News:

Israel's security cabinet approves extending the fortified fence along its Egyptian border into a section of the frontier with neighboring Jordan. (Reuters/Ynet/Jerusalem Post)

Israel blocks a boat leading a four-vessel protest flotilla of foreign activists from reaching Gazaand forced the vessel to sail to an Israeli port. (Reuters/AP/Washington Post/AFP/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

A Palestinian official says Islamic Jihad leader Khader Adnan jailed by Israel has agreed to end a 56- day hunger strike in exchange for a pledge that he would go free next month. (Reuters/AP/Ma’an/PNN/Ha’aretz)

A Palestinian woman stabs a female Israeli soldier at a military checkpoint in Bethlehem. (Ma’an/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades plans to invite PM Netanyahu and Pres. Abbas to speak before EU leaders. (Ha’aretz)

Senior Egyptian and Israeli officials meet in Cairo for the first time since 2011. (Times of Israel/Reuters)

Hamas orders the closing of the main office of Jawwal, the only cellular telephone company operating in Gaza, and demands that it pay taxes to the Gaza government. (Ha’aretz)

PM Hamdallah meets with a UN official to discuss reconstruction in Gaza, where thousands remain homeless. (Ma’an)

Qatar is to create work opportunities for up to 20,000 Palestinians. (Ma’an)

The Jerusalem Youth Chorus, is one of the few coexistence initiatives to weather the hatred and violence that have erupted on both sides over the past year. (New York Times)

DM Ya'alon says Israel has been forced recently to deal with preventing retaliation against Syrian Druze. (Ha’aretz)

Kuwait identifies the suicide bomber behind its worst militant attack as a young Saudi Arabian man. (Reuters/New York Times/AP/Washington Post/The National)

Crucial questions remain as Iran nuclear talks approach the deadline. (New York Times)

Analysts and officials say a final deal to resolve the Iranian nuclear dispute could heighten domestic political tensions with two major elections looming in Iran. (Reuters)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish says Pres. Abbas  must reverse the travesty over Salam Fayyad’s organisation if he wants to protect his legacy. (The National)

Adnan Abu Amer says the many currents within Fatah are at war as to whom should lead the movement and succeed Pres. Abbas. (Al-Monitor)

Ira Stup looks at why students are turning to BDS. (The Forward)

Elhanan Miller looks at Israel’s Druze dilemma. (Times of Israel)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed looks at the deadlock in Yemen. (Asharq al Awsat)

Ray Takeyh looks at Iran’s payoff after a nuclear deal with the P5+1. (Washington Post)