NEWS:

Israel's Housing Ministry gives final approval for 300 new settler homes in occupied East Jerusalem. (AP)

US and Palestinian officials complain about Israeli settlement activity in occupied East Jerusalem. (AFP/Jerusalem Post)

EU foreign policy chief Ashton says Israeli settlement activity in occupied East Jerusalem is illegal and threatens the two-state solution. (PNN)

Palestinian and Israeli officials blame each other for stalling on new US peace initiatives. (Xinhua)

Israeli and Palestinian businessmen are trying to forge peace through economic cooperation. (The Economist)

The arrest of high-profile columnist Ibrahim Abrash calls attention to Hamas' repression of free speech in Gaza. (Al Monitor)

An Israeli park is accused of racism for holding separate days for Jewish and Arab visitors. (Xinhua)

Another Palestinian in Gaza dies from self immolation. (Xinhua)

Israeli police are investigating the desecration of a prominent Jerusalem church for the second time, apparently by Jewish hooligans. (AP/Ha'aretz)

Palestinian refugees in Lebanon burn aid donated by Hezbollah in protest against the group's involvement in the Syrian conflict. (Daily Star)

Pres. Assad warns Israel and says he has a stockpile of new Russian weapons. (New York Times)

Russia signs a new agreement to sell at least 10 MiG fighters to Syria. (AP)

Israel doubts Syria has taken possession of Russian S-300 missiles, which reportedly may not reach the country until 2014. (Ha'aretz)

Reports of Russian weapons sales to Syria have increased tensions with Israel. (The Media Line)

PM Netanyahu says he wants to make sure every Israeli has a gas mask. (Times of Israel)

The captain of theChilean Soccer Team “C.D. Palestino” visits the Aida Refugee Camp in the occupied West Bank. (PNN)

Roger Waters and Alice Walker urge Alicia Keys not to perform in Israel. (The Guardian)

A symphony dedicated to two Palestinians killed in the occupied West Bank gets its first performance in Palestine. (Expatica)

The UN says a plague of locusts is threatening crops on the Israeli-Egyptian border. (Bloomberg)

COMMENTARY:

Hassan Khader says militias like Hezbollah spell the downfall of failed Arab states. (Modern Discussion, translated by ATFP)

The PLO issues a fact sheet called "Six Questions for Resuming Negotiations." (PNN)

Uri Misgav says those who are spearheading the occupation and the settlements will destroy Zionism. (Ha'aretz)

Amos Harel doubts if Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank can actually be evacuated. (Ha'aretz)

Yossi Sarid says it doesn't matter if Pres. Peres is internationally respected when Israel in general is a pariah. (Ha'aretz)

Maysoon Zayid says gambling tycoon Sheldon Adelson is getting a free pass on bigotry. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

David Weinberg says Israel should not consider any unilateral redeployments in the occupied West Bank. (Jerusalem Post)

Gillian Slovo describes attending a literary festival in the occupied West Bank. (The Guardian)

Ron Kampeas looks at the unlikely friendship between the Zionist Organization of America and Sen. Rand Paul. (JTA)

The Gulf News condemns Israel's demolition of Palestinian homes. (Gulf News)

Shlomi Eldar says by drawing red lines on Iran it cannot keep, Israel is harming its credibility and deterrence capability. (Al Monitor) 

Sam Jadallah says a proposed new American law would countenance Israeli discrimination against Arab and Muslim Americans. (San Jose Mercury News)