News:

Oxfam says the rebuilding of Gaza could take more than a century if Israel maintains its blockade. (Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

Israel will use frozen Palestinian tax revenues to offset the PA’s electricity debt. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

PM Netanyahu intervenes to approve water links to the Palestinian city in the occupied West Bank, Rawabi. (Washington Post)

Israel says more commercial goods are being allowed into Gaza. (Ma’an)

Farmers in Gaza continue to suffer the consequences of massive losses incurred during last summer’s war. (Ma’an)

Italy’s parliament will vote today on recognition of the State of Palestine. (PNN/Reuters)

A billboard campaign is launched in Ireland to urge the government to recognize the State of Palestine. (Ma’an)

Jordan condemns the arson attack against a Greek Orthodox seminary in occupied East Jerusalem. (Jordan Times)

The Israeli army is setting up a unit to probe alleged criminal acts during wartime. (Ha’aretz)

With borders closed, Palestinians in Gaza are unable to make the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. (AP)

Hundreds of Jewish Israelis with armed guards visit the Tomb of Joshua in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)

Nadia Hilou, the first female Palestinian Christian MK elected to the Knesset dies. (Ynet)

British artist Banksy goes to Gaza and films the devastation there in the wake of last summer's war. (Reuters/The National)

AIPAC is reportedly opposed to Netanyahu’s upcoming speech to Congress. (Times of Israel/Al-Monitor)

The White House will send NSA Rice and Amb. Power to the upcoming AIPAC conference. (AP/New York Times/JTA/Times of Israel)

Netanyahu will meet with both Democratic and Republican Senate leaders in Washington. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

A former Mossad chief Dagan criticizes Netanyahu’s handling of the Iranian nuclear threat. (AP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

PM Cameron vows to use all means at his disposal to hunt down British militants such as "Jihadi John." (Reuters)

A financial report says in order for ISIS to remain financially viable it will have to further expand the territory it controls in Iraq and Syria. (Reuters)

ISIS extremists in northern Iraq destroy a priceless collection of statues and sculptures from the ancient Assyrian era. (Reuters/New York Times)

UNESCO Chief Bokova denounces ISIS's destruction of ancient statues and artifacts as "cultural cleansing" and a war crime that the world must punish. (AP)

A UN official seeks havens for Syrian refugees in Europe. (New York Times)

King Abdullah holds talks in Cairo with Pres. Sisi. (Jordan Times)

The leader of the Houthi rebel group in Yemen accuses Saudi Arabia of fueling unrest to divide the country. (New York Times)

Sec. Kerry will will travel to Switzerland next week to resume nuclear talks with Iran's FM Zarif. (AP) 

Commentary:

The Daily Star says the international community must condemn the “hate crime” in Jerusalem. (Daily Star)

Rasha Abu Jalal looks at the plight of Palestinian children in Israeli prisons. (Al-Monitor)

Shlomi Eldar interviews Palestinian journalist Majdi Arbid. (Al-Monitor)

Isaac Herzog says that although Israelis put security first and need all Americans as their ally, Netanyahu is hurting that goal. (New York Times)

Betty McCollum explains why she will not be attending Netanyahu’s speech in Congress. (Washington Post)

Ron Kampeas says Netanyahu’s speech is straining bipartisanship ahead of the AIPAC conference. (JTA)

Aaron David Miller asks if Pres. Obama’s relationship with Netanyahu is broken. (Foreign Policy)

George Hishmeh says Netanyahu’s presence in Washington next week could turn the political situation between the US and Israel upside down. (Jordan Times)

Ha’aretz says Netanyahu is insisting on damaging Israel's ties with the US. (Ha’aretz)

Carolina Landsmann says Israel’s democrats must vote for opposition leader Herzog. (Ha’aretz)

Majid Rafizadeh says striking an accord in the first phase of the P5+1 nuclear talks is very likely. (Al Arabiya)

David Brooks says the P5+1 negotiations with Iran are based on misguided premises and could have disastrous outcomes.(New York Times)

David Ignatius says America is the ally Egypt needs. (Washington Post)

Amir Taheri says Pres. Erdogan acknowledges the evils of the Assad regime but ignores the equally evil ISIS. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Mshari al-Zaydi says fighting ISIS is the duty of all Arabs. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Fareed Zakaria says Muslims must lead the battle against extremism. (Washington Post)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed asks if Yemen’s former Pres. Saleh really has $60 billion. (Al Arabiya)

News:

Israeli extremists set fire to a Greek Orthodox seminary in Jerusalem and spray hate slogans on the walls. (Ma’an/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

The PLO condemns attacks on Christian and Muslim holy sites. (Ma’an)

Extremist Jewish settlers spray-paint racist graffiti on the walls of a Palestinian school near Nablus. (Ma’an/Ha’aretz)

Palestinian activists descend on Ramallah to enforce the boycott of Israeli products. (Ynet)

Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank will vote in the upcoming election. (AP)

Israeli opposition leader Herzog calls on PM Netanyahu to cancel his upcoming Congressional speech. (AP/Jerusalem Post/Ynet)

Sec. Kerry reminds Americans that Netanyahu visited Washington in late 2002 to lobby for the invasion of Iraq. (New York Times/Times of Israel)

Following attacks by ISIS, Palestinian refugees in Iraq continue their search for a new, safe place to call home. (Times of Israel)

The “Jihadi John” masked fighter who fronted ISIS beheading videos is reportedly Mohammed Emwazi, a Kuwaiti-born Briton. (Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post/The National)

A coalition aistrike in western Iraq kills at least 17 ISIS militants overnight. (Reuters)

ISIS extremists have abducted at least 220 people from Assyrian Christian villages in Syria during a three-day offensive. (Reuters/AP)

A Christian leader in Syria urges US-led air strikes to help repel an attack by ISIS militants on their villages. (Reuters)

A French lawmaker faces party sanctions for holding talks in Damascus. (Reuters)

The US is looking to aid Syrian refugees amid security concerns. (AP)

ISIS is reportedly selling looted Syrian art in London to fund its battles. (Washington Post)

The UAE buys two Boeing C-17s. (Reuters)

King Abdullah and King Salman call for pan-Arab anti-terror efforts. (Jordan Times)

The US Embassy in Amman warns citizens of threat against malls in Jordan. (Reuters/Times of Israel/The National/Jordan Times)

Israeli and Jordanian officials sign a historic agreement on water trade. (Jerusalem Post)

Commentary:

Nicholas Kristof says Israel squanders political capital and antagonizes even its friends with its naked land grabs in the West Bank. (New York Times)

Abdullah Abu Rahmeh says Bil'in's villagers have become known as the “Palestinian Gandhis” for their popular struggle against the occupation. (Ha’aretz)

Gideon Levy says Israel is heading towards another violent eruption with Palestinians in Gaza. (Ha’aretz)

Akiva Eldar says all signs indicate that Netanyahu rejects a two-state solution. (Al-Monitor)

Shlomi Eldar asks if Israeli Jews will vote for the joint Arab list in the upcoming election. (Al-Monitor)

Carol Giacomo asks if Netanyahu and Speaker Boehner are hurting the American-Israeli relationship. (New York Times)

Dov Zakheim says Netanyahu must stay at home and not put the Israeli-American relationship at risk. (Foreign Policy)

Daniel Drezner looks at Netanyahu’s “blinkered view” of American politics. (Washington Post)

Robert Einhorn says Washington should make every effort to negotiate a sound agreement which can effectively deter an Iranian nuclear breakout. (New York Times)

Raphael Ahren says Netanyahu’s Congressional speech is “historic” and a “dangerous gamble.” (Times of Israel)

Hussein Ibish looks at the growing controversy regarding “how Islamic is ISIS.” (NOW)

The Agenda interviews Graeme Wood and Hussein Ibish on ISIS’ esxpansion into Libya. (TVO)

Alan Philps says US strategy in Iraq may open the door for the return of former PM Maliki. (The National)

The Jordan Times says the abduction of Assyrian Christians in Syria by ISIS highlights the plight of Christian communities in the Middle East. (Jordan Times)

H.A. Hellyer says the education sector in the Arab world will need to be reformed to counter ISIS. (The National)

Caryle Murphy looks at the implications of King Salman’s swift moves to build his new court. (Foreign Policy)

Joyce Karam says since the beginning of the Arab Spring, the Obama administration has not missed an opportunity to express surprise at major events shaping the region. (Al Arabiya)

News:

Extremist Jewish settlers torch a Palestinian mosque in the occupied West Bank. (AP/Ma’an/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

A poll indicates a slight majority of Americans favor the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. (JTA)

Israel Electric will cut the power flow to the West Bank cities of Nablus and Jenin for about 30 minutes for the second time in two days. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

After being forced out from Damascus, Hamas is establishing itself in Turkey. (Ynet)

An autopsy shows a Palestinian teenager killed by Israeli occupation forces was shot at a close range. (Ma’an)

A Palestinian girl is injured after being run over by a settler vehicle in the Silwan neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ma’an/PNN)

The new Palestinian city Rawabi has condos, a mall and a sports club — but no water. (Washington Post)

The Artist, a new magazine published in Gaza aims to introduce Palestinian artists to the public. (The Media Line)

NSA Rice says PM Netanyahu's decision to address Congress next week is "destructive" to US-Israel relations. (AP/New York Times/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Netanyahu turns down an invitation to meet privately with Senate Democrats next week during his visit to Washington. (AP)

Amb. Dermer has reportedly unsuccessfully lobbied the envoys of at least two Arab countries to attend Netanyahu’s speech to Congress. (JTA/Times of Israel/Ynet/The Atlantic)

Netanyahu’s office denies American reports that Israeli NSA Cohen objected to the premier's decision to address Congress next week. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

A wave of bomb attacks around Baghdad kill 37 people. (Reuters/AP)

ISIS extremists abduct at least 150 people from Assyrian Christian villages in Syria. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Washington Post)

Kurdish militia press a big offensive against ISIS in Syria, cutting one of its supply lines from Iraq. (Reuters)

Human Rights Watch says the Syrian government has dropped so-called barrel bombs on hundreds of sites in the past year. (New York Times)

Pres. Obama meets with Qatar’s Emir al-Thani. (AP/The National) 

Retired Libyan Gen. Haftar will reportedly meet with Israeli officials in Amman. (Jerusalem Post)

Yemen’s Houthis take over a US special forces army base in Sanaa. (Reuters)

UN experts say Yemen’s former Pres. Saleh is suspected of corruptly amassing as much as $60 billion. (Reuters)

King Abdullah of Jordan will meet with King Salman today in Riyadh. (Jordan Times)

Sec. Kerry defends P5+1 negotiations with Iran before Congress. (AP/New York Times/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Commentary:

Zvi Bar’el says by controlling water, electricity and taxes Israel is showing the PA who’s the boss. (Ha’aretz)

Ha’aretz says the PA and parts of occupied East Jerusalem are totally dependent on Israeli power, and cutting off a city means directly harming essential services. (Ha’aretz)

Elhanan Miller says despite a putative ban, Israeli products still abound on Ramallah store shelves. (Times of Israel)

The New York Times debates what the recent ruling of the US court means for the future of the PA. (New York Times)

Hazar Masri-Hussein says Israeli politicians are avoiding dealing with the issues of racism and Jewish-Arab relations. (Ynet)

Yossi Mekelberg says the unity of Palestinian citizens of Israel in the upcoming election must benefit the Arab constituency and the entire country. (Al Arabiya)

Shai Franklin says Obama should send a high level representative to the upcoming AIPAC conference. (JTA)

Thomas Friedman says ISIS is a product of decades of failed governance in the Arab world.  (New York Times)

David Kenner says former PM Maliki is quietly plotting a return to power. (Foreign Policy)

The National says a new army post that consolidates two of Libya’s many fighting factions offers hope. (The National)

Michael Young says Lebanon was expected to be the least resistant to the sectarian anarchy sweeping the region but has managed to stay afloat. (The National)

The Jordan Times says Jordan and Kuwait are a model of sound pan-Arab relations. (Jordan Times)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says Turkey would have had a greater regional role if it abandons petty alliances and avoids poking its nose in Arab domestic affairs. (Al Arabiya)

David Ignatius says an Iran deal would be good for the region. (Washington Post)

The New York Times says recent talks offer hope that the protracted nuclear threat from Iran can be resolved peacefully. (New York Times)

News:

Israeli occupation forces kill a Palestinian teenager in a refugee camp in the West Bank. (New York Times/Ma’an/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz)

An American jury finds the PLO and the PA liable for a series of terrorist attacks in the early 2000s.(AP/New York Times/AFP/JTA/Reuters/Times of Israel)

The PLO and the PA are “deeply disappointed” by the US court decision. (Ma’an)

Peace Now says the number of new homes under construction in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank rose last year by 40 percent. (AFP/Ha’aretz)

The Israeli government says it was not behind Israel Electric 's decision to cut power to Palestinians. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

New Zealand will appoint separate envoys to Israel and the PA. (Ha’aretz)

Hopes rise for Palestinian citizens of Israel in the country’s upcoming election. (The National)

Israeli forces open fire at Palestinian farmers in southern Gaza. (Ma’an)

Israeli forces demolish four Bedouin homes in Beersheba, leaving dozens homeless. (Ma’an)

Young Palestinian citizens of Israel are volunteering for the country’s national service. (The Media Line)

Agriculture in Gaza is suffering after the Israeli decision to ban vegetable exports to the West Bank. (Al-Monitor)

A poll indicates seven in 10 Americans continue to view Israel favorably, despite tension between US and Israeli leaders. (JTA) 

Israeli opposition leader Herzog says he will not address Congress with PM Netanyahu. (Times of Israel/Ynet)

Sen. Durbin and Sen. Feinstein ask Netanyahu for a private meeting to “clear bad feelings” on Congressional speech. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Netanyahu and Mossad reportedly have different views on Iran. (New York Times/Ha’aretz)

A group of French lawmakers hold talks with Syrian officials in Damascus. (Reuters)

ISIS extremists abduct at least 70 Christians in Syria. (AP/The National)

Reuters looks at how Iran’s military chiefs operate in Iraq. (Reuters)

Def. Sec. Carter says he is satisfied by the American-led campaign against ISIS. (Washington Post/The National)

Egypt rejects a report by Amnesty International that said seven civilians were killed in airstrikes targeting ISIS in Libya. (AP)

Pres. Sisi issues a new decree widening the scope of the security crackdown. (Reuters)

Tunisia arrests 100 suspected Islamist militants in the last three days. (Reuters)

Jordan provides the Lebanese army with artillery weapons and tanks. (Jordan Times)

An American official says the US made some progress in the P5+1 talks and managed to "sharpen up some of the tough issues." (Reuters)

A FIFA taskforce proposes shifting 2022 World Cup in Qatar to the end of the year. (New York Times)

Commentary:

Amira Hass asks if the PA will be forced to dissolve. (Ha’aretz)

Colum Lynch asks if the verdict against the PA will open the floodgates for new suits against terrorist groups and their alleged sponsors. (Foreign Policy)

Yoaz Hendel says the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee's summary of Operation Protective Edge must be published. (Ynet)

Peter Beinart says for both Pres. Obama and Netanyahu, giving up in the current fight over Iran would mean giving up on the way they see themselves. (Ha’aretz)

Oudeh Basharat says Netanyahu's address to Congress is not a speech but a “coup.” (Ha’aretz)

David Horovitz says the Obama administration claimed Israel was misrepresenting its deal with Iran but reports from Geneva indicate Israel’s concerns were all too accurate. (Times of Israel)

Akiva Eldar says Netanyahu hopes his speech to Congress will improve his chances of being re-elected. (Al-Monitor)

Octavia Nasr says this is a perfect opportunity to fill the gap with moderate, effective and progressive moves on behalf of Palestine. (Al Arabiya)

Oded Eran and Yoel Guzansky say Israel and Saudi Arabia are on diverging paths regarding Iran’s nuclear program. (Ha’aretz)

Hassan Hassan says the mistake of oversimplification made in the fight against al-Qaeda in the past is being repeated today with ISIS. (The National)

Wafiq Al-Samarrai looks at why the US is keen to liberate Mosul and not Anbar. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Magnus Ranstorp, Linus Gustafsson and Peder Hyllengren look at how a Swedish suburb became a breeding ground for foreign fighters streaming into Syria and Iraq. (Foreign Policy)

Salman Aldossary says Western governments can curb online extremism. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani says the Middle East will deteriorate further if the “peace-loving nations of the world” don't rein in the forces of instability and violence. (New York Times)

The National says Houthis use the language of law while waging war against Yemenis. (The National)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says the struggle in Yemen may divide the country into at least two parts. (Al Arabiya)

News:

A Palestinian official says Pres. Abbas has reportedly threatened to stop security coordination with Israel if Palestinian tax revenues are still withheld. (AP)

Sec. Kerry expresses concern about the viability of the PA if it does not soon receive tax revenues. (AP)

Israeli officials respond to claims that they are causing the collapse of the PA. (Jerusalem Post)

Abbas says the PA will not allow the outbreak of "chaos" in the Palestinian territory, a day after a senior Fatah official was stabbed by unknown assailants. (Ma’an)

Israel’s mayor in Jerusalem says he and his bodyguard apprehended a Palestinian who stabbed an Israeli. (AP/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz)

Seven Palestinians are injured in clashes with Israeli occupation forces near Bethlehem. (Ma’an/PNN)

The Shin Bet arrests 11 members of a Hamas cell in Hebron. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Israel Electric says it will be limiting supplies to the Palestinians due to debt. (Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

Palestinians in Gaza are forced to sell their belongings due to the harsh economic crisis. (Al-Monitor)

Israel denies Gaza government floodwater allegations. (Ma’an)

Brucellosis is on the rise in the West Bank. (Ma’an) 

Israel says it will purchase 14 more F-35 planes. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

The Washington Post profiles Israeli opposition leader Herzog. (Washington Post)

An American official says the White House will not boycott AIPAC’s upcoming convention over PM Netanyahu's Congressional speech. (Ha’aretz)

France’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier begins military operations against ISIS in Iraq. (Reuters/The National) 

France seizes the passports of six alleged French jihadists who were planning to depart to fight in Syria. (Reuters/AP)

Turkey says a military operation to rescue 38 soldiers guarding a tomb in Syria surrounded by ISISwas launched to counter a possible attack on them. (Reuters/AP/New York Times)

Pres. Sisi says the need for a joint Arab military force is growing every day. (AP/The National)

Def. Sec. Carter is scheduled to meet with senior American military and diplomatic officials who are leading the fight against ISIS. (New York Times)

An Egyptian court sentences a prominent activist Alaa Abdel Fattah to five years in jail for violating limits on demonstrations. (Reuters)

A panel disqualifies Egyptian tycoon Ahmed Ezz from running for parliament. (New York Times)

The Libyan government says it will end all contracts with companies from Turkey. (Reuters)

Pres. Hadi is reportedly taking steps to resume his duties in Yemen. (New York Times)

Nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 resume in Geneva. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Washington Post/Times of Israel)

Commentary:

Avi Issacharoff says rage in the occupied West Bank over frozen wages could boil over into violence. (Times of Israel)

Amira Hass looks at what has happened to Hebron 21 years after the Goldstein massacre. (Ha’aretz)

Iris Leal says if Moshe Kahlon can bring in disillusioned voters from the center-right, he has a good chance of ending the Netanyahu era. (Ha’aretz)

Hussein Ibish says Netanyahu’s trip to Washington will not prompt any major backlash, for now. (The National)

Joseph Lieberman says members of Congress must hear out Netanyahu’s speech. (Washington Post)

Dennis Ross asks if the divide between Israel and the US on Iran can be bridged. (Washington Post)

Raphael Ahren asks if a nuclear Iran truly poses an existential threat to Israel. (Times of Israel) 

Uri Savir looks at the “Iranian gap” between Pres. Obama and Netanyahu. (Al-Monitor)

Nick Robins-Early interviews Hussein Ibish about ISIS’ ideology. (Huffington Post)

Hisham Melhem looks at the differences between “violent extremism” and “Islamist extremism.” (Al Arabiya)

Tariq Alhomayed says fighting terrorism will depend on deeds not words. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Jamal Khashoggi says Egypt must not fall in the ISIS trap in Libya. (Al Arabiya)

Mshari al-Zaydi says the alliance between the Gulf and Egypt is not a matter of choice; but is an “unshakable necessity.” (Asharq al-Awsat)

Faisal Al Yafai says those who think a ceasefire in Aleppo with Pres. Assad will save Syrians have forgotten what happened to Homs last year. (The National)

The Jordan Times says it is high time that the perpetrators of war crimes in Syria be brought to justice. (Jordan Times)

Eyad Abu Shakra says Libya collapsed due to autocratic cliques that destroyed most pillars of civil society and by the inept handling by the international community. (Al Arabiya)

News:

A Palestinian official says a PLO delegation is due to visit Gaza, but a date has yet to be confirmed. (Ma’an)

The US and the EU reportedly plan to test the new Israeli government vis a vis the Palestinians after the elections. (Jerusalem Post)

Palestinian security forces raid the offices of two members of parliament. (Ma’an)

The Italian parliament postpones the vote on a non-binding bill calling for the recognition of the state of Palestine. (PNN)

A Palestinian civilian and a Hamas fighter die in separate incidents in underground tunnels beneath Gaza and Egypt. (Ma’an)

Israeli occupation forces arrest 14 Palestinians in overnight raids across the West Bank. (Ma’an)

An American trial threatens to undermine Palestinian efforts to rally international support at the ICC. (AP/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

A poll indicates 70 percent of Palestinian citizens of Israel care more about bettering their socioeconomic standing than about solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Ha’aretz)

Israeli and American national security advisers meet amid tensions between the two countries. (JTA)

23 Democrats urge Speaker Boehner to delay PM Netanyahu’s speech to Congress. (JTA/AP)

A secret government bank account holds funds Israel owes Iran for oil it received before the 1979 revolution. (Ha’aretz)

An American official says an Iraqi and Kurdish military force is being prepared to recapture the city of Mosul from ISIS, in the April-May time frame. (Reuters/AP/New York Times)

The US and Turkey sign an agreement to train and equip moderate Syrian opposition fighters. (Reuters)

AP looks at the some signs of tension emerging among ISIS militants. (AP)

ISIS’ flamboyant violence consumes the world’s attention while more familiar threats kill far more people. (New York Times)

Three car bombs in Eastern Libya kill 40 and wound 70 people. (Reuters/AP/Washington Post/AFP)

Pro-ISIS militants seize a university in the central Libyan city of Sirte. (Reuters)

Britain says Libya needs a unified government before the UNSC can lift the arms embargo. (Reuters) 

The UN says Yemen’s feuding parties have agreed on a "people's transitional council" to help govern the country and guide it out of a political crisis. (Reuters)

King Salman’s post-coronation giveaways will cost an estimated $32 billion. (New York Times)

The US and the UAE are launching a new media hub to tackle extremism. (The National)

Commentary:

Hanana Elsana, a Bedouin Arab woman, explains why she will vote in Israel’s upcoming election. (Ha’aretz)

Jamal Abdo says the merger of all the Arab parties is welcome, but he already knows what little impact they will have in the next Knesset. (Ha’aretz)

Maya Kornberg and Roee Kibrik say Israel must broaden the definition of security to reframe Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and break the deadlock. (Ynet)

David Ignatius looks at the public rift between Pres. Obama and Netanyahu over the Iranian nuclear issue. (Washington Post)

Ben Caspit says Israel fears that the US aspires to replace its traditional Middle East allies with Iran. (Al-Monitor)

Ali Khedery looks at how Iranian-backed Shiite militias are running amok in Iraq. (Foreign Policy)

Raed Omari says Arab states have been implementing a war on terror with America’s hesitance and decisiveness in the background. (Al Arabiya)

Tariq Alhomayed says Pres. Sisi should have gone to the Arab League before hitting ISIS in Libya. (Asharq al-Awsat)

The New York Times says Egypt’s airstrikes against ISIS positions in Libya could endanger the UN’s fragile peace effort. (New York Times)

Amir Taheri says Syria policy needs to recognize that Pres. Assad and ISIS are parts of the same problem. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Aaron David Miller says any meaningful summit on countering or preventing violent extremism has to happen in the Muslim world and not in Washington. (Foreign Policy)

News:

News:

An increasing number of desperate young Palestinians have been caught trying to cross into Israel from Gaza since last summer’s war. (New York Times)

Palestinian official Shaath says financial and political problems within the PA could lead to violence if not addressed. (Ma’an)

Hamas leader Abu Marzouq says Quartet Envoy Blair visited Gaza to notify the group of a new set of “preconditions” for reconstruction. (Ma’an)

Hamas is reportedly seeking to fight Israel from Lebanon. (Ha’aretz)

A series of cyber attacks against Israel appear to be coming from Gaza. (AFP)

Palestinian land in occupied East Jerusalem is expropriated by Israel and used as a landfill. (Ha’aretz)

Extremist Jewish settlers uproot 500 newly planted olive trees in Hebron. (Ma’an)

An Israeli girl who was critically injured in a car accident caused by Palestinian rock throwers two years ago dies. (New York Times/JTA/Times of Israel)

The Media Line asks if the Palestinian boycott against products manufactured by six leading Israeli companies is feasible. (The Media Line)

Hamas prevents Arabic fiction award finalist Atef Abu Saif from leaving Gaza. (Al-Monitor)

Opposition Leader Herzog says if he is elected he will not negotiate with Hamas. (Ynet)

Some political candidates in Israel are seeking to revive debates with opponents. (New York Times)

DM Ya’alon visits India to boost arms sales. (Reuters)

EU officials confirm Israel is not fully briefed on Iran-P5+1 talks. (Times of Israel)

A poll indicates nearly two thirds of Americans say PM Netanyahu’s speech to Congress is a “bad move.” (Ha’aretz)

Pres. Sisi’s crackdown on dissent is leaving little space for critics, comics or cartoonists. (Reuters)

UN Envoy to Syria de Mistura announces a possible truce in Aleppo.  (New York Times)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says battles in and around Aleppo have killed at least 70 pro-government fighters and more than 80 insurgents. (Reuters)

Jordan’s fight against ISIS is a high risk balancing act. (The National)

Al-Qaeda linked Islamist militants attack a checkpoint in Tunisia, killing four police officers. (Reuters/AP)

Italy calls for urgent international action to halt Libya's slide into chaos and says it is ready to help monitor a ceasefire and train local armed forces. (Reuters/AP)

Pres. Obama’s view of the US role in the Arab world is challenged by a number of crises. (AP)

At the counter extremism summit Obama aims to broaden the global approach to countering terrorism. (AP)

Ayatollah Khamenei says Iran might respond to international pressure by cutting back on gas exports. (Reuters/Jerusalem Post)

Commentary:

Ben Caspit says Netanyahu’s speech to Congress could tip the electoral scale in his favor. (Al-Monitor)

Peter Beinart says Elie Wiesel keeps apologizing for a government that betrays his ideals. (Ha’aretz)

George Hishmeh says American supporters of Israel and the Israeli public remain seriously divided over the “arrogant and unyielding stance” of Netanyahu ahead of the elections. (Gulf News)

Hussein Ibish says the West has underestimated the recruiting appeal of ISIS’ “theater of cruelty.” (New York Times)

Yousef Al Otaiba says ISIS cannot be defeated on the battlefield alone. (Politico)

The Washington Post says Egypt’s response to the beheadings in Libya is “wrong.”  (Washington Post)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says military intervention will not solve Yemen’s problems. (Asharq al-Awsat) 

Manuel Almeida looks at the “feebleness” of the UN resolution on Yemen. (Al Arabiya)

Michael Young says the solution for Syria after the civil war is bigger than Pres. Assad and might include a federation of states. (The National)

Thomas Friedman says Turkey’s drift away from democracy is part of a much larger trend around the world.  (New York Times)

News:

The PA says there is no ISIS presence in Palestine. (Ma’an/Jerusalem Post) 

Palestinian officials call PM Netanyahu’s plan to visit the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron a "time bomb." (Ma’an)

Pres. Rivlin says Palestinian citizens of Israel are an inseparable part of the country. (Times of Israel)

Economy Minister Bennett says Palestinians need to forget about statehood. (AP/Times of Israel)

The World Health Organization says patients in Gaza struggle with access restrictions. (PNN)

Israeli occupation forces break into a Palestinian home in East Jerusalem to question two young boys. (Ma’an)

Israeli occupation forces uproot dozens of olive trees in the West Bank. (Ma’an) 

Palestinian officials ask to be involved in the FBI inquiry into the shootings of three Muslims in Chapel Hill. (JTA)

The head of Israel's election commission says he will limit any pre-election boost Netanyahu may get from speech to the US Congress. (Reuters/JTA)

Amb. Dermer says Netanyahu’s address to Congress on Iran is worth risking ties with the Obama administration. (Ha’aretz)

Egyptian airstrikes kill six gunmen in Sinai. (Ma’an)

Pres. Sisi calls for a UN resolution mandating international intervention in Libya. (Reuters/AP)

Egyptian officials say Egypt and Jordan are united against ISIS brutality. (Jordan Times)

Facing grim economic prospects at home, desperate young Egyptians are seeking jobs in a perilous Libya. (Reuters)

AP looks at ISIS’ reach into North Africa. (AP)

Iraqi Shiite militias are rushing to defend oil-rich Kirkuk from ISIS. (AP

Hezbollah leader Nasrallah acknowledges his group is battling ISIS in Iraq. (Washington Post/The National)

The Syrian army captures several villages north of Aleppo from insurgents. (Reuters)

A White House summit this week on countering violent extremism will not focus exclusively on threats from ISIS. (AP)

The US is intensifying its effort to counter ISIS’ message. (New York Times)

Bahrain launches a criminal investigation into the country’s largest opposition group. (Reuters)

Ayatollah Khamenei criticizes the film "American Sniper," saying the movie encourages violence against Muslims. (AP)

Commentary:

Ha’aretz says Israel must connect the new Palestinian city of Rawabi to the national water grid. (Ha’aretz)

Nahum Barnea says there is no way to explain why Israel is preventing Rawabi from receiving water. (Ynet)

Walid Jawad says their Jewish compatriots not knowing much about the Palestinian citizens of Israel is an “unforgiven political travesty.” (Al Arabiya)

Rasha Abu Jalal says the families of accused Palestinian spies in Gaza suffer marginalization and shame. (Al-Monitor)

Alona Ferber looks at six times in the past when the US-Israel relationship supposedly hit “rock bottom.” (Ha’aretz)

Ha’aretz interviews former Amb. Oren. (Ha’aretz)

Graeme Wood looks at what ISIS really wants. (The Atlantic)

The National says Libya needs global help to stop ISIS. (The National)

The Daily Star says the response to the horrific mass murder of Egyptian Copts by ISIS in Libya and the attacks in Denmark must come at an international scale. (Daily Star)

The Jordan Times says the beheadings in Libya are yet another demonstration of the cruelty and barbarism of ISIS. (Jordan Times)

Abdallah Schleifer says as Egypt fires at ISIS in Libya, the US still wants to “talk it out.” (Al Arabiya)

Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa says ISIS ideology must be combated and defeated. (Al Arabiya)

Mustafa Akyol says it’s time to rediscover the John Lockes of Islam. (New York Times)

Tariq Alhomayed says Iran faces an uphill battle in Yemen. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Raymond Tanter looks at Washington’s “third option” against a nuclear Iran. (Foreign Policy)

News:

Quartet Peace Envoy Blair says any peace deal must lead to improved living conditionsfor Palestinians. (Reuters/AP/AFP/Ha’aretz)

DM Ya’alon accuses the PA of bailing out on a plan to ease the Gaza blockade. (Times of Israel)

Former US Special Envoy Indyk says if the new Israeli government opposes a Palestinian state, Israel faces the prospect of a UNSC resolution designed to “lay out the principles of a two state solution.” (Jerusalem Post)

Fatah and Hamas warn PM Netanyahu that a visit to Hebron will raise tensions. (Jerusalem Post/Ynet)

In Gaza, a Fatah official’s car is torched and gunmen open fire on another Fatah official. (Ma’an)

Egyptian border guards discover a smuggling tunnel from Gaza which ran at least 2.5 kilometers underground. (Ma’an/Times of Israel)

Israeli forces raid the "Jerusalem Gate" protest camp near Abu Dis. (Ma’an/PNN)

Palestinian rappers threaten legal action against Likud party for using their song. (AFP/Ha’aretz)

Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot assumes the position of the 21st chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Ynet)

Speaker Boehner says he kept PM Netanyahu’s forthcoming Congressional speech a secret to stop the White House from interfering. (AP/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Netanyahu calls for massive immigration of European Jews to Israel following a deadly shooting near Copenhagen's main synagogue. (AP/New York Times/PNN/Ynet)

Former Pres. Peres says Jews should immigrate to Israel out of desire, not fear. (JTA/Times of Israel)

World leaders condemn the Denmark attack as an assault on freedom of speech. (AP)

ISIS releases a video that shows the beheadings of 21 Egyptian Christians in Libya andPres. Sisi warns his country will respond. (Reuters/AP/New York Times)

Pope Francis and the White House both decry the beheadings. (Reuters/AP)

Egyptian warplanes stage a second wave of airstrikes against ISIS positions in Libya. (AP/Washington Post/New York Times/The National)

The UAE says it backs a strong Egyptian response to the Libya beheadings. (AFP) 

ISIS is establishing militant affiliates in Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt and Libya. (New York Times)

Westerners are joining an Iraqi Christian militia called Dwekh Nawsha to fight against ISIS. (Reuters) 

Human Rights Watch says Shiite militias allied with Iraqi security forces have escalated a campaign of abuse against Sunni residents. (AP)

Sunni lawmakers will boycott the Iraqi parliament over abuses committed by Shiite militias. (New York Times/Washington Post)

The UNSC demands Houthi withdrawal from government institutions and an end to the violence in Yemen. (Reuters/The National)

Jordan jails a Muslim Brotherhood leader for criticizing the UAE. (New York Times/The National/Jordan Times)

Chinese FM Yi pushes for an Iranian nuclear deal. (Reuters)

The US is reportedly limiting the information it shares with Israel on Iranian nuclear talks. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Iran bans a conservative weekly newspaper for criticizing government concessions in P5+1 talks. (Reuters/The National)

Commentary:

Uri Savir says Palestinians are preparing a “diplomatic Intifada.” (Al-Monitor)

Adnan Abu Amer asks if Hamas is planning a strike on Israel from Lebanon's refugee camps. (Al-Monitor)

Ha’aretz says Israel’s right-wing leaders must stop cultivating anti-left and anti-Arab propaganda. (Ha’aretz)

Moshe Arens says the strategic relationship between the US and Israel has weathered rough spells before, and it will survive the current discord. (Ha’aretz)

Faisal Al Yafai asks why Europe is exporting jihadis to the Middle East. (The National)

Roger Cohen says history will not judge Pres. Obama kindly for having failed to foster the great liberation movement that rose up in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Syria and elsewhere. (New York Times)

Gilles Kepel says in Copenhagen and Paris, a new wave of terrorists is trying to outdo its predecessors but is just as likely to fail. (New York Times)

Taylor Luck says rehabilitating citizens who fought for extremist groups like ISIL would be a smarter strategy than hardline responses. (The National)

Theodore Karasik says ISIS is opening a second, major front in Libya that seeks to engulf all of northern Africa and threaten Europe.(Al Arabiya)

The National says the GCC’s response to regional extremism must be coordinated, long term and flexible. (The National)

The Jordan Times says Yemen is a failed state. (Jordan Times)

The Daily Star says Lebanon must elect a president and keep itself out of the larger regional conflagration. (Daily Star)

Raghida Dergham looks at probable outcomes of nuclear negotiations with Iran. (Al Arabiya)