July 16th

News:

An Israeli judge places Palestinian-American teenager Tariq Khdeir under house arrest. (AP/Reuters/Washington Post/New York Times/Times of Israel)

The US is “profoundly concerned” over reports that Khdeir was "severely beaten" while in  Israeli custody. (AFP/The National)

An Israeli official says three suspects have confessed. (AP)

An autopsy indicates that a murdered Palestinian teenager was burnt to death. (AP/New York Times/The National)

PM Netanyahu phones the father of the murdered Palestinian teenager. (Reuters/JTA/Jerusalem Post/Ynet)

A Jewish group organizes a visit with the family of the murdered Palestinian teenager. (Times of Israel)

20 rockets hit southern Israel. (Jerusalem Post/Ynet)

Israel kills seven Hamas militants. (AP/Reuters/Ma’an/Ha’aretz)

Hamas vows to avenge militant deaths. (New York Times/Jerusalem Post)

Pres. Abbas calls on UNSG Ban to form an international committee to investigate Israeli crimes committed against Palestinians. (Ma’an/Times of Israel)

12 more EU countries warn against trade with Israeli settlements. (PNN)

Extremist Jewish settlers attack Palestinian villagers in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)

FM Lieberman ends his political alliance with PM Netanyahu. (AP/Ha’aretz/JTA/Jerusalem Post)

A survey indicates most Israelis still support the two-state solution. (Ha’aretz)

Former Sec. Baker says the Israeli-Palestinian situation is a “Catch-22,” but that's no reason to give up. (Ha’aretz)

Syrian troops advance inside and near northern Aleppo. (AP) 

The Syrian opposition meets in Turkey to elect a new President. (AP)

Hezbollah boosts its numbers in Syria after the expansion of the “Islamic State.” (The National)

 Al-Qaida-linked Jordanian militant leader warns that the kingdom is "not immune" to the chaosbefalling neighboring countries. (AP)

The Iraqi parliament delays its next session until August. (Washington Post)

Pres. Sisi says he wishes Al Jazeera journalists were never put on trial. (AP/Reuters/The National)

Commentary:

Dennis Ross says the US should help close the gaps between Israel and the Palestinians. (Washington Post)

David Horovitz says the murder of the Palestinian teenager should remind Israelis that they do not enjoy a moral superiority over Palestinians. (Times of Israel)

Anshel Pfeffer says all Israelis should be blamed for the death of the Palestinian teenager. (Ha’aretz)

Shimon Peres and Reuven Rivlin say both Jews and Arabs should put an end to bloodshed. (Ynet)

Ha’aretz says Israel must undergo a “cultural revolution” to fight Jewish hate of Arabs. (Ha’aretz)

Adnan Abu Amer says Fatah leader Rajoub could succeed Abbas. (Al-Monitor)

Hussein Ibish says mainstream Arabs must push against the “Islamic State.” (The National)

Hassan Abu Haniyeh and Hisham Al-Hashimi debate whether ISIS has succeeded thanks to the sectarian policies of its opponents. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Mustafa Alani and Mohamed Al-Zulfa debate whether ISIS’s advance is calculated or opportunistic. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Nikita Malik says Israel and Jordan are seeking more security ties as the threat from the “Islamic State” grows. (The National)

Matthieu Aikins says the West’s best allies against ISIS are other Sunni Islamists. (New York Times)

Amer Al Sabaileh says the political situation in Iraq and the need  to combat regional terrorism creates the opportunity for several countries to reposition. (Jordan Times)

Jackson Diehl says only a regional coalition can stop the “Islamic State.” (Washington Post)

The CSM says the international community must prevent a religious war in the Middle East. (Christian Science Monitor)

David Scheffer says justice must prevail in Syria and Iraq. (Los Angeles Times)

The National says Egyptians brace for more pain as subsidies end. (The National)

Rami Khouri says Kuwait’s protests are important. (Daily Star)

Frederic Wehrey says amid Libya’s worsening violence and polarization, room for dialogue and consensus is shrinking. (New York Times)

News:

Israel launches a major air operation against Hamas in Gaza. (Washington Post/New York Times/AFP/Ha’aretz/The National)

Israel bombs dozens of targets in Gaza, killing four Palestinians. (Reuters/Ma’an)

DM Ya’alon says the operation in Gaza could last a long time. (JTA/Jerusalem Post)

The Israeli cabinet votes to call up 40,000 reservists. (Ynet/Daily Star)

PM Netanyahu orders preparations for a possible ground offensive in Gaza. (Jerusalem Post/TImes of Israel)

Pres. Abbas demands Israel halts its latest offensive against Gaza. (AFP/Ynet)

Hamas claims responsibility for the 85 rockets launched over the course of Monday in Israel. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Hamas calls upon all “resistance parties” to fight back against Israeli attacks. (Ma’an)

A Jewish extremist settler opens fire at a group of Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)

A Fatah official says PA security coordination with Israel is costing Abbas heavily at home. (Ha’aretz)

The Shin Bet tells Pres. Peres not to visit the family of a murdered Palestinian teenager. (Ha’aretz)

Palestinian businessman Al-Masri says both sides are sitting on a “volcano.” (The Media Line)

The Iraqi parliament will meet early next week. (AP/New York Times/The National)

Three mortar bombs land inside Saudi Arabia near the Iraqi border. (Reuters)

The UN says more than 145,000 Syrian refugee families are headed by women who are the sole caregivers. (AP)

Lebanon charges 28 with planning bomb attacks. (AP)

Bahrain orders a top US diplomat to leave the country. (AP/New York Times)

Ayatollah Khamenei says the US and Israel are playing "good cop, bad cop" to intimidate Iran into making concessions on a nuclear agreement. (Reuters) 

Commentary:

Pres. Obama says peace is the only path to true security for Israel and the Palestinians. (Ha’aretz)

Abbas says Palestine's vision of peace is clear. (Ha’aretz)

Akiva Eldar interviews Abbas. (Ha’aretz)

Turki Al Faisal says the Arab Peace Initiative still provides a template for a just solution. (Ha’aretz)

The New York Times asks if Israeli and Palestinian leaders can end revenge attacks. (New York Times)

Ha’aretz says to preserve Israel’s existence, peace with the Palestinians is the only way. (Ha’aretz)

Nahum Barnea says denouncing the murder of a Palestinian teenager is not enough. (Ynet)

Faisal Yafai says the real legacy of Netanyahu’s fear-mongering has been to make peace with the Palestinians impossible. (The National)

Jonathan Schanzer says angry Israeli and Palestinian youths are steering the course of events in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. (Foreign Policy)

Bradley Burston writes an apology to the Palestinians. (Ha’aretz)

Hassan Barari says the door is wide open to another intifada. (Jordan Times)

The Jerusalem Post says the murder of the Palestinian teenager should serve as a reminder to Israel of the dangers of placing “Jewish” before democratic. (Jerusalem Post)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed asks if ISIS will unite Saudi Arabia and Iran. (Al Arabiya)

Robert Ford asks if Iraq’s Sunni will turn against the radical jihadists. (Foreign Policy)

The Daily Star says genuine and honest dialogue must be entered into to find a suitable replacement for PM Maliki. (Daily Star)

Diana Moukalled remembers Syrian activist Razan Zaitouneh. (Asharq al-Awsat) 

News:

Israel intensifies its offensive in Gazakilling at least 14. (AP/New York Times/Washington Post/AFP/JTA/Jerusalem Post/The National)

35 Palestinians have been killed since Monday by Israeli airstrikes. (Ma’an)

Militants in Gaza fire more rockets at Israel, including Tel Aviv. (Reuters/AP/Ma’an/Ha’aretz)

Hamas claims responsibility for rocket fire on Israel. (AFP/The National)

PM Netanyahu says he will “further intensify” attacks on Hamas. (AFP)

The IDF confirms two rockets fell in open areas south of Haifa. (Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)

Israeli officials say airstrikes on Gaza will become more intense in the coming days. (Ma’an)

DM Ya’alon wants to cut fuel and power supplies to Gaza. (Daily Star)

Pres. Abbas calls Pres. Sisi asking him to intervene to save the Palestinian people from the ongoing escalation in Gaza. (Ma’an)

The Arab League calls for an urgent meeting of the UNSC over the Israeli escalation in Gaza. (Jerusalem Post/Ynet)

The US calls for restraint and urges both sides to avoid harm to innocent civilians. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Jordan condemns the Israeli assault on Gaza. (Jordan Times)

Abbas will convene Palestinian leaders to sign a request to join the ICC. (Ha’aretz)

White House coordinator for the Middle East Philip Gordon accuses Israel of denying Palestinians sovereignty, security and dignity. (Times of Israel)

Israeli occupation forces detain several Hamas leaders in the West Bank. (Ma’an)

A US official says the three murdered Israeli teenagers were shot at least 10 times. (Reuters)

Supporters of Palestinian American teenager Tariq Abu Khdeir seek to bring him back home. (Ha’aretz/JTA)

Iraqi security forces find 53 blindfolded bodies south of Baghdad. (Reuters/New York Times)

PM Maliki accuses Kurds of hosting IS militants. (AP)

The Iraqi government tells the UN that it has lost control of a former chemical weapons facility to "armed terrorist groups." (Reuters)

Iran sends three attack planes to the Iraqi government. (New York Times)

US diplomat says his Bahrain expulsion was not about him. (AP/The National)

Syrian refugee women face harassment and poverty. (AP)

US Attorney General Holder says Europe and the US need to collaborate on Syria. (Washington Post)

Commentary:

Ron Kampeas says Egypt and the US might not help broker a ceasefire between Gaza and Israel. (JTA)

Anshel Pfeffer says there is a lack of a responsible power to broker an Israel-Hamas ceasefire. (Ha’aretz)

David Ignatius asks if Sec. Kerry will have the credibility to help rebuild dialogue after this new war in Gaza. (Washington Post)

Aaron David Miller says Kerry should not try to make peace between Israel and Gaza. (Foreign Policy)

Rami Khouri says Palestinians will not launch another intifada. (Daily Star)

Ben Caspit says Netanyahu is under pressure from his coalition for a large military operation in Gaza. (Al-Monitor)

Jeffrey Goldberg says each time a Palestinian is abused in Israeli custody, it violates the spirit and promise of the country. (The Atlantic)

Aaron David Miller says Israelis and Palestinians are in a game with no end. (CNN)

Yossi Mekelberg says to Israelis and Palestinians, peace should be the “ultimate revenge.” (Al Arabiya)

David Horovitz explains why Israel is fighting with Gaza again. (Times of Israel)

Gregg Carlstrom says the real battleground of occupied East Jerusalem is ready to “boil over.” (Foreign Policy)

Zvi Bar’el says Israelis are “longing for” the next intifada. (Ha’aretz)

Asmaa al-Ghoul says the Palestinian press is losing the “media war.” (Al-Monitor)

The Daily Star says Israel’s bombing of Gaza is a “recurring nightmare.” (Daily Star)

Osama Al Sharif says Abbas has failed to empathise with his own people. (Jordan Times)

Jonathan Cook says neither Israelis nor Palestinians can claim to be above a culture of hate. (The National)

Linda Gradstein interviews the mother of the murdered Palestinian teenager. (The Media Line)

Yadin Kaufmann makes the economic case for peace. (Ha’aretz)

The National says from Gaza to Iraq there is a clear lack of leadership. (The National)

David Ignatius says the tragedy of the US role in the modern Middle East is that it became the protector of the very post-imperial order it once resisted. (Washington Post)

Jamal Khashoggi says the Arab world needs to look inwards to explain ISIS’s rise. (Al Arabiya)

Ali Ibrahim says cutting subsidies in Egypt is inevitable. (Asharq al-Awsat)

News:

The Jewish Daily Forward profiles the joint APN/ATFP internship program. (Jewish Daily Forward)

Israel escalates its aerial offensive on Gaza. (AP/New York Times/Washington Post/The National)

Israeli airstrikes kill eight members of a family including five children in a raid on Gaza. (Reuters/Washington Post)

The Israeli army says the killing of eight Palestinian family members was an error. (Ha’aretz)

Israeli airstrikes kill 81 Palestinians and injure over 550 since Monday. (Ma’an)

Hamas sends major rocket barrage across Israel. (Ha’aretz/JTA/Jerusalem Post/Ynet)

Israel says the Iron Dome interceptor has shot down 90 percent of Gaza rockets. (Reuters/New York Times)

PM Netanyahu says a cease-fire with Hamas is not on Israel's agenda. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Pres. Abbas says Israel is waging a war on all Palestinians. (Ha’aretz)

The ADL criticizes Abbas for accusing Israel of “genocide” against Palestinians. (Jerusalem Post)

FM Lieberman tells world leaders that Israel will defend its citizens. (JTA/Jerusalem Post)

A Hamas official says it would be willing to stop the rocket attacks in exchange for the release of members arrested by the Israeli army. (Times of Israel)

Egypt urges Israel and Hamas to halt their escalating conflict but plays down hopes of a Cairo-mediated truce. (AFP)

The UNSC will hold an emergency meeting on the escalating violence between Israel and Hamas. (AFP/Reuters)

Sec. Kerry says the crisis in Gaza and Israel needs de-escalation. (AP/Ynet)

Israel thwarts an alleged Palestinian attack on a major highway in the occupied West Bank. (Jerusalem Post)

Egyptian authorities open the Rafah crossing for injured Palestinians. (Ma’an)

Israel is considering filing criminal charges against one of the police officers who is suspected of severely beating a Palestinian-American teenager. (Ha’aretz/JTA)

Desmond Tutu accuses Israeli and Palestinian leaders of behaving "like children." (AFP)

The Arab media is reportedly indifferent to Hamas. (Times of Israel)

Jordanian protesters attempt to storm the Israeli embassy in Amman. (Jordan Times)

Kurdish ministers say they will boycott meetings of Iraq's caretaker cabinet as Baghdad halts cargo flights to two Kurdish cities. (Reuters/AP)

The UN says the nuclear material seized by extremists in Iraq is “low-grade” and not a threat. (New York Times)

Activists say jihadi fighters are battling to take the predominantly Kurdish areas in northern Syria. (AP)

Italian-Swedish diplomat Staffan de Mistura has been chosen by UNSG Ban to replace Brahimi as the international point man on Syria. (AP/New York Times)

Commentary:

Rula Salameh says Palestinian mothers in occupied East Jerusalem are terrified for their children’s safety.(New York Times)

Asmaa Al-Ghoul says Israeli strikes on Gaza have targeted residential homes, killing numerous women and children. (Al-Monitor)

The Daily Star says Arab regimes are abandoning the Palestinian people. (Daily Star)

The National says Netanyahu never misses an opportunity to play the victim or escalate a conflict. (The National)

Lara Friedman says the murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir was framed for the entire world in a “dehumanizing and defamatory narrative.” (Jewish Daily Forward)

Gershon Baskin says military force alone will never be a proper response to human suffering. (Jerusalem Post)

Shlomi Eldar says Hamas was able to “surprise” Israel. (Al-Monitor)

Sima Kadmon says Netanyahu is facing a dilemma in Gaza. (Ynet)

Joyce Karam says Israel’s confrontations during World Cup tournaments have become symptomatic of a larger problem in Israeli politics. (Al Arabiya)

Ari Shavit says Israel’s years of calm are over. (Ha’aretz)

Ha’aretz says Finance Minister Lapid must stand up for peace. (Ha’aretz)

Eyad Abu Shakra says the Arab world currently feels like an “arid land” that has been set on fire. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Michael Young says the Middle East is at a foundational moment in its history. (Daily Star)

Kori Schake says ISIS is running a “brilliantly effective” social media campaign. (Foreign Policy)

Raymond Tanter asks if PM Maliki will lose his job. (Foreign Policy)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says the international community should not support Islamic groups in Syria. (Al Arabiya)

Michael Young says Lebanon continues to pay a heavy price for the Syrian crisis. (The National)

News:

Israeli airstrikes kill more Palestinians in Gaza. (Reuters/Washington Post)

Palestinian death toll in Gaza nears 100 as Hamas promises more attacks on Israel. (New York Times/Ma’an/Ha’aretz/The National)

rocket fired from Gaza hits Ashdod, injuring three Israelis. (Ma’an/JTA/Jerusalem Post)

Pres. Obama offers the help of the US in negotiating a cease-fire. (AP/AFP/JTA/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

At the request of the US, the PA has reportedly approached Hamas to try to broker a ceasefire. (Times of Israel)

An Israeli official says ceasefire offers are “not relevant” while Hamas continues to fire rockets. (Times of Israel)

UNSG Ban calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. (AFP)

Pres. Sisi is reportedly torn between Palestinians and Hamas. (Ha’aretz)

Hamas’ armed wing says it will target Israel’s Ben-Gurion international airport. (Reuters/Ynet)

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Pillay doubts the legality of Israel’s Gaza offensive. (Reuters/AFP)

Israel and the US try to ward off UN condemnations of Gaza air strikes. (Ha’aretz)

Quartet Envoy Blair says Israel will not be able to “destroy” Hamas. (Ynet)

Egyptian authorities close the Rafah crossing with Gaza. (Ma’an)

Qatar donates $5 million to help buy medicines for Gaza hospitals. (Ma’an)

There is a rise of anti-Arab sentiments among Jewish Israeli youth. (New York Times)

Two rockets are fired into northern Israel from southern Lebanon. (Reuters/AFP/Ynet/Daily Star)

Pres. Erdogan says Turkey will not normalize its ties with Israel unless Gaza assault stops. (Reuters/AFp)

Middle East Eye profiles Palestinian American comedian Maysoon Zayid. (Middle East Eye)

Iraqi FM Zebari says the Kurdish political bloc will no longer take part in Iraq's national government. (Reuters)

Kurdish forces take over two oilfields in northern Iraq. (Reuters/AP)

Ayatollah Sistani urges fighters to respect the rights of all Iraqis, regardless of sect or politics. (Reuters)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the death toll in Syria’s three-year war has eclipsed170,000 people. (The National)

Commentary:

ATFP Youth Outreach Coordinator Tala Haikal says empathy is essential to humanity, especially in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Huffington Post)

J.J. Goldberg says the conflict in Gaza is a product of universal miscalculation. (Jewish Daily Forward)

Adnan Abu Amer says Pres. Abbas inaction in Gaza is infuriating Hamas. (Al-Monitor)

Ha’aretz warns against another “Cast Lead” operation in Gaza. (Ha’aretz)

Eric Yoffie says Israel must stop settlements and Hamas must stop firing rockets. (Ha’aretz)

Adam Bronfman says Israelis must call for an end to settlements now. (Times of Israel)

The Media Line interviews advisor to Abbas Majdi Al-Khaldi. (The Media Line)

Jonathan Power says violence against children has become an epidemic. (Jordan Times)

Brooklyn Middleton says physicians in Gaza are desperately seeking solutions to continue providing care. (Al Arabiya)

The Jordan Times says Israel’s only sensible choice  to instantly open talks with 22 Arab governments. (Jordan Times)

Ahmad Majdoubeh says regional instability is not in Israel’s interest. (Jordan Times)

H.A. Hellyer says it is necessary to invoke religion in a counter-radicalisation strategy in the Middle East. (The National)

Jane Arraf says Ahmad Chalabi is likely could become Iraq’s next prime minister. (Foreign Policy)

Wafiq Al-Samarrai says what recently happened in Mosul and Tikrit will not happen in Samarra and Baghdad. (Asharq al-Awsat)

The New York Times says the Obama administration needs to press the Bahraini government to negotiating with Shiites. (New York Times)

The National says the international nuclear talks are Iran’s chance for positive regional engagement. (The National)

News:

The Palestinian death toll in Gaza reaches 172 and more than 1230 injured. (Ma’an)

Rockets from Gaza injure an Israeli boy in Ashdod. (Ha’aretz)

The Israeli military says it has downed a drone launched by militants from Gaza. (AP/Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post/JTA)

Hamas warns it will use new weapons if Israeli airstrikes continue. (The Media Line)

Israel warns Palestinians in Gaza to leave their homes. (PNN)

Thousands of Palestinians flee northern Gaza. (New York Times/Washington Post/Ha’aretz/The National)

Palestinian children in Gaza are traumatized by war. (Ynet)

The UNSC calls for an Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire. (AP/The National)

Pres. Abbas will ask the UN to put the state of Palestine under “international protection.”(AFP/Ha’aretz)

The EU says it is pressing for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. (Reuters)

Sec. Kerry asks PM Netanyahu to avoid further escalation in Gaza. (Ha’aretz)

The Arab League will meet in Cairo to discuss Israel's bombardment of Gaza. (AFP)

DM Ya’alon says leaders of Hamas will see the destruction Israel has inflicted on them when they come out of their hiding. (Jerusalem Post)

FM Lieberman says ending the Gaza operation now will only mean more fighting in the future. (Ynet)

Pope Francis appeals for peace in Gaza. (AFP)

Pres. Rouhani calls on the Muslim world to help Gaza. (Times of Israel)

King Abdullah of Jordan urges Israel to stop targeting civilians. (AFP/Jordan Times)

rocket fired from Gaza knocks out a power line in Israel that supplied electricity to 70,000 Palestinians in Gaza. (Jerusalem Post)

The Shin Bet releases the chronology of the killing of a Palestinian teenager. (Times of Israel)

Israel charges three Jewish Israelis for the killing of the Palestinian teenager. (AP)

Israeli occupation forces kill a Palestinian man during clashes in the West Bank. (Reuters/Ma’an/PNN/JTA/Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)

Israeli occupation forces detain 11 Hamas members in the West Bank. (Ma’an)

Egypt opens the Rafah crossing to allow pilgrims to leave Gaza and travel to Saudi Arabia. (Ma’an)

A light rail line connecting Arab and Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem is damaged during riots. (New York Times)

Two rockets fired from Lebanon reach Western Galilee. (Ynet)

Eight Egyptians are killed in a mortar attack in Sinai. (AP)

Heavy clashes along the Syrian-Lebanese border kill several people, including a number of Hezbollah fighters. (AP/Reuters)

Iraq’s parliament fails to overcome the deep divisions hampering the formation of a new government. (The National)

Sec. Kerry will hold in-depth discussions with FM Zarif. (AP/Reuters/New York Times)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish says all sides in the conflict are cynical and Hamas seeks concessions from Egypt. (The National)

The Daily Star says what is happening in Gaza is being ignored by the rest of world. (Daily Star)

Roger Cohen says Israel is the Middle East’s status quo power par excellence. (New York Times)

David Horovitz asks if Netanyahu really supports a two-state solution. (Times of Israel)

Jeffrey Goldberg says Netanyahu cannot hold to the West Bank forever. (The Atlantic)

Natan Sachs says neither Israel or Hamas can win from this “war of attrition.” (Foreign Policy)

Akiva Eldar says Israel and Hamas are in a lose-lose situation. (Al-Monitor)

Amos Yadlin says if Hamas accepts an Israeli ceasefire proposal it means that it has been deterred. (Ynet)

Ron Ben-Yishai says Israel must send ground troops to Gaza. (Ynet)

Ha’aretz calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. (Ha’aretz)

Aeyal Gross asks if Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza. (Ha’aretz)

Rami Khouri says colonialism never ended in Palestine. (Daily Star)

Amer Al Sabaileh says Israel is experiencing a crisis, and the key to resolving it could be found in joining a regional anti-terror alliance. (Jordan Times)

Ayesha Almazroui says the Arab world must help the people of Gaza. (The National)

Vali Nasr says diplomacy can still save Iraq. (New York Times)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed looks at the significance of Izzat al-Douri and the Ba’ath Party. (Al Arabiya)

Jamal Khashoggi asks if the ISIS threat in Saudi Arabia is more dangerous than in other countries. (Al Arabiya)

Tariq Alhomayed says Sunni Arabs must confront ISIS. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Zalmay Khalilzad says the world must get ready for Kurdish independence. (New York Times)

The National says young fighters should explain the realities of war to convince young people people not to go fight. (The National)

News:

Egypt offers a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel. (AP/Ha’aretz)

Israel’s security cabinet accepts the Egyptian ceasefire deal. (New York Times/Washington Post/JTA/Times of Israel/The National)

Hamas spokesperson Abu Zuhri says they were not consulted by Egypt about ceasefire arrangements and only heard of the initiative through media outlets. (Ma’an)

Hamas continues firing rockets from Gaza into Israel. (Reuters/AFP/JTA/Jerusalem Post)

The Israeli military says it has resumed airstrikes on Gaza. (AP/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

The Palestinian death toll in Gaza reaches 192 and more than 1300 injured. (PNN)

Kerry condemns Hamas rocket fire in the face of a “goodwill effort” to secure a ceasefire. (Ynet/Reuters)

Pres. Obama praises Egypt’s ceasefire proposal. (AP/Reuters/Times of Israel)

Sec. Kerry has decided not to make to an immediate trip to the Middle East to push diplomatic efforts toward a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. (AP)

Pres. Abbas praises the Egyptian initiative. (Ynet)

Pres. Peres and Quartet Envoy Blair praise the Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire. (Ynet)

Gaza’s Ministry of Health announces a state of emergency. (IRIN)

Israeli occupation forces clash with Palestinians in the West Bank, injuring seven. (Ma’an)

Hamas publishes a photo of a drone it says it built. (New York Times)

An Israeli official says Israel has found funding for three new Iron Dome rocket interception batteries. (Reuters)

The Gaza conflict is reportedly costing Israel $32 million a day. (Ha’aretz)

PM Erdogan accuses Israel of committing “state terrorism” against the Palestinians. (AFP)

Jordan warns against consequences of war in Gaza amid regional turmoil. (Jordan Times)

The Iraqi parliament elects a new SpeakerSalim al-Jubouri. (AP/New York Times)

The Iraqi army and Shi’ite militias launch an assault to retake Tikrit. (Reuters)

Kerry says there are still big gaps in nuclear talks with Iran. (AP)

The UN says it will withdraw its staff from Libya temporarily because of the deteriorating security. (AP/Reuters)

Pres. Assad will be sworn in for a new seven-year term on Wednesday. (AFP)

Commentary:

Hassan Barari says Israel’s current war in Gaza is not the first and will most likely not be the last. (Jordan Times)

H.A. Hellyer says the people of Gaza are victims to two “wars on terror.” (Al Arabiya)

Bradley Burston calls on PM Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza. (Ha’aretz)

Amos Harel gives seven takeaways from seven days of “Operation Protective Edge.” (Ha’aretz)

Etgar Keret asks what to do when an Israeli-Palestinian peace is out of reach. (Los Angeles Times)

Salman Aldossary says the Gaza tragedy is a scene that repeats itself. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Nimrod Nir says Israelis must remember to fight terror and not the Palestinians. (New York Times)

The National says insanity is reigning in Israel’s crisis management. (The National)

Sharif Nashashibi says two Gazas exist one as presented in the major media, and the other on the ground and in social media. (The National)

Mark Perry says Israel's military offensive will backfire. (Foreign Policy)

Dan Rabinowitz says a courageous Israeli leader would declare a unilateral ceasefire. (Ha’aretz)

Linda Gradstein says Israel is debating the efficacy of a military ground operation in Gaza. (The Media Line)

The Jordan Times says Jordan has a sent a clear message to the US that it will take no part in training Syrian opposition forces on its territory. (Jordan Times)

The Daily Star says the US needs to come up with a policy for Syria. (Daily Star)

The CSM says the advance of the Islamic State in Iraq opens an opportunity for Kurds to seek an independent state.(Christian Science Monitor)

Laura Kokotailo says Americans and Kurds should be allied against ISIS. (Bas News)

June 30th

News:
PM Netanyahu says any future peace agreement with the Palestinians, Israel would insist on maintaining security control of the West Bank “for a very long time.” (New York Times)
US Special Envoy Indyk resigns. (New York Times/JTA/Foreign Policy)
Israel’s security crackdown raises questions about the asymmetry of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (New York Times)
14 rockets are fired at Israel from Gaza. (Ma’an/JTA/Ha’aretz)
Netanyahu warns Palestinians in Gaza over rocket attacks. (The National/AFP)
Hamas leader Marzook says Hamas is not “currently responsible” for Gaza. (Ynet)
The Israeli cabinet approves a $90 million plan for occupied East Jerusalem which focuses on increased security. (AFP/JTA) 
A poll indicates a majority of Palestinians are turning away from  the two-state solution. (Ha’aretz)
Israeli occupation forces arrest four Palestinians in the West Bank. (PNN)
Israel drops anti-Hamas Ramadan lollipops in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an/Times of Israel)
Israel authorizes 1500 Jordanians to come and work in its Red Sea resort of Eilat to combat a labor shortage. (AFP/The Media Line)
Egyptian and Palestinian officials deny presence of any fighters affiliated with ISIS in Gaza and Sinai. (Ma’an)
Netanyahu calls for an independent Kurdistan. (AP/AFP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
ISIS announces the creation of a new “Islamic State” and “caliphate.” (AP/Reuters/Washington Post/The National)
Syrian fighters hail ISIS’s declaration of an Islamic caliphate. (Reuters)
The Iraqi army is trying to dislodge ISIS insurgents from Tikrit. (Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post)
Iraqi government officials say Russian experts have arrived in Iraq to help the army fight against Sunni extremists. (New York Times/The National)
Iraqi Christians return to their villages. (AP)
ISIS demonstrates sophistication when it comes to using social media. (New York Times)
King Abdullah of Jordan fears spread of Iraq chaos. (Times of Israel/Jordan Times)
Pres. Obama is concerned that “battle-hardened militants” who have spent time in Syria and Iraq could present a rising threat to US security. (AP)
Mortar shells hit government-held areas of the Syrian city of Idlib, killing 14 people. (AP)
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia slams extremism in address marking start of Ramadan. (The National)
A blast kills two police officers near Egypt’s presidential palace in Cairo. (AP/Reuters)
Egypt will restrict sermons during the month of Ramadan to topics of faith and morality. (AP)
PM Jomaa says two Tunisian diplomats who were held for months by gunmen in Libya have been released. (AP/Reuters)
Commentary:
Daniel Kurtzer says the US must inject life into the “moribund” Israeli-Palestinian peace process. (Ha’aretz)
Michael Ratney says a viable Palestinian state will be built through hard work, tough negotiation and peaceful, well-reasoned activism. (Jerusalem Post)
Ha’aretz says the European boycott of settlements is gaining momentum. (Ha’aretz)
Smadar Perry asks if Ramadan will stop the arrival of a new “intifada.” (Ynet)
Moshe Arens says Israel needs to win the “hearts and minds” of the Palestinian people. (Ha’aretz)
Hussein Ibish urges that states for political and rhetorical imagination be kept open in Iraq and Syria. (The National)
Juan Zarate and Thomas Sanderson ask how ISIS got rich. (New York Times)
Robin Wright says Iraq is more like Lebanon than Syria. (New York Times)
Raghida Dergham says Iran seeks to appear as counterterrorism partner to the US in Iraq. (Al Arabiya)
Theodore Karasik says for now Jordan is safe from ISIS. (Al Arabiya)
Amer Al Sabaileh says Saudis are welcoming Egypt to play a key role in Arab politics. (Jordan Times)
H.A. Hellyer revisits the Egyptian protests of June 30 and July 3rd. (Al Arabiya)
Juan Cole says its too soon to give up on the Arab Spring. (Los Angeles Times)
The Daily Star says Lebanese must demand accountability and transparency from their politicians. (Daily Star)
Burhan Ghalioun and Ghassan Ibrahim debate whether Iran will change its position on Syria. (Asharq al-Awsat)

June 24th

News:

Israeli occupation forces arrest 13 Palestinians in Hebron. (Ma’an/Jerusalem Post)

PM Netanyahu says he appreciates Pres. Abbas’ “important words” against the kidnapping of the three Israeli teenagers. (Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)

DM Ya’alon updates Sec. Hagel on the kidnapping. (Ha’aretz/JTA)

Quartet Envoy Blair calls on Israel to stop its operation in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. (PNN)

The mother of one of the kidnapped teenagers tells the UN Human Rights Council that every boy and girl deserves to come home to their families. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)

The UNSC fails to agree on a statement that would have deplored the deaths of Palestinians in Israeli operations. (Ha’aretz)

Jewish “price tag” extremists vandalize cars in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ha’aretz)

Hamas leader Haniyeh says Israeli threats do not scare Palestinians. (Ma’an)

The Red Cross warns Israeli doctors against force-feeding prisoners. (Ma’an)

A Gaza power plant is expected to shut down after the last shipment of Qatar-donated fuel runs out. (Ma’an)

Sheldon Adelson will donate a total of $25 million to Ariel University which is in a settlement in the occupied West Bank. (JTA/Ha’aretz)

Palestinians are unable to return to the Yarmouk camp in Syria, despite the truce. (AFP) 

Sec. Kerry promises “intense and sustained” support for Iraq. (Reuters)

Kerry urges the Kurds to save Iraq from collapse. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Washington Post)

The UN says more than 1000 have been killed in Iraq in June. (Reuters/AP)

US Special Forces will face a complex challenge in Iraq. (AP)

A diplomatic note promises immunity from Iraqi law for US advisory troops. (New York Times)

A poll indicates most Americans disapprove of the way Pres. Obama is handling Iraq. (New York Times)

Pres. Sisi says he will not interfere in judicial rulings. (Reuters/AP/New York Times)

Sisi pledges to give up half his salary and property. (Reuters)

A suicide bombing in Beirut kills a security officer. (AP)

Next Tuesday, Turkey’s ruling AKP party will announce its candidate for the August presidential election. (Reuters)

Commentary:

Maher Mughrabi says Israel must end the occupation in for Palestinians to be able to speak out against Hamas. (Ha’aretz)

Oudeh Basharat asks who will protect the Palestinians. (Ha’aretz)

Akiva Eldar says Israel’s reaction to the kidnapping highlights its “surrender” to settlers. (Al-Monitor)

Robi Damelin says the Parents Circle Families Forum is made up of Israeli and Palestinian bereaved parents who pay the consequence of the cycle of violence. (Times of Israel)

Jeffrey Goldberg says Obama did not “break” the Middle East. (The Atlantic)

David Rothkopf says the US can’t fix the Middle East, but it can fix its policy to the region.(Foreign Policy)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed asks how much support ISIS really enjoys. (Al Arabiya)

Hassan Barari says Maliki has been the key impediment to building an inclusive Iraq. (Jordan Times)

Faisal Abbas says PM Maliki is the new Saddam of Iraq. (Al Arabiya)

The Daily Star says Iran should do something about reducing sectarian tensions in the region, instead of just talking about it. (Daily Star)

H.A. Hellyer says yesterday was a “poignant” day for press freedoms in Egypt. (Al Arabiya)

Faisal Al Yafai says Fouad Ajami was a great scholar of the Middle East but did not empathize with its people. (The National)

Will Inboden remembers Fouad Ajami. (Foreign Policy)

Jamal Al Marri and Salah Al-Saidi debate whether Gulf security is under threat. (Asharq al-Awsat)

June 23rd

News:
Pres. Abbas says there is no evidence Hamas is responsible for the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers. (Xinhua)
Some analysts think Israel is using a massive operation in the occupied Palestinian territories regarding the teenagers to scupper the agreement between Fatah and Hamas. (Xinhua)
Two Palestinians are killed and 37 are arrested in raids by Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank. (AP/ Ma'an)
The Israeli operation, in its current form, may be nearing its end. (Ha'aretz)
The PA may approach the Security Council over Israel's "aggression." (Ma'an)
Turkish pathologist says a Palestinian detainee was beaten before dying in an Israeli jail. (Ha'aretz)
An Israeli teenager is killed in an explosion near the border with Syria. (Xinhua)
Israeli settlers open fire on Palestinian protesters near Ramallah. (Ma'an)
The Presbyterian Church in the United States votes to divest from some companies doing business in the occupied Palestinian territories. (The Guardian)
Factions agree a cease-fire in the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in Syria. (AP/BBC)
The Israeli military conducts an airstrike near the border with, or inside, Syria. (Ha'aretz/AP)
Sunni extremists now control much of Iraq's western border. (Washington Post)
The ability of the Iraqi army to turn the tide against Sunni extremists is doubted. (New York Times)
Sec. Kerry urges Iraqis to form a new, inclusive government, and says the whole region is threatened by chaos in Iraq. (New York Times/AP)
Iraqis in Baghdad fear the worst awaits them. (AP)
Kerry is on a surprise visit to Egypt, which experts say signals a breakthrough in bilateral relations. (Xinhua)
Kerry says the US is poised to resume full relations with Egypt, including US aid, while urging more moderate policies. (New York Times/AP)
Three Al Jazeera reporters are sentenced to seven years in prison in Egypt. (AP/BBC)
Noted Middle East scholar Fouad Ajami passes away. (New York Times/AP
Commentary:
Bakir Oweida says, between the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers and Israel's West Bank offensive, the Fatah-Hamas agreement may be unraveling. (Asharq Al Awsat)
Ben Caspit says the Palestinian agreement was unraveling anyway. (Al Monitor)
Shlomi Eldar says the kidnappings and offensive are forcing Hamas to rethink its strategy. (Al Monitor)
Adnan Abu Amer says Hamas is afraid Israel will deport its leaders. (Al Monitor)
Ben-Dror Yemini says Israel has a partner in Abbas. (Ynet)
Hagai El-Ad says Palestinian suffering goes undocumented in Israel, and when it is recognized it is regarded as a conspiracy. (Ha'aretz)
Rafael Ahren asks if Israel's West Bank offensive is a human rights violation. (Times of Israel)
Ryan Crocker says the US should reengage with the Iraq. (Washington Post)
Murhaf Jouejati says ISIS' advance in Iraq should mean more weapons aid for the Syrian opposition. (Al Monitor)
Abdullah Al-Madani says the GCC should move towards greater union, but Salim Bin Ahmed Sahab disagrees. (Asharq Al Awsat)
Mustafa Akyol says the Kurds are Turkey's best ally. (New York Times)

American Task Force on Palestine - 1634 Eye St. NW, Suite 725, Washington DC 20006 - Telephone: 202-262-0017