News:

The PA categorically rejects the idea of a continued Israeli military presence in the Jordan Valley after a peace agreement. (Jerusalem Post)

Right-wing Likud leaders say they will not permit an interim agreement with the Palestinians. (Jerusalem Post)

Sec. Kerry will meet PM Netanyahu in Rome on Oct. 23. (JTA)

Salafists from Gaza are reportedly killed while fighting in the Syrian conflict. (Al Monitor)

An Israeli court rules it's not discriminatory to give benefits to only certain Palestinian Jerusalem residents. (Jerusalem Post)

The Israeli military says it killed a Palestinian man at a military base in the occupied West Bank. (New York Times/Ma'an)

2,000 Indians claiming to be Jewish emigrate to Israel amid skepticism about their real ties to the faith. (JTA)

Pres. Abbas invites Pope Francis to the "Holy Land." (Ma'an)

Abbas swears in PM Hamdallah and an unchanged PA cabinet. (Ma'an)

After meeting Abbas, German Chancellor Merkel urges Israel to restrain settlement construction. (YNet)

18 Palestinians are charged with terrorist plotting in Lebanon. (naharnet)

Israeli occupation forces detain five Palestinians in separate incidents Thursday in the occupied West Bank. (Ma'an)

Abbas promises to save the life of a girl suffering from a failed kidney, diabetes and thalassemia. (PNN)

4 girls die after being trapped in a car in Hebron. (Ma'an)

This year's Palestinian olive harvest is being overshadowed by fears of annexation. (PNN)

US Amb. to Israel Schapiro denounces Hamas' smuggling tunnels. (Times of Israel)

Israel's mayoral race in Jerusalem is contested between radically different components. (Washington Post)

Saudi Arabia rejects a seat on the UN Security Council. (New York Times/AP/Reuters)

Hezbollah is further endangering Israeli hawks by accusing them of "spying." (AP)

Egypt's Coptic Christians struggle to preserve their heritage under significant pressure. (AP)

59 are killed and 196 wounded in a day of violent attacks in Iraq. (Xinhua)

Iranian officials say new nuclear negotiations signal the beginning of a new era with the West. (AFP/Ha'aretz)

Iran says Israel is trying to undermine the new negotiations with the West. (YNet)

Turkey denies having exposed an Israeli spy ring in Iran. (YNet/Jerusalem Post)

A senior Syrian government intelligence officer is killed in the conflict in that country. (BBC)
 

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish looks of the dying mythologies of the "axis of evil" and the "axis of resistance." (Al Majalla)

Talal Salman says Lebanon is now no longer the only Arab "country without a state." (As-Safir/Al Monitor)

Sharif Al Nashashibi says declining US clout in the Middle East has shaken Egypt and many regional allies. (Gulf News)

Aaron David Miller looks at the reasons behind declining US influence in the Middle East. (Foreign Policy)

Zuheir Kseibati says the Arabs are massacring each other while Iran and Israel negotiate to divide the spoils. (Al Hayat)

Andrew Apostolou warns against offering "sanctions relief" to Iran at this stage. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Nawaf Obaid says Saudi Arabia is adopting a much more activist foreign policy. (Al Monitor)

Barbara Slavin analyzes Iran's new nuclear proposal. (Al Monitor)

Roger Cohen says Netanyahu has to ask himself the question: "if not now, when?" (New York Times)

Anshel Pfeffer says the only real threat to Israelis from BDS and universal jurisdiction is fear. (Ha'aretz)

Avi Issacharoff says in desperation, Hamas is hoping to capture another Israeli soldier. (Times of Israel)

Yossi Sarid says Netanyahu is "the most dangerous leader in the Western world" and needs to put away his Churchillian cigar. (Ha'aretz)

Yoel Marcus says Israel doesn't have a better leader than Netanyahu right now. (Ha'aretz)

Saba Farzan and Saeed Ghasseminejad say Netanyahu is doing well in PR with the West, but not the Middle East. (Jerusalem Post)

David Weinberg claims the late PM Rabin was "close to stopping the Oslo process." (Jerusalem Post)

Uri Misgav says the court ruling there is no such thing as "Israeli" nationality is not a shock but an identity crisis. (Ha'aretz)

Michael Oren evaluates the 1973 war, 40 years later. (The New Republic)

Yossi Melman denounces "Turkey's unprecedented betrayal of Israel." (Jerusalem Post)

Ilene Prusher interviews David Harris-Gershon, whose wife was almost killed in a 2002 terrorist attack in Jerusalem. (Christian Science Monitor)

The Jerusalem Post interviews Finance Minister Lapid. (Jerusalem Post)

Lish Lee Avner says Israelis should feel free to live in Berlin despite the Holocaust. (YNet)

The BBC looks at the plight of Syrian refugees stuck in France. (BBC)

Elhanan Miller says PM Erdogan is politically turning to less nationalism and more Islamism. (Times of Israel)

Samir Salha says Kurds need a state, and the only real question is where and when it will be. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Norm Coleman says the US was wrong to cut aid to Egypt. (Washington Post)

News:

An Israeli committee advances a new law that would greatly restrict negotiations on Jerusalem. (Xinhua)

Israel's chief negotiator Livni is leading the charge to oppose the legislation. (Jerusalem Post)

Pres. Abbas says Israel's demands on Jerusalem are turning the conflict from a political to a religious one. (Ma'an)

Israel will reportedly release a second batch of Palestinian prisoners on Oct. 29. (Xinhua)

Palestinians in Nablus say they are determined to return to normal lives without violence. (Washington Post)

Ex-Shin Bet chief Diskin warns there is no chance of peace given the current Israeli political climate and another intifada is possible. (Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)

As peaceful protests are declining, fears of another intifada are intensifying. (The National)

Hamas urges the PLO to abandon negotiations with Israel and calls for a new intifada. (Xinhua/AP)

Abbas denies negotiations with Israel are at a dead end. (Times of Israel)

Hamas admits digging a tunnel from Gaza into Israel. (Xinhua/AFP)

Reports claim PM Erdogan is urging Hamas not to make any concessions to Egypt as long as the political situation there remains volatile. (Ha'aretz)

Israel approves a new x-ray cargo inspection facility that should assist the Palestinian economy. (Xinhua)

The mayoral race in Nazareth proves hotly contested. (New York Times)

Israel honors New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg with a $1 million prize. (AP)

The Arab League announces Syrian peace talks to be held in late November. (Washington Post)

Dozens are killed by a suicide bomber at a café in Baghdad. (New York Times/AP)

Dozens are killed by suicide bomber linked to Al Qaeda in Hama. (New York Times)

Egypt's PM condemns deadly attacks on Coptic Christians, especially at a wedding. (AP/AFP)

An Egyptian family rejects an Israeli honor for one of their ancestors. (AP)

E-commerce is hugely expanding throughout the Middle East. (Christian Science Monitor)

Israeli NGOs are quietly distributing aid to Syrian refugees in Jordan. (Times of Israel)

Bedouin women in Israel are increasingly turning to education for a better future. (The Media Line)

 

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish looks at the "toxic effects" of political and cultural nostalgia in the Middle East and around the world. (The National)

Aeyal Gross explains why the proposed legislation restricting negotiations on Jerusalem is illegal and undemocratic. (Ha'aretz)

The Jerusalem Post interviews Livni, who reiterates nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. (Jerusalem Post)

Dan Goldenblatt argues it's important to start finding ways to convince settlers of the necessity of peace. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Tom Friedman says understanding Middle Eastern politics can help explain Washington dysfunctionality. (New York Times)

Oudeh Basharat looks at panic in Israel about the idea of Jewish women having sex with Arab doctors. (Ha'aretz)

The Washington Post says US policies are doing nothing to stop the Syrian regime attacking its own people. (Washington Post)

The Jerusalem Post says Hamas becoming more desperate, and therefore more dangerous. (The Jerusalem Post)

Miriam Awadallah looks at efforts by Hamas and Islamic Jihad to compete for Iranian support. (Sharnoff's Global Views)

Noah Klieger says Israel should suspend relations with Turkey. (YNet)

Ben Caspit says Israeli-Turkish relations have reached a new low. (Al Monitor)

Joseph Federman says there are signs of a US-Israel rift over Iran. (Times of Israel)

Sharif Nashashibi says Sudan may prove to be "the next Syria." (The National)

Abdullah Iskandar says state fragmentation in Lebanon has reached an all-time low. (Al Hayat)

Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed says Turkey is mobilizing against Al Qaeda in Syria but can do much more. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Nasouh Majali says a Geneva conference on Syria would be a step forward, but no solution. (Jordan Times)

Ayman Mustafa says the Muslim Brotherhood persists in trying to use religion to gain political power. (Gulf News)

News:

Settlers attack Palestinians harvesting olives in Hebron. (Ma'an)

Leaders of Fatah and Hamas speak via telephone on the eve of Eid al-Adha. (AFP)

Hamas says Palestinian refugees fleeing Syria should come to Gaza. (Jerusalem Post)

The Times of Israel profiles a Muslim Brotherhood family in Gaza. (Times of Israel)

Younger Palestinians seem to be having fewer children. (Al Monitor)

PM Netanyahu says he "needs a partner" to make peace, and that Iran is the primary obstacle. (Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)

A former Shin Bet director warns Jewish "price tag" violence could lead to another Israeli political assassination. (YNet)

Bedouin citizens of Israel are continuing to resist forced relocation plans. (Al Monitor)

US officials praise an Iranian proposal after a rare private meeting on the eve of renewed nuclear negotiations. (Washington Post/Los Angeles Times)

Iran is reportedly ready to discuss snap inspections of its nuclear facilities. (Ha'aretz/Jerusalem Post)

Israel and some Arab states may be quietly working together to counter Iran. (YNet)

Russia denies issuing any conclusions regarding the death of the late Pres. Arafat as controversy continues to swirl over the issue. (AFP/Los Angeles Times)

Facebook acquires the mobile Israeli startup Onavo. (Xinhua)

Pres. Peres awards $1 million to US scientists for technology allowing disabled to get up from wheelchairs. (Xinhua)

Texas Gov. Perry is going to London and Israel. (AP)

Saudi Arabia and the UAE are seeking $10.8 billion in US arms sales. (AP)

A new study estimates that 500,000 Iraqis died during the conflict over the past decade. (Los Angeles Times)

A Jordanian band is being criticized by some fans for touring Israel. (Christian Science Monitor)


Commentary:

B'Tselem says disruptions at the Rafah Crossing highlight Israel’s duty to enable Gazans’ travel. (B'Tselem)

Raji Sourani and Shawan Jabarin say it's time for the ICC to act on Palestine. (Al Jazeera)

Ha'aretz says an unauthorized settlement is symptomatic of Israel's "march toward a messianic, anti-Zionist dream." (Ha'aretz)

Uri Avnery says the political left in Israel today is defined largely by attitudes towards the occupation. (Ha'aretz)

Yechiam Weitz says Netanyahu sees himself as Churchill, but all they have in common is a taste for good cigars. (YNet)

Ben Caspit says Netanyahu is playing for political time in Israel with hackneyed positions. (Al Monitor)

Mitch Ginsberg tries to explain how Hamas built a tunnel into Israel and how Israel detected it. (Times of Israel)

Shlomi Eldar says Hamas has little else to do but try to dig tunnels. (Al Monitor)

David Kirshenbaum says Jews have rights at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount. (Jerusalem Post)

David Newman receives an OBE and explains it's possible to be a liberal Zionist. (Times of Israel)

Avi Issacharoff says US Middle East allies are bewildered by its policies, especially on the eve of talks with Iran. (Times of Israel)

Frederic Wehrey examines strained relations between the US and Gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia. (Carnegie)

Ma'an interviews PLO leader Hanan Ashrawi and Prof. Beshara Doumani. (Ma'an)

Zvi Bar'el says Iran has to choose between pursuing its nuclear program and maintaining regional influence. (Ha'aretz)

Reuters looks at China's growing influence in the Middle East. (Reuters)

Asharq Al-Awsat interviews Gen. Salim Idris, head of the FSA's Supreme Military Council. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Ali Mamouri laments the "crisis of moral decline in Iraqi society." (Al Monitor)

Talal Alyan says the politics of self-defeat will ultimately be overcome in Arab societies. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Karl Sharro parodies armed gangs at a fictional "Annual Conference for Arab Militias." (karlremarks.com)

News:

PM Netanyahu stakes out tough positions for negotiations with Palestinians. (AP)

An Israeli newspaper reports negotiations are on the brink of collapse. (Xinhua)

British press reports say about €1 billion in aid to the Palestinians has been either "wasted" or lost to corruption. (PNN)

Israel says it has found tunnels running from Gaza into southern Israel, and destroyed them. (New York Times/AP/Times of Israel)

Israel says it's going to test new methods of arresting children after a damning UN report. (AFP)

30 settlers attack a Palestinian car near Nablus. (Ma'an)

Israel cancels the evacuation of 75 Palestinians from their homes in the Jordan Valley. (Ma'an)

A report is issued reiterating traces of polonium on articles of clothing belonging to the late Pres. Arafat, but Palestinian officials say there's nothing new revealed. (AFP/Xinhua)

Russian officials say they don't believe Arafat died from polonium poisoning. (Ha'aretz)

Nazareth is bracing for a hotly contested mayoral election. (Jerusalem Post)

Prices are soaring and the economy is collapsing in Gaza as the area's blockade intensifies. (The Guardian)

Tony Blair says he is optimistic about the economic plan for developing the occupied West Bank. (Financial Times)

The first Palestinian baby is born with sperm smuggled from a Palestinian prisoner held by Israel. (The Guardian)

10 Jewish men are arrested at a holy area in occupied East Jerusalem. (New York Times)

A US citizen is found dead in his Egyptian prison cell, causing alarm among other Americans in Egypt. (AP/BBC/The Media Line)

New negotiations begin between Iran, which presents a proposal, and the West on nuclear issues. (Ha'aretz)

Israel says it is opposed to a "partial deal" with Iran. (New York Times)

Israel asks Europe for support regarding Iran and urges no easing of sanctions. (AP/Xinhua/Los Angeles Times)

Israel conducts a massive Air Force drill. (Times of Israel)

Archaeology in Jerusalem and beyond continues to attract historic and religious controversy. (Christian Science Monitor)

A bomb is found in a Hezbollah stronghold in Lebanon. (Jerusalem Post)

A new Pew study finds broader criticism of Israel has entered the Jewish mainstream. (The Forward)

The new Palestinian nonprofit hybrid "Visualizing Palestine" unites activism and entrepreneurship. (Wamda)


Commentary:

Roger Cohen says there is a brighter future for the Middle East, as long as it can break from past attitudes. (New York Times)

Shimon Shiffer says PM Netanyahu's hard-line positions are leading to a bloody dead-end. (YNet)

J.J. Goldberg asks if Netanyahu's positions on Jerusalem are actually softening. (The Forward)

Hassan Barari says Netanyahu is becoming increasingly isolated. (Jordan Times)

Qadura Fares says Netanyahu's "extreme positions" are intensifying hopelessness and frustration among Palestinians. (Al Monitor)

Yuval Steinitz claims "Palestinian hate" is preventing Israeli-Palestinian peace. (New York Times)

Bruce Stokes asks if Jewish Americans think Israeli-Palestinian peace is possible. (Foreign Policy)

Mona Chalabi looks at how Palestine's economy functions under occupation. (The Guardian)

Emily Harris looks at how Palestinians are dealing with Israel's separation barrier. (NPR)

Richard Forer says compassion is essential to peace. (Ma'an)

Mazal Mualem says Israelis have lost interest in peace talks since the murder of the late PM Rabin. (Al Monitor)

Yair Tzaban says anti-democratic legislation pending in the Knesset must be blocked. (YNet)

Jane Arraf asks if Syrian refugees will transform or threaten Jordan's economy. (Christian Science Monitor)

Bradley Burston says that the Jewish students at UC Berkeley need to be open to different points of view. (Ha'aretz)

Salman Masalha says Pres. Assad will never willingly relinquish power. (Ha'aretz)

Hussein Ibish looks at the unfolding process of state fragmentation in Syria. (The National)

Jenny Cuffe looks at British "Jihadists" fighting in Syria. (BBC)

Asharq Al-Awsat interviews the head of the Syrian National Coalition, Ahmad Tomeh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Barak Barfi says the United States needs to identify and promote a plausible alternative Syrian leader. (Jordan Times)

Diana Moukalled asks why Hezbollah is remaining silent about a video apparently showing it killing wounded Syrian prisoners. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Khalaf Al Habtoor says Gulf states need to unite against the possibility of a US-Iranian rapprochement. (Gulf News)

Mohammad Salah says the new Egyptian government should appoint people based on qualifications, not an anti-MB quota. (Al Hayat)

Matt Surrusco talks with Palestinian film director Hany Abu-Assad about his new movie "Omar." (The Indypendent)
 

News:

Palestinians say Pres. Abbas is prepared to meet with PM Netanyahu. (Jerusalem Post)

Israeli Finance Minister Lapid calls for an "endgame" between Israel and the Palestinians. (Al Monitor)

Israeli police say an Israeli settler was killed by Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. (AP/Reuters/Xinhua)

Five suspects are arrested regarding the murder. (Ha'aretz/Times of Israel/BBC)

Extremist settlers are accused of defacing a mosque in the occupied West Bank. (Reuters)

A tiny Palestinian village is about to be destroyed for the fourth time by Israeli forces. (Ha'aretz)

Some Palestinians want to resettle refugees in the occupied West Bank outside of refugee camps. (The Economist)

Another Palestinian is killed in the conflict in Syria. (Ma’an)

An Israeli court says Palestinian parents can attend the interrogation of young children detainees. (Ma’an)

A new study shows Jewish Americans have strong ties to Israel but increasingly divergent views. (Washington Post)

A poll shows most Israelis think the US is projecting weakness regarding Syria and Iran. (Jerusalem Post)

Gaza's ancient archaeology is being lost to neglect, looting and war. (Al Monitor)

Human Rights Watch says it can, for the first time, document a massacre of Alawite civilians in Syriaby Al Qaeda-style rebels. (New York Times/Human Rights Watch/Washington Post)

A fifth suspect is indicted by the tribunal investigating the murder of former Lebanese PM Hariri. (New York Times)

Iran cancels an anti-Israel conference as part of its outreach to the West. (AP)

Civilians in Sinai are caught in the battle between the Egyptian military and extremists. (BBC)

Abbas receives a phone call from Pres. Obama wishing all a happy Eid al-Adha. (PNN)


Commentary:

Alan Phillips says the destiny of "Area C" in the occupied West Bank holds the key to peace. (The National)

Ari Shavit says Israelis should remember 1974 as the year they "failed to repair the country." (Ha'aretz)

Uri Savir says without normalizing relations with each other, Israeli-Palestinian relationships will be abnormal by definition. (Jerusalem Post)

Leigh Cuen thinks "women's brains" may hold the key to Middle East peace. (Your Middle East)

Arad Nir says Israeli ties with Greece are no substitute for its strained alliance with Turkey. (Al Monitor)

Israeli extremist Dani Dayan explains his annexationist perspective. (Los Angeles Times)

Letty Cottin Pogrebin looks at the plight of Israel's Bedouins. (Moment)

Mazal Mualem interviews Israeli sociologist and one-state advocate Yehouda Shenhav. (Al Monitor)

Michael Young says the international community's reaction to killing in Syria and Lebanon reveals "humanitarian indifference." (The Daily Star)

Daniel DePetris says Syria cannot be trusted to deal honestly with its CW commitments. (Christian Science Monitor)

Rami Khouri says US-Iranian negotiations should be based on "respect and reciprocity." (Jordan Times)

George Hishmeh says Israel's nuclear weapons should also be an issue on the table. (Jordan Times)

H. A. Hellyer says the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood has to ask itself how it got into its crisis and what to do about it. (The National)

Osama Al Sharif says Tunisia may provide a better model than Egypt of how to incorporate Islamists into a democratic process. (Gulf News)

Nervana Mahmoud lists four reasons why the US shouldn't reduce aid to Egypt. (Al Monitor)

The New York Times says the US should help build a viable army and government in Libya. (New York Times)

News:

The PA and Syrian government agree to cooperate to protect Palestinian refugees remaining in Syria. (Ma'an)

Some experts say Israeli claims about Palestinian incitement are distorted or exaggerated. (JTA)

A rampage by masked settlers in the occupied West Bank forces a Palestinian school lockdown. (AP/Ma'an)

Settlers torch three Palestinian cars near Bethlehem. (Ma'an)

The PA asks UNESCO to probe Israeli measures in occupied East Jerusalem. (Xinhua)

A PLO official says Palestinians are seriously considering declaring peace talks with Israel a failure. (Jerusalem Post)

The "Tamarod" movement in Gaza calls for Nov. 11 rallies to oust Hamas rule. (Al Monitor/Azzaman)

Hamas asks to meet with Fatah to discuss Israel's policies in occupied East Jerusalem. (Jerusalem Post)

There is an outcry in Gaza over reductions in food aid due to an UNRWA budget shortfall. (New York Times)

Hamas supporters rally in Gaza in defense of the death penalty. (AFP)

Israel says a soldier was lightly wounded by shrapnel from ordinance fired from Syria. (New York Times)

Israeli forces destroy a Syrian canon post in response. (Xinhua)

Israeli military leaders foresee the potential for multi-front conflicts. (Xinhua)

Hamas says it has gotten jihadist groups in Gaza to agree to stop attacks against Israel. (Xinhua)

In Turkey, Hamas leader Mishaal calls for an end to negotiations with Israel and more armed struggle. (Ha'aretz)

The US announces a temporary suspension of some aid to Egypt. (New York Times)

Egypt criticizes the move. (Reuters)

Israel expresses dismay at the aid cut back to Egypt, and frets about its impact on the peace treaty. (New York Times)

A suicide bomb in Sinai kills three Egyptian soldiers and one policeman. (AP)

Libya's PM Zeidan is kidnapped and then released by a group of armed men. (France 24)

UNIFIL commends the prevailing calm on the Lebanese-Israeli border. (Xinhua)

The Palestinian consumer price index rose slightly in September. (PNN)

In an impoverished Arab town in Israel, women are learning literacy and leadership. (Ha'aretz)


Commentary:

Yigal Kipnis says newly released Israeli documents show the 1973 war was certainly avoidable. (Los Angeles Times)

Kifah Ziboun looks at the Hamas-Salafist rapprochement in Gaza. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Asmaa al-Ghoul says, despite all the rhetoric, the Egypt-Gaza border remains quiet for now. (Al Monitor)

Elias Harfoush says Arabs are paying the price for "Pres. Obama's deals." (Al Hayat)

Aviad Kleinberg says PM Netanyahu's deterministic approach to Mideast conflict breeds diplomatic blindness. (YNet)

Ilene Prusher interviews Aryeh King, a leading force behind Israel's push to colonize Palestinian areas in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ha'aretz)

Gershon Baskin insists that the Al-Aqsa Mosque is not in any danger, and that Palestinians have gone a long way towards independence. (Ma'an/Jerusalem Post)

Amos Harel says Israeli lobbying in Washington on Iran is walking a fine line with the Obama administration. (Ha'aretz)

Ron Kampeas says AIPAC's rhetoric about Iran echoes but does not mimic Netanyahu's. (JTA)

Linda Gradstein says Israel is nervous Iran wants a fake nuclear agreement with the West. (The Media Line)

Or Kashti says Israel can't really claim credit for Nobel prizes won by scientists who left the country 40 years ago. (Ha'aretz)

The Daily Star is alarmed by the cutback of US aid to Egypt, seeing it as symptomatic of a deeper Middle East policy malaise. (The Daily Star)

The Jerusalem Post says the future of Egypt's peace treaty with Israel is largely independent of US aid. (Jerusalem Post)

Asma Alsharif and Yasmine Saleh say Egypt's MOI, not army, was the main force behind the ouster of former Pres. Morsi. (Reuters)

Itamar Rabinovich says Israel benefits from the agreement on Syrian chemical weapons but worries about rising Russian influence in the region. (Al Monitor)

Hania Mourtada says there is no place for minorities in the Syrian opposition anymore. (Foreign Policy)

Osama Al Sharif says the Assad regime has managed to gain undeserved legitimacy of late. (Arab News)

News:

Christian leaders in Jerusalem protest what they say is an unprecedented wave of grave vandalismby Jewish extremists. (AP)

Israel reportedly refuses US and Palestinian requests to bring forward the next round of prisoner releases. (Xinhua/Ma'an/Ha'aretz)

US Middle East peace envoy Indyk is expanding his team of experts and advisers. (Al Monitor)

Israeli Finance Minister Lapid says Israel doesn't need Palestinian recognition it is a Jewish state. (Ha'aretz)

A Palestinian is injured by Israeli gunfire at a disturbance at a West Bank checkpoint. (Xinhua)

The PFLP urges Pres. Abbas to stop negotiations with Israel. (Xinhua)

Some Fatah officials are reportedly urging Abbas to designate jailed leader Marwan Barghouti his successor. (Times of Israel)

PLO Secretary-General Abed Rabbo reportedly calls PM Netanyahu "Israel's number one extremist." (Times of Israel)

MKs who violated Israeli law to meet Abbas in "Area A" say they did it in pursuit of peace. (The Media Line)

Hamas is under increasing pressure due to Egypt's intensifying blockade. (BBC)

Hamas chief Mashaal will meet PM Erdogan in Ankara. (Ma'an)

The PA and Hamas are quarreling over who from the occupied territories will make the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. (Los Angeles Times)

Hamas is holding the passports of 60 would-be pilgrims in Gaza. (Ma'an)

The US is rumored to be preparing to reduce aid to Egypt, but the White House strongly denies this. (New York Times/AP/USA Today)

Gunmen kill two Egyptian soldiers in canal cities. (Xinhua)

Libya says relations with the US won't be harmed by a recent raid in which a top Al Qaeda operative was captured. (AP)

Iran is reportedly offering a deal to reduce nuclear activity in exchange for sanctions relief. (Jerusalem Post)

An Israeli drone crashes into the Mediterranean. (Xinhua)

Israeli pilots have completed a workshop to train them to survive in enemy territory. (Xinhua)

Israeli women of the Machsom Watch group are united in opposing the occupation. (Deutsche Welle)


Commentary:

Hussein Shobokshi says American inaction in the Middle East has presented Russia with new opportunities. (Asharq Al Awsat)

The National says the new World Bank report on how much the occupation is costing Palestinians should help change more minds. (The National)

Hugh Naylor looks at how Bethlehem's economy is being strangled by the occupation. (The National)

Hazem Balousha says a potential US-Iran deal is worrying Islamic Jihad in Gaza. (Al Monitor)

Orit Perlov says both Hamas and Hezbollah must either reform or collapse. (INSS)

Marc Grey says two pending bills in the Knesset would muzzle Israel's minorities. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Bradley Burston says Netanyahu provides endless fodder for the anti-Israel left. (Ha'aretz)

Raif Zreik says the Oslo agreements changed everything for Israel's Palestinian citizens. (Ha'aretz)

The late Rabbi Yosef's legal advisor says he would have given up land for peace, including holy places in Jerusalem. (Al Monitor)

The CSM says one way to reduce tensions in Egypt is to stop using competing fatwas. (Christian Science Monitor)

Neta Alexander looks at the Palestinian movie "Omar" and the Israeli movie "Bethlehem." (Ha'aretz)

Nechama Duek underscores the importance of Israeli-Turkish relations. (YNet)

Dan Diker says a silent majority of Arabs agrees with Netanyahu's approach towards Iran. (Jerusalem Post)

The Jerusalem Post complains about various aspects of Abbas' meeting with Israeli MKs. (Jerusalem Post)

Hazem Saghieh says compromise in Tunisia might still save both the "Arab Spring" and the Muslim Brotherhood. (Al Hayat)

Al-Hayat interviews Egyptian FM Fahmy, who says relations with the US are "troubled." (Al Monitor)

Ehud Yaari looks at the durability of the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty. (WINEP)

News:

A new World Bank report says Palestinians lose billions every year because they lack access to"Area C," and prospects for recovery without it are dim. (World Bank/Ma'an/The Guardian/AP)

In a meeting with Israelis, Pres. Abbas expresses optimism peace can be achieved in nine months. (AP/New York Times)

The Likud-Yisrael Beitenu coalition chairman calls Israel's chief negotiator Livni a "puppet."(Jerusalem Post)

Abbas condemns an attack on a nine-year-old Israeli girl and says the PA should be allowed to apprehend the culprits. (YNet)

Israeli occupation forces arrest two men suspected of the attack. (Jerusalem Post)

Hamas complains Israel is allowing less than 30% of the population's needs into Gaza. (Xinhua)

Israeli opposition groups slam PM Netanyahu's recent hawkish, pro-settlement speech. (Xinhua)

Israel and the United States have reportedly assured the Palestinians the next round of prisoner release will come before the end of the month. (Xinhua)

Israeli police arrest a gang of Jewish youths accused of hate crimes against Palestinians. (Xinhua)

Over 80 Israeli soldiers enter the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday. (Ma'an)

Sinai extremists are increasingly targeting Egyptian government sites as the conflict intensifies. (New York Times)

The death of Shas' spiritual leader  Rabbi Ovadia Yosef has left a gap in Israeli politics. (AP)

Egypt's interim president makes his first visit to Saudi Arabia and receives a firm pledge of support from the King. (AP)

Four Saudi women become the first authorized to practice law in the Kingdom.  (Xinhua)

Free speech groups call for an end to Internet censorship in Jordan. (Reporters Without Borders)

In Israel archaeology is scientific, political and sometimes exaggerated. (The Media Line)

Pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian activists compete in Britain's vacation center, Brighton. (The National)

A video of sexual harassment in Gaza has gone viral online. (Al Monitor)

Hamas activists in Gaza are reportedly accusing politburo leader Mishaal of preferring life in exile. (Al Monitor)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish says the Muslim Brotherhood movement in the region may be dying, but Avi Issacharoff isn't so sure. (The National/Times of Israel)

Mohammad Salah asks what the Muslim Brotherhood was trying to achieve on "Victory Day." (Al Hayat)

Quentin Sommerville says the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood is proving resilient and its supporters will risk everything. (BBC)

Jeremy Ben-Ami says an Israeli-Palestinian two-state solution isn't an illusion, it's the only way to avoid more war. (Los Angeles Times)

Mostafa Zein says Pres. Obama and VP Biden protect Israel from itself. (Al Hayat)

Akiva Eldar says new data shows how much occupation is corrupting Israeli society. (Al Monitor)

Gershom Gorenberg looks at the real political meaning of Route 443, which runs from parts of Israel into the occupied West Bank. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed asks if Arab societies could really fight Al Qaeda without American support. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Arnold Eisen says Israel is in danger of losing the interest and support of the next generation of Jewish Americans. (Ha'aretz)

Alexa Stevens says Gaza auto racers struggle to compete abroad. (Ma'an)

Shmuel Rosner says Israelis are unnecessarily fretting about Jewish emigration from Israel, but Lior Dattel says Israel has the worst brain drain in developed nations. (New York Times/Ha'aretz)

Moshe Arens says Netanyahu's critics are suffering from "wishful thinking" about Iran. (Ha'aretz)

Hassan Barari says Israel's options are limited regarding Iran. (Jordan Times)

Haviv Rettig Gur says Netanyahu's tough talk merely reflects his grasp of the conflict. (Times of Israel)

The Daily Star says Netanyahu speech was "myopic." (The Daily Star)

David Horovitz complains about aspects of Abbas' meeting with Israeli MKs. (Times of Israel)

Tariq Alhomayed says there needs to be a serious inquiry into who, exactly, is funding extremist groups in Syria. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Asharq Al-Awsat interviews Egypt's interim president Mansour. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Tariq Al-Mubarak says it's time to change women's roles in Arab societies, especially in the Gulf. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Rami Khouri says Tunisia showing the Arab world the political path forward. (The Daily Star)

Mustafa al-Kadhimi interviews Iraqi PM al-Maliki, who says terrorism in Iraq is directly linked to the conflict in Syria. (Al Monitor)

Hussein Ibish says Arabs and Kurds in Syria should not fall into Pres. Assad's trap of fighting each other. (NOW)

NEWS:

The PA says security situation in the West Bank is under control amid security crackdown in Jenin. (Ma'an)

PM Netanyahu defends Jewish settlements, saying the roots of conflict with the Palestinians started in 1921, not with the occupation. (Xinhua/Guardian)

Israeli housing minister, Uri Ariel, says the West Bank will be under Israeli control forever, asking Netanyahu to provide weekly reports on the progress of peace talks. (PNN/Haaretz)

Palestinian rights groups call on the ICC to investigate commission of crimes in occupied territories without ratification by Palestine. (Guardian)

Palestinian child is found dead in Jenin village, and an Israeli child is wounded in an attack in the illegal settlement of Psagot, near Ramallah. (Ma'an)

Palestinian farmers in the northern West Bank return to their land for the first time in almost 40 years and began to plant olive trees. (PNN)

A new poll shows 74.8% of Israeli Jews believe the state can be both Jewish and democratic, and 30% say any peace deal should be approved by an Israeli Jewish majority in a referendum. (Ma'an/Jerusalem Post)

Nine Palestinian prisoners in Israel jails serve the longest sentences on earth. (Ma'an)

Israeli settlers raze agricultural lands in Salfit, West Bank, and Jerusalem police arrests perpetrators of Price Tag attacks. (Ma'an/Xinhua)

Israel issues demolition orders to six families living in the northern Jordan Valley. (Ma'an)

Ovadia Yosef, outspoken spiritual leader of Israel’s Sephardi Jews, dies at 93. (The Times of Israel)

Jordanian Goodwill campaign offers support to Palestinian refugees in Irbid. (Jordan Times)

A design of a theoretical Palestinian city in the West Bank shows how the right of return of Palestinian refugees could be implemented. (Haartez)

Fatwa issued by top religious authority in the West Bank permits Internet dating under certain circumstances. (LA Times)

Netanyahu's claim that Iranian youths not permitted to wear jeans or listen to music backfires on him. (New York Times/Haaretz)

Iranian FM Zarif wants broader diplomatic ties with the United States. (AP)

Iran still seeks to acquire Russian S-300 air defense missiles suspended Western and Israeli pressure on Russia since 2007. (ASharq Al-awsat)

A day of celebration in Egypt turns into bloody clashes between Muslim Brotherhood supporters and police. (AFP/New York Times/Times of Israel)

Sec. Kerry lauds Assad for quickly complying with Syria chemical weapons resolution. (Reuters)

Christians feel threatened as Islamist extremists gain more influence in Syria. (Washington Post)

35 were killed and 163 wounded in violent attacks in Iraq, and wave of deadly attacks in Egypt kills 8. (Xinhua/AP)

Commentary:

Yaakov Lappin warns from the current upsurge of violence against Israelis in West Bank. (Jerusalem Post)

Amos Harel says recent attacks against Israelis in the West Bank could worsen right-wing indignation of the peace talks. (Haaretz)

Mazin Qumsiyeh explores the other options the Palestinians have beside solganism and defeatism. (Ma'an)

Ayman Mustafa says it might be too early to talk about a comprehensive plan for the region despite the American-Iranian rapprochement . (Gulf News)

Bakir Oweida rejects Hamas' claim that Arabs missed the opportunity of liberating Gaza in Camp David and returning it to be administered by Egypt. (ASharq Al-awsat)

Oudeh Basharat depicts Netanyahu as the man of "nada," saying no even when the Palestinians make compromises, and the Iranians show signs of change. (Haaretz)

Jawad Anani says Netanyahu’s image is very similar to that he projected of Pres. Rouhani at the UN forum. (Jordan Times)

Reuven Pedatzur says the West sees Netanyahu as a troublemaker, trying to sabotage the best opportunity for U.S.-Iran rapprochement since the 1979 revolution.

Ben Caspit highlights the formation of a quiet Israeli-Sunni coalition aimed at countering Iran. (Al-Monitor)

Barry Rubin argues that Obama's plans of "comprehensive solution" in the Middle East will face failure. (Jerusalem Post)

Isabella Eisenberg says there is a hope for sectarian reconciliation in the Middle East, citing a rare story of reconciliation in Akkar, Lebanon. (The Daily Star).

James Traub portrays ISIS as the ultimate threat in Syria. (Foreign Policy)

Jean Aziz asks if Christians have future in the Middle East. (Al-Monitor)

The National Editorial says Tunisia’s roadmap is a cause for hope. (The National)

News:

The Egyptian military reportedly has contingency plans to intervene in Gaza if its troops keep gettingattacked in Sinai by groups based there. (Ma'an/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators will meet again Thursday, with American participation. (Ha'aretz)

US Special Envoy Indyk says that if an Israeli-Palestinian agreement is reached, it will be on final status issues. (JTA)

Israel's chief negotiator Livni says she is seeking a final status agreement with the Palestinians. (Jerusalem Post)

A new poll suggests a slight majority of Palestinians believe another intifada is likely if peace talks fail. (Xinhua)

Palestinians and others say the success of the Quartet's economic development plan depends on progress on peace. (Xinhua)

The EU says it is confident it can reach an agreement with Israel over its occupation guidelines. (Jerusalem Post)

An Arab women's group in Israel predicts a large increase in membership in local city councils after upcoming municipal elections. (Ha'aretz)

Saudi Arabia cancels its speech at UNGA for the first time ever over international inaction on Syria and Palestine. (Reuters/Jerusalem Post)

Hamas hangs a Palestinian man convicted of murder in Gaza. (AP/Xinhua)

Gaza university students are hit particularly hard by the intensified Egyptian closure. (Al Monitor)

Israel is easing restrictions on building materials being imported into Gaza. (NPR)

Sec. Kerry lays out American terms for negotiating with Iran. (New York Times)

DM Ya'alon says Israel disagrees with the United States about Iran. (Xinhua)

A "high-ranking Israeli official" says Israel and Arab states should cooperate on Iran. (Times of Israel)

Pres. Rouhani dismisses condemnations by PM Netanyahu. (New York Times)

Israeli opposition figures denounce Netanyahu's strong condemnations of Iran. (Xinhua)

Iran says it is optimistic over nuclear negotiations with the West, despite Israel's call for increased sanctions. (Xinhua)

Israeli occupation forces destroy a Palestinian Jordan Valley village for the fourth time. (Ma'an)

Palestinians say settlers destroy 50 olive trees near Hebron. (Ma'an)

Hamas officials prevent another Fatah leader from leaving Gaza. (Ma'an)

Henry Kissinger reportedly says if Israel prepared its nuclear weapons in 1973, the US was not informed. (Ha'aretz)

Kuwait will hold a second international Syria aid conference. (The National)

The US is reportedly trying to mediate a maritime border dispute between Israel and Lebanon. (Al Monitor)


Commentary:

Naela Khalil says tensions in Hebron are so volatile they could explode and disrupt the peace negotiations. (Al Monitor)

Palestinian politician Khalida Jarar says security cooperation and other factors will prevent a third intifada. (Times of Israel)

Al-Ahram Weekly thinks there are harbingers of a third intifada because of Israel's actions in occupied East Jerusalem. (Al-Ahram Weekly)

Gershon Baskin says Israeli and Palestinian leaders have not convinced their publics that peace is possible. (Jerusalem Post)

George Hishmeh says Netanyahu is displaying "shocking arrogance." (Gulf News)

Alan Dershowitz complains the New York Times distorted Netanyahu's UN speech. (Ha'aretz)

Shlomi Eldar says Netanyahu paid insufficient attention to peace and the Palestinians in his UN speech. (Al Monitor)

Responding to his critics, Ian Lustick warns against what he calls "two-state messianism." (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Ron Gerlitz and Jabir Asaqla say discrimination against Arab citizens of Israel is still rampant. (Ha'aretz)

Jacques Neriah asks if Hamas faces the same fate as the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. (JCPA)

Vali Nasr says the US shouldn't mistake signs of Iranian openness for weakness. (New York Times)

Elliott Abrams asks if the US and Israel are playing good cop/bad cop with Iran. (Foreign Affairs)

James Lunney says Canada's aid to the PA should be conditioned on its performance as a "peace partner." (Jerusalem Post)

David Pollock says Palestinian incitement against Israel remains a major problem. (Fathom)

Asharq Al-Awsat interviews Jordan’s Political Affairs Minister Khalid Al-Kalaldeh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Abdullah Iskandar says no one has a plausible plan for dealing with the "massacre" of 1,000 Iraqis in the past month. (Al Hayat)

Michael Young says, with the influx of people fleeing Syria, Lebanon is facing "a refugee problem from hell." (The Daily Star)