce Karam asks if there will be a Syria for Iran bargain at the upcoming US-GCC summit. (Al Arabiya)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says the most important aspect of the war in Yemen is not its intensity, but the disintegration of domestic partisan and tribal alliances. (Al Arabiya)

News:

Israeli veterans say permissive rules of engagement coupled with indiscriminate artillery fire contributed to the high numbers of civilian casualties in Gaza. (Washington Post/Ha’aretz/The National)

A number of private hospitals in the occupied West Bank are on the verge of collapse. (Ma’an)

Israeli defense officials say the approval of building plans for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank is subject to political considerations. (AFP)

Islamic Jihad accuses the PA of arresting and harassing its members in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)

Former Pres. Carter calls for Palestinian elections following his visit to Ramallah. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

Israeli security guards shoot at and wound a Palestinian man after he allegedly attempted to stabcivilians at a light-rail station in Jerusalem. (Ha’aretz/Ma’an/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

Protests of Ethiopian Jews draw attention to racism in Israel. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/PNN/JTA)

Pres. Rivlin says Israel must respond to the grievances of the Ethiopian Jews. (AP/New York Times/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Former FM Lieberman says his Yisrael Beiteinu party would not join the new government coalition. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

Two mortar shells fired from Syria wound two UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights. (Ha’aretz/JTA/Times of Israel)

A senior Syrian army officer is wounded in a suicide bombing in a central Damascus district. (Reuters)

Syrian state media says the central bank is trying to stabilize its ailing currency. (AP)

World leaders are linking the nuclear talks with Iran to the possibility for peace in Syria. (New York Times)

Yemeni fighters who are believed to have received training and weapons in the Persian Gulf enter combat around the southern city of Aden. (New York Times)

France and Qatar sign a deal for the sale of 24 Rafale fighter jets, an accord Pres. Hollande hails as a mark of Gulf Arab regard for French regional strategy. (Reuters/AP)

Commentary:

J.J. Goldberg looks at the recent split in Hamas’s political and military wings. (The Forward)

Uri Savir says the PA is planning a diplomatic offensive to reconquer the interest of the international community. (Al-Monitor)

Nahum Barnea says Israeli society is “infected with racism.” (Ynet)

Ha’aretz says dealing with discrimination against Israelis of Ethiopian descent must be at top of new government's agenda. (Ha’aretz)

Hussein Ibish says military cooperation between Sunni countries has a logic, but the joint force faces big obstacles. (New York Times)

Faisal Al Yafai says Yemen's south cannot easily stay within a united Yemen. (The National)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says PM al-Abadi has two big rivals: ISIS and former PM Maliki. (Al Arabiya)

Aaron David Miller looks at what the recent rebel gains mean for Pres. Assad.  (Foreign Policy)

The Washington Post looks at the recent shakeup of the Saudi cabinet. (Washington Post)

Hussein Ibish says a nuclear deal with Iran is changing the “old order.” (The National)

Theodore Karasik says the international community should focus on Libya. (Al Arabiya)

News:

The ICC chief prosecutor Bensouda says she is weighing opening war crimes investigations into Palestinians as well as Israelis. (AFP)

Israeli occupation forces detain three Palestinians in southern Nablus. (Ma’an)

Street artist Banksy finds a canvas and a new fanbase in Gaza’s ruins. (New York Times)

The Islamic University in Gaza introduces two diploma programs for hearing-impaired students. (Al-Monitor)

Israelis of Ethiopian origin protest police violence in Jerusalem. (Reuters/AP/AFP/JTA)

Israel blames its Arab neighbors for the failure of progress toward achieving a Middle East free of nuclear weapons. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Islamist rebels and the Syrian army fight in Latakia province close to Pres. Assad's ancestral home. (Reuters)

Kobani is still a ghost town, months after the liberation from ISIS. (AP)

A year after opening Azraq camp in Jordan, billed as an improved model for sheltering Syrian refugees, has a mixed record. (AP)

A proposal to arm Sunnis adds to Iraqi suspicions of the US. (New York Times)

Warplanes from a Saudi-led coalition target a residential district in Sanaa, killing ten civilians. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia's Supreme Economic Council approves a restructuring of state oil company Aramco. (Reuters/Al Arabiya)

VP Biden says the US is willing to go to war to keep Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. (JTA/Times of Israel)

FM Zarif congratulates his newly-installed Saudi counterpart on his appointment. (AFP)

Commentary:

Amos Harel says the secret talks hold hope for a lengthy Hamas-Israel truce. (Ha’aretz)

Hussein Ibish says King Salman's recent move concentrates his own power and that of his Sudairi relatives for the foreseeable future. (NOW)

Hussein Ibish says recent changes in the Saudi government consolidate King Salman’s power. (AGSIW)

Salman Aldossary says King Salman is restructuring the Saudi state and regulating the work of the government. (Asharq al-Awsat)

David Ignatius says Iran wants dialogue with the region. (Washington Post)

Zvi Bar’el says Iran is already preparing for the day after sanctions are lifted. (Ha’aretz)

Jamal Khashoggi says Iran does not want Saudi Arabia to emerge victorious in Yemen. (Al Arabiya)

Majid Rafizadeh says  Iranian leaders will not change their regional ambitions, sectarian agenda and revolutionary principles. (Al Arabiya)

News:

The US has reportedly asked the French government to postpone its initiative for a UNSC draft resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. (Ha’aretz)

Gaza protesters are reportedly beaten and arrested by Hamas security officials. (New York Times/AFP)

Israel returns 15 fishing boats seized from Palestinians in Gaza. (Reuters/AFP/Times of Israel)

UN Middle East Peace Envoy Mladenov urges Palestinian factions to unite and Israel to lift its blockade of Gaza. (AFP/Jerusalem Post)

NSA Rice says the Obama administration expects a commitment to the two-state solution from the next Israeli government and from the PA. (JTA)

Former Pres. Carter cancels his visit to Gaza. (Ma’an/JTA/AP)

Israeli police arrest a 6-year old boy from occupied East Jerusalem for allegedly stoning a bus.(Ha’aretz/PNN/Times of Israel) 

Israel's military sees a growing threat in instant messaging applications -- both to battlefield secrecy and to the privacy of women soldiers. (Reuters)

Iraq is poised to deploy Shi'ite paramilitaries backed by Iran to Sunni tribal areas west of Baghdad. (Reuters)

Syrian activist groups report another suspected chemical attack in the northwestern province of Idlib. (AP)

Jordan’s overland trade has largely been paralyzed by recent border attacks from insurgents in neighboring Syria and Iraq. (AP)

Airstrikes from the Saudi-led coalition target the southern Yemeni city of Aden as combatants battle for control of the main airport. (Reuters)

Gulf FM’s meet in Riyadh for talks on their military operation in Yemen. (AFP)

The US Senate rejects tying terrorism support to Iran sanctions relief. (Reuters)

FM Zarif says the US risks ostracism if signed nuclear deal is “scrapped.” (New York Times)

Iranian opposition leader Rajavi says Iran wants nuclear weapons to foster Islamic extremism. (AP)

France announces it will sell 24 Rafale fighter jets to Qatar in a $7 billion deal. (AP)

Commentary:

Iris Leal says Joint List leader Odeh demonstrates greater sensitivity than Jewish MKs toward the Knesset and its symbols. (Ha’aretz)

Gershon Baskin says for the survival and for the security of Israel, it is time for the State of Palestine. (Jerusalem Post)

Shlomi Eldar says Arab youth are using social media to send messages of peace to Israel. (Al-Monitor)

Joyce Karam profiles new Saudi FM Al-Jubeir. (Al Arabiya)

Elizabeth Dickinson looks at King Salman’s shake-up of the royal family and how that marks the true start of his reign. (Foreign Policy)

Theodore Karasik says Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef is the perfect leader for the necessary political and social reforms that the kingdom needs. (Al Arabiya)

Michael Young says Pres. Assad's regime is beginning to crumble despite assistance from Iran and its allies. (Daily Star)

The Daily Star says Assad’s regime appears to be entering its final phases. (Daily Star)

News:

The new UN Middle East Peace Envoy Nickolay Mladenov arrives in Gaza. (Ma’an)

An Israeli official says Israel has allowed more than 15,000 tons of building material into war-devastated Gaza today. (Times of Israel) 

Mohammed Deif, the commander of the Hamas military wing, is reportedly alive and involved in Hamas’ military decisions. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Ynet)

Hamas leader Haniyeh says Deif is the proof of Israel's failure to reach senior Palestinian leaders. (Jerusalem Post)

The IDF is reportedly training for the possible reconquering of the entire coastal Palestinian territory in a future confrontation with Hamas. (Times of Israel)

Israel and New Zealand resolve a diplomatic dispute that had prevented New Zealand's new ambassador from taking up his post. (Ynet)

The National looks at how last summer's war in Gaza shifted the unemployment rate to 50 per cent. (The National)

Former Palestinian official Dahlan reportedly mediated the signing of an agreement for the construction of a controversial River Nile dam project. (Newsweek)

Israeli forces detain 19 Palestinians in raids across the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)

Israeli forces demolish a barn belonging to a Palestinian near Nablus. (Ma’an)

A group of Jewish settlers damage water pipes serving Palestinians in Hebron's Old City. (Ma’an) 

The Solidarity Festival in Jaffa will feature an exhibition of photos that highlight the victims' view of the Gaza war. (Ha’aretz)

Houthis advance into Yemen’s Aden killing 12 civilians. (Reuters)

Houthi rulers launch an investigation against dozens of public figures, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakul Karman. (Reuters)

The UN says more than 300,000 Yemenis have been driven out from their homes. (AP)

The erosion of the Syrian army, which has struggled to replenish its ranks, is forcing the government to rely on Syrian and foreign militias. (New York Times)

EU Foreign Policy Chief Mogherini says she would like Iran to help usher in security and stability in the Middle East. (New York Times)

King Salman of Saudi Arabia appoints a new heir and makes his young son second in line to rule. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/The National/AFP/Al Arabiya)

Reuters profiles Saudi Arabia’s new FM, former Amb. to the US al-Jubeir. (Reuters)

Reuters profiles new Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia announces the arrest of 93 suspects with ties to ISIS and foils an attack on the US embassy. (AP/New York Times)

The US Senate rejects an effort to require any nuclear agreement with Iran to be considered an international treaty. (Reuters/AP)

Commentary:

Colum Lynch says the US is prioritizing an Iran deal over the two-state solution. (Foreign Policy)

Rami Khouri says the recent UN report on the actions of Israelis and Palestinians in the Gaza war is an opportunity to hold everybody accountable. (Daily Star)

Zvi Bar’el says ignoring the occupation will not make Israel a “normal country.” (Ha’aretz)

Joel Braunold says the Israeli High Court's decision to uphold the “Anti-Boycott Law” further tears apart the Jewish pro-Israel community in the Diaspora. (Ha’aretz)

Ahmad Melhem says the crisis in the Yarmouk refugee camp reveals the weakness of the PLO. (Al-Monitor)

Hassan Hassan says backed by Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, the Islamist Army of Conquest is putting the hurt on the Syrian regime. (Foreign Policy)

Tariq Alhomayed asks what “Operation Decisive Storm” achieved. (Asharq al-Awsat)

The National says King Salman’s leadership reshuffle takes into account recent developments in the region. (The National)

Michael Young unpacks the American pivot away from the Middle East. (The National)

Zaid Belbagi says the GCC states have yet to formalize their influence on international politics and economics through a strategic approach to lobbying. (Al Arabiya)

News:

A UN inquiry finds that Israel killed at least 44 Palestinians at UN facilities during the Gaza war last year. (AP/New York Times/AFP/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz)

A Palestinian teenager shot by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank dies of his wounds. (Reuters/AP/Ma’an/JTA/Ha’aretz)

PM Hamdallah receives a parliamentary delegation from Germany. (Ma’an)

A new proposal for a long-term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has been reportedly put forth by Qatar and Turkey. (Times of Israel)

The Shin Bet says Hamas is training Palestinian students in Malaysia. (Ha’aretz)

A PA employee is reportedly arrested for claiming Arafat was not a martyr. (Times of Israel)

Israeli forces open fire on Palestinian farmers east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. (Ma’an) 

The Higher Arab Monitoring Committee is organizing a march and rally in Tel Aviv to protest the housing shortage and house demolitions in Arab communities. (Ha’aretz/AFP)

The Saudi-led coalition continues to pound Yemen’s Houthis. (AP)

At least 15 people are killed in heavy fighting between Houthi fighters and tribesmen in the oil-producing Marib province in central Yemen. (Reuters)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says ISIS militants have killed at least 2,154 people off the battlefield in Syria since the end of June. (Reuters)

AP looks at the challenges Iraq is facing in dislodging ISIS in Anbar. (AP)

Sec. Kerry says the P5+1 are closer than ever to a deal with Iran. (Reuters/AP)

Speaker Boehner says Republicans would lack the votes to overcome an Obama veto on Iran. (Ha’aretz)

Commentary:

Adnan Abu Amer says Hamas is working to restore ties with Egypt. (Al-Monitor)

Ben Dror-Yemini looks at the young Palestinian citizens of Israel who have chosen to be part of the country. (Ynet)

Hassan Hassan says recent developments in the region have caused serious damage to ISIS's popularity. (The National)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says UN Envoy de Mistura is not capable of imposing a solution on the majority of Syrians. (Al Arabiya) 

The National says Al-Nusra recent gains may change Syria’s reality. (The National)

The Daily Star says Syria needs a Syrian fix. (Daily Star)

Eyad Abu Shakra says Washington may have to pay the price for its miscalculations in the region. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Kai Bird says Iran has yet to pay a penny in compensation for the Marine barracks and Beirut embassy bombings in 1983. (New York Times)