News:

Israel plans 2,372 more settler homes in the occupied West Bank. (Reuters/AFP)

The PA says peace talks with Israel have reached an impasse due to settlement activity. (AFP)

Pres. Abbas tells Fatah officials that Palestinians will not give in. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

A major Palestinian report says the PA is on the brink of collapse. (Ha’aretz)

The US reportedly insists on an explicit apology from DM Ya’alon. (Ha’aretz)

The EU and UNICEF launch a project to build a desalination plant in Gaza. (AFP)

Israel announces it has found a huge Gaza smuggling tunnel. (AP/Ma’an/Ha’aretz)

Two Palestinian children are attacked by settlers in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)

The Manufacturers Association of Israel says factories over the green line do not operate in accordance with Israeli industrial standards. (Jerusalem Post)

A Syria-linked sectarian clash in Lebanon kills three. (AP/Reuters/Daily Star)

Lebanon’s parliament gave the newly-formed cabinet a vote of confidence. (Reuters/Daily Star)

Syrian troops capture a famed Crusader castle near the border with Lebanon. (AP)

Former Amb. to Syria Ford says Pres. Assad is likely to remain in power for the “medium term.” (New York Times)

The Turkish government announces a ban on Twitter use. (AP/Reuters/New York Times)

Ayatollah Khamenei says a stronger Iranian economy can overcome sanctions. (AP)

Ethics Prosecutor Garcia questions FIFA officials for choosing Russia and Qatar as future World Cup hosts. (AP)

Commentary:

Ahmad Majdoubeh says Middle East peace must remain a priority for the Obama administration. (Jordan Times)

The Jordan Times says the US has little political will to focus on the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. (Jordan Times)

George Hishmeh says peace talks are in limbo due to the halt of prisoners release. (Jordan Times)

Uri Savir says both Israeli and Palestinian leaderships show a worrying lack of maturity on peace talks. (Jerusalem Post)

Matthew Levitt says a return to armed struggle by any Palestinian group would be a disaster. (Washington Institute)

Daniella Peled says Hamas is starting to lose its grip on Gaza.  (The Spectator)

Ha’aretz says Ya’alon is wrong about his assessment of US power and reliability. (Ha’aretz)

Yoel Marcus says Israel should fire Ya’alon. (Ha’aretz)

Lior Akerman says everyone in Israel secretly agrees with Ya’alon. (Jerusalem Post)

Elior Levy looks at the ongoing confrontation between Abbas and former Fatah official Dahlan. (Ynet)

Aaron David Miller and Josh Nason predict five scenarios in which Pres. Obama might use military force in the Middle East. (Foreign Policy)

Ayla Fateh says Egyptian women dream of a harassment-free future. (Al Arabiya)

The CSM says Russia deserves some credit for voting at the UN to honor Libya’s sovereignty. (Christian Science Monitor)

Samir Salha asks what’s PM Erdogan’s next move. (Asharq Al-Awsat)