News:

Israel issues new tenders to build 430 settlement housing units in the occupied West Bank. (AP/AFP/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz)

Former Israeli Amb. Oren criticizes the new settlement tenders. (Ha’aretz)

Pres. Abbas will visit Stockholm next month. (AFP)

The IMF says the Gaza war has pushed the Palestinian economy into a recession. (AFP)

Many US senators pledge not to support assistance to the PA until the Obama administration reviews Palestine’s efforts to the ICC. (JTA)

A delegation of parliamentarians from EU states welcomes Palestine’s efforts to join the ICC. (PNN)

With tensions rising the UN is reviewing its operations in Gaza. (Ha’aretz)

Unknown assailants throw a grenade into the home of a Fatah official in Gaza. (Ma’an)

15,000 young Palestinians graduate from Hamas’ training camps. (Times of Israel/Al-Monitor/Jerusalem Post)

PM Netanyahu is reportedly seeking Democratic support in trying to ease criticism over his coming address to Congress. (New York Times/Ha’aretz/Ynet)

Israel continues to search for Hezbollah tunnels. (New York Times)

Pres. Sisi cuts short his visit to Ethiopia after ISIS's Egyptian wing claims that it killed at least 32 security personnel in Sinai. (Reuters/AP/New York Times)

Hamas’ militia imposes “strict security measures” along the border with Egypt. (Ma’an)

ISIS is silent as the deadline for a prisoner swap with Jordan expires. (AP/Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post/The National/Jordan Times)

ISIS kills a senior Kurdish commander in Iraq. (AP)

KRG leader Barzani says the anti-ISIS coalition will not be able to retake Mosul before the fall. (Reuters)

Clashes between Al-Nusra and Western-backed rebels spread from Aleppo province into neighboring Idlib. (Reuters)

King Salman abolishes government bodies, changes ministers, dismisses the chief of intelligence and further consolidates his own authority. (New York Times/Al Arabiya)

Saudi Arabia postpones the flogging of blogger Raif Badawi for a third week in a row. (AFP) 

Commentary:

Zeev Sternhell says even an Israeli centrist government will not end the occupation. (Ha’aretz)

Eugene Robinson says inviting Netanyahu to speak before Congress was a “mistake” by Speaker Boehner. (Washington Post)

Robert Kagan outlines five reasons why Netanyahu should not address Congress. (Washington Post)

Nathan Guttman asks if Amb. Dermer’s Republican ties are “too tight” for Israel’s good. (The Forward)

Jeffrey Goldberg interviews Dermer. (The Atlantic)

Nahum Barnea says Hezbollah’s “revenge” for Israel’s Quneitra strike is not over yet. (Ynet)

Ben Caspit says Hezbollah is opening another front against Israel in the Golan Heights, where it can blame other organizations for possible escalations. (Al-Monitor)

David Brooks says the US should stop trying “to play chess” in the Middle East and simply keep its promises. (New York Times)

The Daily Star says the Russian peace initiative on Syria is a “waste of time.” (Daily Star)

Amir Taheri says Saudi Arabia’s greatest asset is its stability. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Kenneth Roth says Western inattention to human rights abuses in the Middle East has given rise to a culture of violence and impunity. (Foreign Policy)

David Rothkopf says Pres. Obama’s main foreign policy legacy is likely to be seen as empowering Iran. (Foreign Policy)

News:

Israel and Hezbollah signal that their flare-up in fighting across the Israeli-Lebanese border is over. (Reuters/New York Times/JTA/Times of Israel) 

Israel tells the UNSC it will take “all necessary measures” to defend itself against Hezbollah. (Reuters)

Hezbollah faces internal criticism in Lebanon for getting into more conflict with Israel. (Ynet/Daily Star)

Some Palestinian factions express their support for Hezbollah. (Ma’an) 

PM Netanyahu blames Iran for the deadly flare-up along the Israeli-Lebanese border. (AP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

FM Lieberman slams Netanyahu’s decision to “contain” Hezbollah. (Times of Israel)

At the UNSC, Spain blames Israel for the death of one of its peacekeepers. (Times of Israel)

UN Human Rights Chief al-Hussein says Israel and the Palestinians have failed to adequately investigate the last Gaza war. (Reuters) 

UN Envoy for the Middle East Serry says he is "outraged" by the recent assault on UN premises in Gaza. (Ma’an)

An unnamed American official criticizes Israeli Amb. Dermer over PM Netanyahu’s visitto Washington. (New York Times/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Former Pres. Peres criticizes Netanyahu for his upcoming speech before Congress. (Jerusalem Post)

Pres. Rivlin tells the UN the “West has no war with Islam.” (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel) 

Two seven-year-old boys from occupied East Jerusalem identify the alleged Jewish extremists who attempted to kidnap one of them. (Ma’an)

Israeli occupation forces demolish the home of a Palestinian family in the West Bank. (Ma’an)

A new mobile app offers information from Palestinian universities in the West Bank and Gaza. (The Media Line)

ISIS purportedly sets a new deadline for a prisoner swap with Jordan. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Jordan Times)

As Iraqi Kurds gain more ground from ISIS, local Sunni Arabs are worried about how they will be treated. (AP)

Survivors say they saw Iraqi forces standing by and watching as Shiite militias executed 72 Sunnis. (Reuters)

Iran’s newly appointed UN Amb. Khoshrou is expected to receive a US visa. (Reuters/New York Times) 

Commentary:

Joyce Karam says with Hezbollah’s expanded role in Syria, Israel is unilaterally changing the 2006 rules of engagement. (Al Arabiya)

Zvi Bar’el says Iran's real interest in Lebanon and Syria is political, not military confrontations with Israel. (Ha’aretz)

The Daily Star says Hezbollah should think of what is best for all of Lebanon, not just itself. (Daily Star) 

Ari Shavit says Israel must hold off the “inevitable third Lebanon war.” (Ha’aretz)

Phillip Smyth says as Hezbollah gains ground in the Golan Heights, Iran is now “knocking on the door of Israel’s quietest border.” (Foreign Policy)

Mitch Ginsburg says Hezbollah’s attack on an Israeli army convoy was carefully chosen as punishment for the Quneitra strike. (Times of Israel)

Bradley Burston says Israeli politics might be changing for the better. (Ha’aretz)

Alan Elsner says Dermer is serving Netanyahu at the expense of all other Israeli citizens. (Ha’aretz)

George Hishmeh says Netanyahu will have to pay for his arrogance. (Gulf News)

Aaron Zelin looks at ISIS’ “political model.” (Washington Post)

Alan Philps says there will be no swift victory over ISIS in Mosul. (The National)

Elias Groll asks if the Jordan pilot captured by ISIS is still alive. (Foreign Policy)

Raed Omari looks at Jordan’s latest hostage crisis. (Al Arabiya)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says Saudi foreign policy is unlikely to witness “dramatic changes” on major issues. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Michael Young says Washington’s current policies are ill-adapted to Middle Eastern dynamics. (Daily Star)

News:

A missile fired by Hezbollah strikes an Israeli military convoy, killing two soldiers andinjuring seven. (AP/Reuters/New York Times/Ma’an/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post/The Daily Star) 

A UN peacekeeper is killed in southern Lebanon, as Israel shells areas near the borderafter Hezbollah targeted its vehicles. (AFP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Ynet/Jerusalem Post/The Daily Star)

The Israeli army has begun searching for tunnels that Hezbollah may have dug near the Lebanese border. (Reuters/Ha’aretz/Ynet)

The US has reportedly asked Pres. Abbas to delay his plans to submit another resolution to the UNSC. (PNN/Jerusalem Post) 

Palestinians attack a UN compound in Gaza, following the suspension of an aid program. (AP)

Hamas calls UNRWA’s decision to suspend funding for displaced Gazans "shocking." (Ma’an)

B’tselem says the Israeli military violated international law in dozens of Gaza war strikes. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/The National)

A 14-year old Palestinian girl, sentenced to two months in prison for throwing rocks, has become a cause célèbre. (AP)

A Palestinian human rights group urges authorities to abolish the death penalty. (AFP)

A Fatah leader’s car is torched in Gaza. (Ma’an)

PM Netanyahu’s upcoming speech before Congress is causing a backlash in Israeli elections. (New York Times) 

Jordan says it is willing to swap an Iraqi woman prisoner for the Jordanian pilotcaptured by ISIS. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/The National/Jordan Times)

An American official says its too soon to announce “mission accomplished” in Kobani. (Reuters)

Iran says Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian will soon face trial. (AP/Washington Post)

Democrats in the Senate say they will not push for a vote on Iran sanctions until after a midway deadline in Iran talks. (JTA/Times of Israel)

Commentary:

Avi Issacharoff asks if Hezbollah is trying to draw Israel into a ground offensive. (Times of Israel)

Ron Ben-Yishai says Israel must think hard about its response to latest Hezbollah attack. (Ynet)

Yossi Mekelberg says Israel, Iran and Hezbollah might not exercise extra caution and may find themselves entangled in a much bigger and bloodier conflict. (Al Arabiya)

Sultan Barakat says it is imperative for the international community, led by Europe, to rebuild Gaza immediately. (The National)

Zvi Bar’el says unity among Arab parties in Israel is in everybody’s interest. (Ha’aretz)

Ben Caspit says the commander of Hamas’ paramilitary Qassam Brigades,  Muhammed al-Deif is still alive. (Al-Monitor)

Adnan Abu Amer says Hamas has begun a “swift rapprochement” with Hezbollah and Iran. (Al-Monitor)

Jeffrey Goldberg looks at “Netanyahu’s disaster.” (The Atlantic)

Ron Kampeas says Netanyahu’s Congress speech is roiling the pro-Israel lobby, Jewish members of Congress and the White House. (JTA)

Yonit Levi and Udi Segal look at what really divides Pres. Obama and Netanyahu. (Ha’aretz)

Peter Beinart says “by blatantly dissing” Obama, Netanyahu is endangering his support among Democrats. (Ha’aretz)

The Forward says Netanyahu’s speech risks alienating many more American Jews whose support he may no longer take for granted. (The Forward)

Michael Young says Hafez Al Assad's efforts to mould Syria into an independent regional power have been discredited by the actions of his son. (The National)

Angelina Jolie recounts her recent experience visiting Syrian and Iraqi refugee camps. (New York Times)

The Jordan Times says the attempt by ISIS to link the fate of a convicted terrorist to the lives of a Jordanian and a Japanese hostage is a “ludicrous ploy.”  (Jordan Times)

Aaron David Miller says Middle Eastern terrorism exists primarily because the Arab world is a “broken, angry, and dysfunctional place.” (Foreign Policy)

Haykal Bafana says the old Yemeni model has been replaced by the new Houthi model, with its simple adage: “violence pays.” (New York Times)

David Ignatius says security assistance does not work in weak states like Yemen. (Washington Post)

Salman Aldossary says the number of points on which Riyadh and Washington see eye to eye far exceed those they differ on. (Asharq al-Awsat)

David Weinberg says King Salman has “troubling ties to radical Islamists.” (Foreign Policy)

The Daily Star says the US must restore Saudi Arabia’s trust in American foreign policy. (Daily Star)

John Duke Anthony remembers the late King Abdullah. (Al Arabiya)

Hussein Ibish looks at how we should define Islamophobia in order to combat bigotry and protect free speech. (NOW)

News:

ICC donors are ignoring Israel's call to cut funding for the court. (Reuters)

Pres. Rivlin urges UNSG Ban to take a stand against the Palestinian effort to join the ICC.(Ynet)

UNRWA says it has had to suspend funding for home repairs in Gaza following lastsummer's war. (Reuters/AFP/PNN/Ha’aretz)

The Middle East Quartet says it’s urgent to improve the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. (Jerusalem Post)

Rivlin stresses the importance of the strong bond between the US and Israel in a visit to the West Point Military Academy. (Ha’aretz)

Clashes erupt between Palestinians and Israeli occupation forces in the Shufat neighborhood in East Jerusalem. (Ha’aretz/Ma’an) 

An Egyptian court overturns an earlier decision to designate Hamas as a terrorist organization. (Ma’an)

Israeli authorities confiscate hundreds of dunams of Palestinian land near Hebron. (Ma’an)

World leaders and Shoah survivors gather at Auschwitz to mark 70 years since liberation. (Times of Israel/Reuters/Jerusalem Post)

An Israeli film fund is seeking to force Palestinian citizens of Israel who are filmmakers to market their movies “ as Israeli.” (Ha’aretz)

Pres. Obama arrives in Saudi Arabia to pay last respects to King Abdullah. (AP/New York Times/The National/Al Arabiya)

Israel says two rockets launched from Syria have struck the Golan Heights. (AP/AFP/JTA/Ha’aretz)  

Kurdish forces battle ISIS outside Kobani. (Reuters/AP/Washington Post)

Japan says it will work with Jordan to secure the release of a journalist held by ISIS. (Reuters/AP/The National)

A 12-year old student is killed in a US drone strike in Yemen. (Reuters)

An Egyptian court upholds jail sentences imposed on three prominent liberal activists. (Reuters)

Many American and Iranian lawmakers seem to be trying to sabotage a potential nuclear deal. (New York Times)

Commentary:

Aeyal Gross looks at how the ICC prosecutor may be able to make progress while avoiding accusations of bias. (Ha’aretz)

Asmaa al-Ghoul says Islamic Jihad is trying to position itself as a mediator to end the dispute between Fatah and Hamas. (Al-Monitor)

Akiva Eldar says Likud  prefers  to fund settlements rather than needy sections of the Israeli population. (Al-Monitor)

Richard Cohen says PM Netanyahu’s recent actions could undermine American support for Israel. (Washington Post)

Raphael Ahren says Netanyahu’s White House-defying speech will backfire. (Times of Israel)

Nahum Barnea says Netanyahu’s upcoming speech before Congress is a “gift to Iran.” (Ynet)

Sefi Rachlevsky says Netanyahu is virtually calling opposition leaders Herzog and Livni “traitors.” (Ha’aretz)

Hassan Hassan says if the US is willing to live with Pres. Assad, it might also be willing to accept jihadists as a fact of life in Syria and Iraq. (The National)

The Daily Star says the Russian initiative on Syria is useless. (Daily Star)

The National says Kobani might prove to be the end of the beginning of the conflict with ISIS. (The National)

The Jordan Times looks at King Abdullah’s “war on terrorism.” (Jordan Times)

Robert Satloff says the Muslims who fought the Holocaust are a model for the battle against extremism. (Daily Star)

Mona Eltahawy looks at Egypt’s “war on atheism.” (New York Times)

News:

Fatah organizes rallies in the West Bank in protest against Israel’s occupation. (Ma’an)

Jewish extremists uproot olive trees near Hebron. (Ma’an)

Israel’s Housing Ministry allocates $215,000 for the expansion of settlements. (Ha’aretz)

Israel is moving to end the months-long crisis with New Zealand. (Ha’aretz)

PM Netanyahu defends his decision to accept a controversial invitation to address the US Congress on Iran. (AFP/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Speaker Boehner says he informed Pres. Obama of his invitation to Netanyahu. (Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

Meretz leader Gal-On questions the legality of Netanyahu’s trip to Washington. (Times of Israel)

Pres. Rivlin declines an invitation to meet with Obama. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Rivlin addresses African-American leaders in his first visit to the US as president. (JTA/Ha’aretz)

The IDF dismisses unit 8200 reservists who refused to serve in the occupied territories. (Jerusalem Post)

The White House says Obama and King Salman will discuss the turmoil in Yemen and the fight against ISIS in their meeting tomorrow. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia is expanding its regional role as Middle East chaos spreads. (New York Times/Washington Post)

The New York Times profiles Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Nayef. (Washington Post)

Pres. Assad is seeking an agreement with the US over airstrikes in Syria. (Reuters/AP)

Kurdish fighters say they have pushed ISIS almost entirely out of the Syrian town of Kobani. (AP/Reuters)

Turkey opens its biggest refugee camp to 35,000 people fleeing fighting in Kobani. (Reuters)

A video allegedly shows the decapitated body of one of the Japanese hostages held by ISIS. (New York Times)

King Abdullah of Jordan says the fight against radicalism and terrorism will be a long-term effort which should be spearheaded by Muslim and Arab countries. (Jordan Times)  

Sec. Kerry tells world leaders in Davos that violent extremism is “not Islamic.” (CBS)

At least 18 people are killed in unrest in Egypt. (New York Times/The National)

Egyptian security officials say the two sons of former Pres. Mubarak have been released from prison. (Reuters/AP)

An Egyptian doctor is convicted over a girl's death in a landmark female genital mutilation case. (Reuters/AP)

Commentary:

Smadar Perry says Israel must finally respond to the Arab Peace Initiative. (Ynet)

Don Futterman says Jewish Americans have chosen Obama over Netanyahu. (Ha’aretz)

Avirama Golan says Economy Minister Bennett is a “hate-mongering extremist.” (Ha’aretz)

Hussein Ibish looks at King Abdullah’s legacy of cautious and gradual reform in Saudi Arabia. (The Forward)

Hussein Ibish says the old regional order was already ending before King Abdullah passed. (The National)

Salman Aldossary look at what Saudi policies will look like in the era of King Salman. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Miguel Angel Moratinos says the Arab Peace Initiative remains King Abullah’s main contribution to peace. (Al Arabiya)

Mohamed Bazzi says the Iranian-Saudi proxy war in the region will only intensify with King Salman. (Politico)

Hisham Melhem says Obama cannot escape “his betrayal” of Syria being part of his legacy. (Al Arabiya)

David Schenker looks at Hezbollah’s “limited options” after the Israeli airstrike in Syria. (WINEP)

Elif Shafak says Pres. Erdogan has chosen a divisive strategy, pursuing hostility over compromise. (New York Times)

Paul Bonicelli says Yemen’s collapse will doom Obama’s foreign policy legacy. (Foreign Policy)

Faisal Al Yafai says allowing the politics of Yemen to be decided in foreign capitals is disastrous. (The National)

Ellie Geranmayeh says opponents of Iranian-Western diplomacy are already sabotaging the process. (New York Times)

Dennis Ross, Eric Edelman and Ray Takeyh say the nuclear deadlock between Iran and the US cannot be broken unless the US fully re-engages in the region. (Politico)

News:

Israel’s four Arab parties have decided to run together in the upcoming elections. (Reuters/Ha’aretz/Ynet)

Pres. Obama and Sec. Kerry will not meet with PM Netanyahu during his trip to Washington in March. (AFP/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Israel approves the construction of 2500 new settlement units in the occupied West Bank. (PNN)

200 Palestinians from Gaza attend Friday’s prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. (Ma’an)

Egyptian naval forces shoot and injure a Palestinian fisherman. (Ma’an)

A Druze student is attacked by gang of Jewish extremists in Jerusalem after he was overheard speaking Arabic. (Ynet)

DM Ya’alon warns that Israel will make Lebanon and Syria “pay” for any Hezbollah action against Israel. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia dies and his brother Salman becomes king. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Washington Post/Foreign Policy/The National/Al Arabiya)

World leaders react to the death of King Abdullah. (AP/JTA/Times of Israel/Jordan Times)

Pres. Abbas declares three days of mourning for King Abdullah. (Ma’an)

King Salman of Saudi Arabia pledges to maintain existing foreign and energy policies. (Reuters/New York Times/AP/Washington Post/The National)

Extremists affiliated with ISIS have posted an online warning about the impending murder of two Japanese hostages. (AP)

Yemen suffers a power vacuum after Pres. Hadi resigns in exasperation following the Houthi coup. (Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post) 

Commentary:

Nahum Barnea says Netanyahu has made a dangerous deal with the Republicans. (Ynet)

Ron Kampeas looks at what Israel may face at the ICC. (JTA)

Shlomi Eldar asks if a united Israeli Arab party can survive the upcoming elections. (Al-Monitor)

The Times of Israel interviews French Amb. to Israel Maisonnave. (Times of Israel)

Theodore Karasik looks at King Abdullah’s legacy for the GCC. (Al Arabiya)

Abdullah Hamidaddin says King Abdullah was the “king of hearts.” (Al Arabiya)

Elizabeth Dickinson looks at the legacy of King Abdullah. (The National)

The Daily Star says King Abdullah will be remembered as a friend of Lebanon and a champion of moderation in a turbulent region. (Daily Star)

Amir Taheri looks at the four key players in the Syrian conflict. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Fareed Zakaria provides a four-part strategy for the West to combat Muslim extremists. (Washington Post)

Charles Krauthammer looks at Iran’s quest to dominate the Arab world. (Washington Post) 

The Washington Post says Obama’s Yemen strategy is crumbling. (Washington Post)

The White House says Speaker Boehner’s invitation for PM Netanyahu to come to Washington is a breach of diplomatic protocol. (AP/New York Times/AFP/Ha’aretz)

Sec. Kerry says Netanyahu is welcome to speak in the US “at any time.” (Ha’aretz)

Israel’s Foreign Ministry says its unaware of any planned visit by Pres. Putin next month, rebuffing reports in Palestinian media. (Times of Israel) 

Egypt releases 45 Palestinians from Gaza imprisoned after trying to flee to Europe. (Ma’an) 

Egypt prepares to ship humanitarian aid from the UAE to Gaza. (Ma’an)

Hamas military chief Deif sends a letter of condolence to Hezbollah leader Nasrallah. (Ma’an/Times of Israel/Ynet)

The UN is holding its first-ever meeting on anti-Semitism. (Ha’aretz)

A senior British official says the US-led coalition could take up to two years to expel ISIS from Iraq. (Reuters)

ISIS is turning the captured Iraqi city of Mosul into a fortress. (Reuters)

Iraq’s Kurds say ISIS has been pushed out of a large area of northern Iraq. (Washington Post)

Japan says it is considering all options to release the two hostages held by ISIS. (AP/New York Times)

Pres. Sisi calls on world leaders gathered at the World Economic Forum to unite against the global threat of terrorism. (Reuters)

Heavily armed Houthis remain stationed outside Yemen’s presidential palace, despite an agreement. (AP/Reuters/New York Times)

The New York Times profiles the Houthis. (New York Times)

Amnesty International says Saudi Arabia plans to once again delay the public flogging of rights activist Raif Badawi on medical grounds. (Reuters/Washington Post)

Mossad Chief Tamir Pardo denies reports he opposes new sanctions on Iran. (Ha’aretz/JTA/Jerusalem Post)

Commentary:

Barak Ravid looks at how Netanyahu’s trip to Washington was “cooked up behind Pres. Obama’s back.” (Ha’aretz)

Ron Kampeas looks at the different reactions to Boehner’s “surprise invitation.” (JTA)

Aaron David Miller looks at why Boehner invited Netanyahu without consulting the White House. (Daily Beast)

The Jerusalem Post interviews former Israeli chief negotiator and opposition leaderLivni. (Jerusalem Post)

George Hishmeh says if the US will not restrain Israel it cannot complain about Palestinian initiatives at the UN and ICC. (Gulf News)

Linda Gradstein asks if the EU can help solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (The Media Line)

Mohammed Othman looks at Gaza’s “brain drain.” (Al-Monitor)

Ari Shavit says Israel can no longer isolate itself from the Arab world. (Ha’aretz)

Alan Philps says, like it or not, Pres. Assad will be part of Syria’s future. (The National)

Michael Young says America’s Syria policy is bound to fail. (Daily Star)

Jayne Huckerby asks why the West ignores the role women play in extremist groups like ISIS. (New York Times)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed looks at how the threat of extremism has become not just a Saudi, but a global problem. (Al Arabiya)

Joyce Karam says Obama’s State of the Union speech made his unwillingness to be drawn into Middle East conflicts very clear. (Al Arabiya)

Laurent Fabius, Philip Hammond, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Federica Mogheriniexplain why negotiations with Iran were extended and why diplomacy should be given a chance. (Washington Post) 

Aaron David Miller says Obama’s push to build a “legacy relationship” with Iran is only going to end in “heartache.” (Foreign Policy)

Hussein Ibish says Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has provided a timely demonstration of real Islamophobia with his “no-go zones” fabrications. (NOW)

News:

A Palestinian man stabs and wounds seven people on a Tel Aviv commuter bus. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/AFP/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Israeli leaders blame Pres. Abbas for the Tel Aviv bus attack. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

The Tel Aviv bus assailant says he was motivated by the Gaza war, tensions at the Al-Aqsa mosque and “martyrdom.” (Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post) 

Israel’s State Comptroller says he has opened an investigation into last summer’s Gaza war. (New York Times)

PM Netanyahu will address a joint session of Congress on Feb. 1. (The Forward)

Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian fisherman in Gaza. (Ma’an)

Israeli occupation forces demolish a Palestinian house in East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)

Palestinian citizens of Israel are discussing ways of maximizing their leverage in the next Israeli election. (New York Times)

The Media Line looks at the status of Palestinian Christians. (The Media Line)

In Gaza, an IT company has “Google-sized aspirations.” (Reuters)

An EU court upholds sanctions against a wealthy uncle of Pres. Assad. (Reuters)

Jailed Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah was moved to a prison hospital after more than two months on hunger strike. (Reuters)

Egypt’s currency has fallen to a historic low against the dollar. (AP)

Al-Qaeda in Yemen urges Muslims to carry out lone-wolf strikes in Western countries. (Reuters)

Houthi gunmen deny occupying the Presidential palace and overthrowing the government. (Reuters/AP/Washington Post)

As prices of food, water and electricity rise further beyond reach, struggling Iranians are losing hope for the future. (Reuters)

Pres. Obama says he will veto any new Iran sanctions. (JTA/Times of Israel)

Commentary:

Ha’aretz says it is unacceptable that police “errors” occur mainly with Palestinian citizens of Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Raphael Ahren interviews Canadian FM Baird. (Times of Israel)

Yossi Mekelberg says public opinion suggests there will be another fragmented multi-party legislature in Israel. (Al Arabiya)

Asmaa al-Ghoul says the victims of the Charlie Hebdo attack found sympathy in Gaza. (Al-Monitor)

The National says that by focusing on domestic issues, Obama is turning his back on the Middle East. (The National)

Thomas Friedman says Western and Muslim countries should speak cleanly about Muslim extremism. (New York Times)

Salman Masalha says only a serious ideological shake-up will move the Arab and Muslim world toward modernity. (Ha’aretz)

AP interviews PM al-Abadi. (AP)

Michael Young says Hezbollah will not retaliate against Israel. (The National)

Rami Khouri and Tariq Alhomayed speculate about Hezbollah retaliation. (Daily Star/Asharq al-Awsat)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says Yemen has entered a “dark tunnel” threatening the country's unity. (Al Arabiya)

Jason Pack says the West must stay neutral in Libya. (New York Times)

Robin Wright interviews Ennahda leader Ghannouchi. (Wilson)

Tamara Wittes and Marc Lynch say  women should be included in the Middle East policy conversatio. (Washington Post) 

David Ignatius looks at where American foreign policy will go after Obama. (Washington Post)

News:

Pres. Abbas tells the Israeli public to choose between peace and settlements. (Jerusalem Post)

Palestinian citizens of Israel stage a general strike to protest police violence. (Reuters/AFP/The National)

A Palestinian official says the government has paid only partial salaries to its civil servants. (AP)

Sen. Graham says Palestinians will lose annual US aid if they file a complaint against Israel at the ICC. (Reuters)

A German official urges Israel to work with the ICC. (AP)

Canadian FM Baird says Palestinians made a “huge mistake” by trying to join the ICC. (AP)

Arsonists torch a car belonging to Palestinian Prof. Dajani, who led the first organized group trip of Palestinian university students to Auschwitz. (Ha’aretz)

Israeli occupation forces demolish a house in the al-Isawiya neighborhood in East Jerusalem. (Ma’an/PNN)

The EU calls for an anti-terror alliance with Arab countries to boost cooperation and information-sharing in the wake of the Paris attacks. (AP/The National)

ISIS threatens to kill two Japanese hostages. (AP/New York Times/JTA)

Yazidis freed by ISIS enjoy a bittersweet homecoming. (Reuters)

An Iranian general killed in an Israeli airstrike in Syria was reportedly not its intended target. (Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post)

Iranian officials threaten “harsh retaliation” against Israel over airstrikes, as Ayatollah Khamenei highlights his personal connection with one of the dead. (Times of Israel/Ha’aretz/Ynet)

American interest in Syrian peace talks suggests to some a change in policy towards Pres. Assad. (New York Times)

Pres. Sisi says Egyptians have the right to demonstrate, but warns of economic harm. (Reuters/The National)

Russia and Iran sign an agreement to expand military ties. (AP)

Commentary:

Rami Khouri says the Quartet must achieve an Israeli-Palestinian agreement that meets the needs of both sides. (Daily Star)

Aaron Magid looks at the current crisis in US-Palestinian relations. (Ha’aretz)

Raphael Ahren says Israel’s anger at an ICC’s preliminary investigation is political posturing. (Times of Israel)

Akiva Eldar says PM Netanyahu is making the ICC a campaign issue. (Al-Monitor)

Aeyal Gross says an ICC inquiry is a “game changer” for Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Ha’aretz says the Palestinian ICC initiative was not preordained. (Ha’aretz)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says the fact that many Arabs now dislike Iran and Hezbollah doesn’t mean they love Israel. (Al Arabiya)

Joyce Karam asks if Hezbollah and Israel are on the verge of an “open war.” (Al Arabiya)

Avi Issacharoff looks at Israel’s recent attack in the Syrian Golan Heights. (Times of Israel)

JTA interviews former Pres. Peres. (JTA)

Abdallah Schleifer says Muslims are the inevitable victims of terror and we must fight that terrorism in every way imaginable. (FPRI)

Hussein Ibish says the American strategy in the campaign against ISIS, particularly in Syria, is reaching a crisis point. (The National)

The National says Egypt’s economic restoration project is too big to fail. (The National)

News:

The Middle East Quartet will meet later this month to discuss next steps to address the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. (New York Times/AFP/Times of Israel) 

The UN calls on Israel to unlock taxes owed to the PA. (AFP) 

The Arab League says it will support a new Palestinian UNSC resolution. (AFP/The National)

FM Wallstrom says Israel has irritated close allies by over-reacting to Sweden’srecognition of the State of Palestine. (Reuters/Ha’aretz/Ynet)

200 Palestinians from Gaza are allowed to travel to Jerusalem to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. (Ma’an)

Hundreds of Palestinians pray in front of the Rafah crossing in Gaza to protest its prolonged closure. (Ma’an)

PM Netanyahu rules out a unity government with Opposition leaders Herzog and Livni. (Jerusalem Post)

The Pentagon says it will deploy more than 400 troops to help train Syrian rebels to fight ISIS. (Reuters)

UN aid workers have started delivering food to tens of thousands of people trapped in a besieged district in Homs. (Reuters)

Two Italian aid workers held hostage in Syria have been freed. (AP/New York Times)

Saudi Arabia postpones today’s scheduled public flogging of activist and blogger Raif Badawi on medical grounds. (Reuters/The National)

Libyan factions agree to continue UN-backed negotiations in Geneva next week. (Reuters)

Sec. Kerry and FM Zarif will meet in Paris for a second face-to-face get together this week.  (Reuters/AP)

Commentary:

Ha’aretz says Arab parties in Israel must unite. (Ha’aretz)

Raphael Ahren says FM Lieberman has joined the camp of those warning that  Israeli annexation of the West Bank will create an “apartheid state.” (Times of Israel)

Ben Caspit says Herzog and Economy Minister Bennett are battling over dueling visions of Zionism. (Al-Monitor)

Harris Engelmann asks if Moshe Kahlon is Israel’s “new Lapid.” (The Forward)

Gregg Carlstrom says Netanyahu's effort to lure French Jews to Israel is playing politics with fear. (Foreign Policy)

Anshel Pfeffer says Europe needs to wage a campaign to hold onto its Jewish population for its own sake. (Ha’aretz)

Hussein Ibish says both Muslim-majority and European states lack moral clarity on free speech. (The Forward)

Kenan Malik says the arrest of a French comedian for a comment on Charlie Hebdo exposes a dangerous double standard. (New York Times)

The New York Times says “widespread censorship and intrusive surveillance” will only undermine personal freedoms and could even make Europe less secure. (New York Times)

Mohammed Fahad al-Harthi asks if the attacks on the Charlie Hebdo offices are really the French 9/11. (Al Arabiya)

David Ignatius says the Internet alone is not to blame for the surge of terrorism. (Washington Post)

Amir Taheri says democracy is the answer to terrorism. (Asharq al-Awsat)

The New York Times says Iran must end the unjust imprisonment of Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian. (New York Times)