News:

Pres. Abbas says Egypt is right to create a buffer zone on the Gaza border. (Ha’aretz)

Jewish extremists torch an Arabic-Hebrew bilingual school in Jerusalem. (Washington Post/JTA/The National)

A Palestinian woman stabs an Israeli in the occupied West Bank. (Reuters/AP/Ma’an/PNN/JTA)

An Israeli court finds two Jewish settlers guilty of torching a Palestinian-owned car. (Ha’aretz)

A Palestinian cab driver is pepper-sprayed in a Jerusalem attack. (Times of Israel)

Hamas says the unity government with Fatah “has ended.” (Jerusalem Post)

A Fatah official says there was never any agreement that the unity government would last only six months. (Ma’an/Times of Israel)

The French parliament will vote on a resolution urging the government to recognize the State of Palestine. (Ynet)

US lawmakers have reportedly released most of their holds on a $230.3 million aid package for the West Bank and Gaza. (Al-Monitor)

Egypt opens the Rafah crossing for a second consecutive day. (Ma’an)

Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian home in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ma’an) 

Islamic Jihad urges the PA to stop security coordination with Israel. (Ma’an)

Hamas cancels its 27th anniversary celebration in Gaza. (Ma’an)

Palestinian soccer chief Rajoub calls on FIFA to punish Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Hundreds of Israelis protest in Jerusalem against the “Jewish nation-state” bill. (JTA)

PM Netanyahu will reportedly decide in the next few days whether to call an early election. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Jerusalem Post)

DM Ya’alon says Israel may need early elections. (Reuters)

Israel will stagger the purchase of its second batch of 31 US-made F-35 fighter jets over the next three years. (Reuters/Ha’aretz)

The US-led anti-ISIS coalition carried out at least 30 air strikes in Raqqa against ISIS extremists. (Reuters) 

Iraqi officials say ISIS extremists have attacked a checkpoint along the border with Syria, killing at least 15 Iraqi border policemen. (AP)

PM al-Abadi says the Iraqi army has been paying salaries to at least 50,000 soldiers who don’t exist. (Washington Post)

The UN World Food Program suspends its assistance program to Syrians. (AP)

Bahrain says Qatar has agreed to stop supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, aid the Egyptian government and establish a GCC joint command to counter ISIS and Iran. (Financial Times)

Protests erupt in Egypt against the acquittal of former Pres. Mubarak. (Reuters/New York Times/The National)

Pres. Sisi says he will not pursue further actions against Mubarak. (New York Times/AFP)

Pres. Putin is visiting Turkey amid Syria differences. (AP)

Pope Francis calls for the protection of Christians in the Middle East. (New York Times/AFP)

Commentary:

Alastair McPhail says the Palestinian character of occupied East Jerusalem must be preserved. (Al Arabiya)

Uri Savir says the Obama administration is considering an Israeli settlement freeze in exchange for Palestinian security cooperation and no unilateral moves at the UN. (Al-Monitor)

Amira Hass says Palestinians are being generous when they attribute Israel’s policies to stupidity. (Ha’aretz)

Elhanan Miller asks if Israeli civil society can heal the Arab-Jewish rift. (Times of Israel)

Yoni Ben Menachem says Hamas may be rethinking its policies. (JCPA)

Rasha Abu Jalal says pregnant women in Gaza are still suffering from this summer’s war.  (Al-Monitor)

Nahum Barnea says the proposed “Jewish nation-state” bill is the symptom, not the cause, of  the crisis in Israeli politics. (Ynet)

Hussein Ibish says the Mubarak acquittal illustrates how murky Egypt's political scene has become. (Now)

H.A. Hellyer looks at Mubarak’s impunity. (Al Arabiya)

The Jordan Times says the extension of the P5+1 talks should be seen as a positive development. (Jordan Times)

Hussein Ibish says its not surprising that no one wants Def. Sec. Hagel’s job. (The National)