NEWS:

Sec. Kerry says he had a "frank" discussion with PM Netanyahu about Israel's settlement activity, and reportedly said they violate israel's commitments. (AP/Ha'aretz)

Kerry says he and the Palestinians were warned about new settlement activity. (Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

Israel's housing minister promises more settlements to come. (Jerusalem Post/AFP)

The EU says the US is quietly supporting its new occupation guidelines. (Ha'aretz)

New Israeli-Palestinian direct negotiations are due to resume today in Jerusalem. (AP)

Hours before new talks are due to begin, Israel launches air strikes against Gaza. (New York Times)

Kerry says talks should continue despite the tensions, and mixed moves by Israel. (Washington Post/Xinhua)

Hamas denounces the negotiations and levels various charges at Fatah. (Times of Israel)

UNSG Ban will travel to the Middle East to support the negotiations later this week. (Xinhua)

26 Palestinian prisoners are released by Israel, with different responses in both communities. (New York Times/AP/Christian Science Monitor)

Pres. Abbas vows to secure the release of all Palestinian prisoners. (Ha'aretz)

Abbas asks PM Hamdallah to form a new government. (AP/Ma'an)

Israel places new restrictions on Palestinians retrieving their property in Jerusalem. (Ha'aretz)

The PA says it expects to receive a report on the late Pres. Arafat's remains in September. (Xinhua)

The UN calls on Hamas to cease executing prisoners, but Hamas says executions will continue. (AP/Al Monitor)

Hamas is keeping close surveillance on Facebook activity in Gaza. (Al Monitor)

Palestinians say Israeli forces attacked and detained three Palestinian fishermen. (PNN)

A Palestinian man is accused of slaying his own daughter in an "honor killing." (Ha'aretz)

Lebanese security forces say Israeli forces seized a Syrian shepherd in Lebanon.(Xinhua)

Palestinian social indicators are said by some to be remarkably high under the circumstances. (Albawaba)

An Israeli cosmetics company based in the occupied territories tries to avoid EU sanctions by simply changing addresses. (Bloomberg)


COMMENTARY:

ATFP intern Rachel Bessette looks at the problem of sexual harassment, especially in Egypt. (Now Media)

Brent Sasley says, if talks fail after all of Israel's new settlement announcements, Kerry could and should blame Netanyahu. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Jim Hecht lays out some steps the US could take to facilitate real progress in Israeli-Palestinian talks. (Baltimore Sun)

The National says Israel's new settlement announcements reveal its true intentions. (The National)

Yossi Mekelberg says Netanyahu must find the courage to stop settlement activity. (Al Arabiya)

Ha'aretz says using trolls and other social media "dirty tricks" won't fix Israel's public image. (Ha'aretz)

Zvi Bar'el says, despite rhetoric to the contrary, Israel and the settler movement are responding to the EU with a boycott of its own. (Ha'aretz)

David Horovitz says by releasing violent prisoners while resuming settlements, Netanyahu is having the worst of both worlds. (Times of Israel)

Gil Troy is upset that international law prohibits Israeli settlement in the occupied territory. (Jerusalem Post)

The Jerusalem Post denounces the prisoner release as immoral and the EU as anti-Semitic. (Jerusalem Post)

John Whitbeck says Israel needs negative incentives for the peace process to succeed. (Asharq Al Awsat)

The Guardian says Netanyahu must decide whether he wants peace or endless occupation. (The Guardian)

Jonathan Cook says there are many obstacles, not just settlements, in the way of a successful peace negotiation. (The National)

Peter Beinart says even after a two-state agreement, Israel will still have to deal with its own Palestinian citizens. (Daily Beast)

Michael Singh says US "re-engagement" in the Middle East is essential to secure Israeli-Palestinian peace. (Foreign Policy)

Sari Bashi says Israel giving Palestinians more freedom of movement is a win-win scenario. (The Forward)

Omer Taspinar asks if Hamas' new vulnerability could be the key to renewed Turkish regional relevance. (Al Monitor)

Jeffrey Goldberg says Kerry has gotten Netanyahu's attention by warning about the consequences of failed peace talks. (Bloomberg)

Huang Yinjiazi says the new Israeli-Palestinian negotiations are good for everyone. (Xinhua)

Greg Myre asks if the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is more difficult to solve now, 20 years after Oslo. (NPR)