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News:

Pres. Abbas submits applications for Palestine to join 15 international conventions and agencies.(Reuters/New York Times/Ha’aretz)

Israeli Ministers warn of punitive action if the PLO pursues efforts to join international agencies. (AFP/Times of Israel)

Sec. Kerry vows to push peace talks forward but cancels his visit to Ramallah.(AP/PNN/Ha’aretz/The National)

US officials say Kerry feels he has “gone as far as he can” for Middle East peace.(Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

A Palestinian official says they do not want Kerry’s initiative to fail. (AP)

The Arab League calls for an emergency meeting on April 9th to discuss Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. (AFP)

Veteran Palestinian prisoners support Abbas’ applications. (Ma’an)

Israel publishes tenders for 708 settlement units in occupied East Jerusalem. (Xinhua/Ha’aretz)

Pres. Obama faces stiff opposition to freeing convicted spy Pollard. (Jerusalem Post/Reuters/Times of Israel)

The ex-wife of convicted spy Pollard urges the Israeli government to secure his release. (AP)

Hamas rejects the extension of the peace talks. (Ma’an/Jerusalem Post)

Israeli occupation forces detain 10 Palestinians in overnight West Bank raids. (Ma’an)

Extremist Jewish settlers assault Palestinian worshipers after they stormed the Al-Aqsa mosque. (PNN)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the death toll in the Syrian conflict has exceeded 150,000. (AP/The National)

An Egyptian police officer is killed in a bombing outside Cairo University. (Reuters/AP)

Parliamentary election campaigns start in Iraq. (AP/AFP)

Commentary:

Osama Al Sharif says Abbas will probably accept an extension to the peace talks. (Jordan Times)

Bassem Khoury says the PLO’s unanimous vote to resume efforts at international recognition means roles have changed. (Ha’aretz)

Yossi Mekelberg says Israel has to bear more of the responsibility for the failure of the peace talks. (Al Arabiya)

The New York Times says releasing convicted spy Pollard is a bad idea. (New York Times)

The Washington Post says the US should refrain from releasing Pollard. (Washington Post)

The Los Angeles Times says the US should not try to salvage the peace talks by releasing Pollard. (Los Angeles Times)

The Jewish Daily Forward says pardoning Pollard is “unwise.” (Jewish Daily Forward)

Aaron David MIller says releasing Pollard will not save the peace process. (Time)

Dennis Ross says Pollard’s release seems to be justified. (Time)

Peter Feaver asks if releasing a convicted spy will help the US secure Middle East peace. (Foreign Policy)

Ruth Marcus says the US should free Pollard. (Washington Post)

Anshel Pfeffer says if Pollard is released Israel should not accord him a hero’s welcome. (Ha’aretz)

Matthew Kalman says yesterday’s appeal by Abbas’ to international bodies to recognize the state of Palestine is a “masterstroke.” (Ha’aretz)

Rami Khouri says Israel is facing a backlash in the US. (The Daily Star)

Khaled Diab says ending the Gaza blockade is both the “principled and pragmatic” thing to do. (The National)

Eyal Benvenisti says FM Lieberman’s plan to transfer Arab areas to a future Palestinian state violates Israel’s basic obligation as a democratic state. (Ha’aretz)

Michael Young says Russia has kept Pres. Assad in power and now it’s stuck with him. (The National)

Manuel Almeida says the Assad regime is discrediting international law by exploiting every opportunity to use it in its favor. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Jonathan Schanzer and Emanuele Ottolenghi say PM Erdogan should be worried about how corruption allegations will damage Turkey’s standing in the West. (Foreign Policy)

News:
Jewish “price tag” extremists spray hate graffiti on a monastery in Israel. (AP/AFP/PNN/Ha’aretz)
Israel may impose a partial settlement freeze to keep peace talks going with the Palestinians. (Reuters/Ha’aretz) 
The US may be considering the release of convicted spy Jonathan Pollard. (AP/New York Times/Washington Post/Ha’aretz)
Israeli Construction and Housing Minister Ariel says Pollard would not want to be freed for Palestinian prisoners. (Jerusalem Post)
Sec. Kerry will meet with Pres. Abbas in Ramallah tomorrow. (PNN)
Gen. Dempsey says the instability in the Middle East creates opportunity for Israeli-Arab alliances. (JTA)
King Abdullah of Jordan meets with Israeli opposition leader Herzog. (AFP/Jerusalem Post/Jordan Times)
Israeli occupation forces detain a teenage Palestinian girl in Hebron. (Ma’an)
The decline of Hamas and the increasing strength of Islamic Jihad may result in a new wave of chaos in Gaza. (Ha’aretz)
FIFA has reportedly threatened to expel Israel over restrictions on Palestinians. (Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)
The Lebanese army tries to halt Syria-related clashes in the country. (AP)
A cast of young Syrian refugees in Jordan is inspired by Shakespeare. (New York Times)
Al-Qaeda says Saudi Arabia’s new counter-terrorism measures show that the Kingdom is controlled by the US. (Reuters)
PM Cameron orders an inquiry into the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood in Britain. (New York Times)
Commentary:
ATFP Youth Outreach Coordinator Tala Haikal says youth need to see peace as an idea that is still fresh. (Huffington Post)
Hussein Ibish says moderates are increasingly surrounded by rhetorical extremism on all sides in the Israeli-Palestinian dynamic. (Now)
Jeffrey Goldberg says releasing Pollard will not bring peace to the Middle East. (Bloomberg)
Shane Harris asks why the US and Israel are talking about freeing convicted spy Pollard. (Foreign Policy)
Alan Dershowitz and Irwin Cotler make the argument for why Pres. Obama should release Pollard. (Jerusalem Post)
Nahum Barnea says the US should withdraw from the peace talks. (Ynet)
Uzi Baram says the Turkish experience proves it is possible to change the character of a secular state. (Ha’aretz)
David Schenker worries that as sectarian tensions rise in Lebanon, the prospect of a degraded and discredited army is growing. (Los Angeles Times)
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says PM Erdogan’s recent victory in local elections cannot save the Muslim Brotherhood. (Al Arabiya)
The New York Times says Erdogan’s pledge to make sure his political enemies “pay a price” is “disturbing and undemocratic.”(New York Times)
Bulent Aras says the rift in the GCC is leading to a new balance of power in the Gulf region. (Daily Star)
Ali Ibrahim says Pres. Mansour has gained the respect of many Egyptians due to his good performance and “eloquent speeches.” (Asharq al-Awsat)
Bakir Oweida says the Arab world is going through an unprecedented phase of chaos. (Al Arabiya)
The National says at its 35 year anniversary it will not be wishing “happy birthday” to Iran’s revolution. (The National)

News:

Sec. Kerry returns to the Middle East to try to salvage the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.(AP/Reuters/Ha’aretz)

Kerry may be suggesting language about Israel as a “Jewish homeland.” (Ynet)

Israel offers to free more Palestinian prisoners to extend peace talks. (AFP/Ha’aretz)

Released Palestinian prisoners remake their lives after years in an Israeli prison. (New York Times)

Palestinians are evaluating their options should peace talks fail. (Washington Post)

DM Ya’alon praises Israel’s ties to the Pentagon in an effort to mend relations. (Xinhua/Ha’aretz)

Czech police say the late Palestinian Ambassador was holding an explosive device when he died. (New York Times)

Israel confiscates 300 Dunams of land in the occupied West Bank for settlements. (Ma’an)

Gaza’s crossing to Egypt reopens after a 50-day closure. (The National)

A Palestinian is injured by Jewish settlers in Jerusalem. (PNN)

Palestinians commemorate Land Day. (Xinhua/Ma’an/AFP)

Former Israeli PM Olmert is convicted of taking bribes. (New York Times/Ha’aretz)

The Syrian regime accuses Turkey of sending foreign fighters to Latakia. (AP)

Hezbollah leader Nasrallah says his forces were late in joining the conflict in Syria. (The National)

Egyptians will elect a new president in late May. (AP/Washington Post/The National)

An Egyptian court sentences 33 Muslim Brotherhood members. (AP)

Pres. Obama tells Saudi King he will not agree to a bad deal with Iran. (Chicago Tribune)

PM Erdogan comes out as a winner in contentious local election.(AP/Washington)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish says both Israel and the Palestinian need  “tough love.” (The National)

Lara Friedman says Israeli and Palestinian leaders need to find a recognition formula that reconciles two opposing national narratives. (Ha’aretz)

Amer Al Sabaileh questions the ability of Pres. Abbas to be a real leader for Palestinians. (Jordan Times)

Jackson Diehl says Kerry’s “profound misreading” of the Middle East is enabling the “bad guys.” (Washington Post)

Yitzhak Laor says Israel needs no recognition as the “Jewish state.” (Ha’aretz)

Amal Mousa says the discourse and culture of death has not brought Hamas any significant results.(Asharq al-Awsat)

Oudeh Basharat says Palestinian citizens of Israel can achieve a just distribution of resources. (Ha’aretz)

Rami Khouri says he is saddened that Gen. Sisi’s supporters are using images of the late Pres. Nasser. (Daily Star)

H.A. Hellyer says Sisi’s presidential bid leaves a number of crucial questions unanswered. (Al Arabiya)

Simon Henderson says Prince Bandar bin Sultan remains the key player in the US-Saudi relationship. (Foreign Policy)

Diana Moukalled asks why the Syrian crisis needs a celebrity ambassador. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Michael Karam says Lebanon must address its own health if it wants to promote health tourism. (The National)

News:
The US is “pushing hard” to get Israelis and Palestinians to extend the peace talks. (Ha’aretz) 
The Palestinians say Israel will not release the prisoners on Saturday as scheduled. (AFP/Jerusalem Post/JTA)
UN Special Coordinator Serry expresses concern over prisoner release impasse. (Times of Israel)
An EU report says Israeli policies are aimed at cementing its “unilateral and illegal annexation” of East Jerusalem. (Ha’aretz)
Extremist Jewish settlers prepare to move into a major property in occupied East Jerusalem. (AFP)
Palestinian students visit Auschwitz in the first organized visit of its kind. (Ha’aretz)
Pres. Obama seeks to reassure Saudi Arabia in his visit to the Kingdom. (New York Times/Times of Israel/The National)
The UN warns of increasing links between militants in Iraq and Syria. (Reuters)
The UN says the Syrian refugee crisis poses a major threat to Lebanon’s stability. (Reuters)
Saudi Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz is appointed second-in-line to succeed the King. (Reuters)
Ansar Beit al-Maqdis extremists threaten workers in Sinai. (AP/AFP)
The Turkish government defends its YouTube ban. (AP)
A series of bombings in Iraq kill 33. (New York Time/Xinhua)
Qatar will buy $23 billion worth of weaponry including Apache helicopters. (The National)
Commentary:
Ali Jarbawi says Palestinians are more interested in Pres. Abbas’ feud with former Fatah official Dahlan than the peace talks. (New York Times)
Yuval Rabin and Charles Bronfman say opening up a regional track with Arab states could improve prospects for peace. (Ynet)
Raed Omari says Israel’s “Jewish State” demand adds new complications to an already overburdened peace process. (Al Arabiya)
The National says Israel’s “Jewish state” boils down to a vision of apartheid. (The National)
Ha’aretz says the killing of a Palestinian teenager in the occupied West Bank is a “war crime.” (Ha’aretz)
Eyal Megged says only FM Lieberman can bring peace to Israel. (Ha’aretz)
David Ignatius says Obama is ready to expand aid to the Syrian opposition. (Washington Post) 
The CSM outlines what Obama should ask from Saudi Arabia. (The Christian Science Monitor)
The National says, if elected, Gen. Sisi must be a president for all Egyptians. (The National)
The Daily Star says if Egyptians cannot vote freely and respect the result, any result would be hollow. (Daily Star)
Amir Taheri says Iran is considering a “power grab” in Lebanon. (Asharq al-Awsat)
Majid Rafizadeh says the Iranian elite is united in supporting executions. (Al Arabiya)

News:

Sec. Kerry holds “constructive talks” with Pres. Abbas in Amman. (AP/New York Times/AFP/Ha’aretz)

King Abdullah of Jordan reiterates his support for the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. (Xinhua/Jordan Times)

Hamas criticizes the Arab League for not urging an end to the Gaza blockade. (Xinhua)

Economy Minister Bennett says the fourth release of Palestinian prisoners must be renegotiated. (PNN/Jerusalem Post)

Israeli occupation forces kill three Palestinians in the West Bank. (Reuters)

An Israeli soldier admits to the police that he made up the story of being stabbed by Palestinians in Jerusalem. (Ma’an/Ha’aretz)

B’Tselem says Israel is at fault for the killing of a Palestinian teenager in the West Bank. (Ynet)

Israel’s Transportation Ministry earmarks $57 million for roads in the occupied West Bank. (Ha’aretz)

Al-Quds University president Nusseibeh resigns. (Times of Israel)

The King’s College Student Union in London backs a boycott of Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Syrian warplanes bomb rebels in Latakia. (AP)

US lawmakers criticize the Obama Administration’s policy on Syria. (Reuters)

Gen. Sisi says he will run for Egypt’s presidency. (AP/Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post)

Gunmen kill a Lebanese army officer in Tripoli. (AP)

An Amnesty International study indicates a rise in executions worldwide in 2013. (New York Times)

An advocacy group says the US must help repair “environmental poisoning” in Iraq from the war. (New York Times)

Commentary:

ATFP Pres. Ziad Asali addresses the UN on the obstacles and opportunities for peace. (ATFP)

Aaron David Miller outlines five reasons why the peace process seems in trouble. (Foreign Policy)

Daniel Levy says Kerry’s initiative is a step backwards. (Ha’aretz)

Ari Shavit says Israel’s old left cannot end the occupation. (Ha’aretz)

Peter Joseph asks where is the Jewish American outrage over DM Ya’alon’s remarks. (Ha’aretz)

Michael Kaplan says Palestinian and Jewish refugees should not be compared. (Jewish Daily Forward)

The Daily Star says the Arab League is having a “summit of irrelevance.”(Daily Star)

Michael Young says there are many reasons why Pres. Assad is stronger now than ever. (The National)

Michael Young asks why the magnitude of the suffering in Syria continues to provoke little outrage in the West. (Daily Star)

Robert Hunter says Pres. Obama’s trip to Saudi Arabia should aim to reaffirm commitments on both sides. (Majalla)

Joyce Karam says Obama’s visit to Saudi Arabia is crucial in restoring balance to the Middle East. (Al Arabiya)

Caryle Murphy says Saudi Arabia should implement a gradual but genuine power sharing. (New York Times)

Hilary Krieger says, by banning a reporter, Saudi Arabia is sending a mixed message about the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. (Washington Post)

Abdallah Schleifer says Sisi has won the presidential race before it has begun. (Al Arabiya)

Steven Cook says if Sisi becomes president he will be vulnerable to all the forces that befell his predecessors. (Foreign Policy)

Nathan Brown looks at the relationship between the Egyptian judiciary and state. (SADA)

Louisa Loveluck says there are 529 reasons to doubt the Egyptian justice system. (New York Times)

Eyad Abu Shakra says the Lebanese are always the last to know who will be their next president.(Asharq al-Awsat)

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