NEWS:
Pres. Abbas appoints Rami Hamdallah [1], president of An-Najah University [2], as thenew PA Prime Minister [3]. (New York Times/AP/LA Times)
The US welcomes [4] the appointment. (PNN)
PM Hamdallah says most serving ministers will retain [5]their posts in the cabinet. (Xinhua)
Hamas denounces [6] the new PA government as "illegal." (Xinhua)
Sec. Kerry will reportedly visit Amman [7] "within days" for further peace talks. (AFP)
American officials say Kerry and the US will drop peace initiatives if Israelis and Palestinians prove not to be serious [8] about them. (Ha'aretz)
Germany may soon join other European countries in labeling all Israeli settlement products [9]. (The Media Line)
Egypt says it will increase the number of Palestinians [10] allowed to cross from Gaza from 800 to 1,100 per day. (Ma'an)
The PA says 2,000 Palestinians are in prison [11] in Syria. (Ma'an)
Israeli authorities say they're planning to demolish two Palestinian homes [12] in the flashpoint Silwan neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem. (Ma'an)
A Palestinian citizen of Israel is reportedly charged with handing information to Hezbollah [13]. (Xinhua)
Israel has reached an agreement with an unidentified country to transfer thousands of African migrants [14]. (AP)
Israel ranks number 10 [15] in countries with the most millionaires. (Xinhua)
Israel now reportedly has an arsenal of at least 80 nuclear warheads [16]. (Times of Israel)
Egypt deploys more military forces in Sinai [17] in coordination with Israel. (Times of Israel)
Enthusiasm for Mohammed Assaf [18], widely expected to win this year's "Arab Idol" TV singing contest, continues to grow. (Christian Science Monitor)
COMMENTARY:
Barak Ravid [19] calls PM Hamdallah "a good man on a suicide mission." (Ha'aretz)
The CSM [20] says cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian businesspeople could be a breakthrough towards peace. (Christian Science Monitor)
Hani al-Masri [21] says economic initiatives will not solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Al Monitor)
Amira Hass [22] says the Jewish experience during the British mandate shows economies can be built under occupation, and the same can happen Palestinians if Israel lifts its restrictions. (Ha'aretz)
Ahmad Azem [23] says Kerry's economic initiative ignores the need for Palestinian economic independence. (Al Monitor)
Hilik Bar [24] says Israelis should stop saying there is "no Palestinian partner" for peace. (Jerusalem Post)
Ha'aretz [25] says Israel must let Palestinian doctors work in Jerusalem hospitals. (Ha'aretz)
David Landau [26] says Kerry's approach to peace is only strengthening hardliners on both sides. (Ha'aretz)
Ram Cohen [27] says discriminatory policies at an Israeli amusement park are a reflection of the countries racist laws and policies. (YNet)
Lucy Aharish [28] says segregation in Israel is endemic and racism is a major part of the national culture. (YNet)
Jeff Barak [29] says the racism that is so deeply ingrained in Israeli culture is a major factor in what many believe is the demise of the two-state solution. (Jerusalem Post)
The Jerusalem Post [30] says that because Israel is a "Jewish country" it can never have a complete separation between state and religion. (Jerusalem Post)
Adel Safty [31] says Israel's bullying of its neighbors and abuse of Palestinians explains its international unpopularity. (Gulf News)
Ahmad Samih Khalidi [32] says Israel and the Palestinians are looking at an open-ended struggle into the foreseeable future. (LSE)
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