News:

Pres. Obama plans to take a more personal role in the Middle East peace talks. (The New York Times/The Jerusalem Post)

Sec. Kerry says peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians will extend beyond the April deadline. (Reuters/Xinhua)

PLO negotiator Erekat says he rejects the US move to extend peace talks. (AFP/The Times of Israel/The National) 

The US is convening an investors conference to help the Palestinian economy. (JTA)

A PLO official says Pres. Abbas’ successor could turn to “armed resistance.” (Ynet)

Palestinian women seek tougher laws to combat honor killings. (AP)

Amnesty International says some killings of Palestinians by Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank could be considered “war crimes.”(Reuters/Ma’an)

Israeli occupation forces kill a Palestinian man in the West Bank. (Reuters/Ma’an/Ha’aretz)

Israeli occupation forces deport 23 Palestinian families from the Jordan Valley. (PNN)

A teacher, who is a Palestinian citizen of Israel, is “strip-searched” before flying with her Jewish students for a school trip.(Ha’aretz)

Israel takes a risk with airstrikes against Hezbollah. (AP/The Jerusalem Post)

Hezbollah has reportedly amassed tens of thousands of troops for the decisive Syrian battle in Qalamoun. (USA Today)

The State Department accuses the Syrian regime of retaliating against the Syrian opposition’s peace negotiators by arresting their relatives. (The New York Times)

Syria delivers mustard gas to the port of Latakia. (The New York Times)

A mortar attack kills five people in a government-controlled neighborhood in Syria. (AP)

Widespread incredulity greets Egypt’s announcement of cures for both AIDS and Hepatitis C. (The New York Times)

An apparent gas explosion in Qatar kills 12 people. (Reuters)

Iran and Qatar will establish a free trade zone. (Xinhua)

21 more people are killed across Iraq. (Xinhua)

Commentary:

Gideon Levy says the day the US becomes committed to Kerry’s efforts, a peace deal will be made between Israel and the Palestinians. (Ha’aretz)

Shai Franklin says there is “backhanded” Jewish support for Kerry’s initiative. (The Jerusalem Post)

Alan Elsner says AIPAC must back Kerry’s initiative. (The Guardian)

Ari Shavit says Israel has a “golden opportunity” to make peace.  (Ha’aretz)

Yossi Mekelberg says the recognition of Israel as a “Jewish state” should not be at the expense of the legitimate rights of the Palestinians. (Al Arabiya)

Efraim Halevy says Israel should beware the “Jewish statehood” trap. (Ynet)

Zvi Bar’el says Economy Minister Bennett needs to decide if he counts Palestinian citizens of Israel or not. (Ha’aretz)

The Daily Star says the Israeli airstrike on the Lebanese-Syrian border highlights Hezbollah’s conundrums in Syria.(The Daily Star)

Michael Young says Hezbollah does not deserve a “special role” as protector of Lebanon. (The Daily Star)

Joyce Karam says Israel has a new “game plan” for both Hezbollah and Syria. (Al Arabiya)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed asks if the crisis in Ukraine weakens Russia and therefore also Syria and Iran. (Al Arabiya)

Brian Jenkins says al-Qaeda and ISIS are fighting over the future of “Salafist-Jihadism”. (The Daily Star)

Diana Moukalled says the execution of the poet Shaabani shows the true face of the current Iranian regime. (Al Arabiya)

Frank Costigliola says Obama should rediscover George Kennan’s wisdom when it comes to foreign policy. (The New York Times)

Adnan Oktar says educating both men and women, and living by the “moral values of the Qur’an,” are the solutions to gender discrimination. (The Jordan Times)