NEWS:

The outgoing ambassador to Israel of South Africa calls its treatment of Palestinians, "a replication of apartheid." (AP/Times of Israel)

Under significant political and financial pressure, Hamas leaders are in Ankara for talks with PM Erdoğan. (Today's Zaman/Xinhua)

Sec. Kerry will visit the region again next week for more peace efforts. (Xinhua)

Pres. Abbas says Palestinians very much want Kerry's efforts to succeed. (Jerusalem Post)

The Israeli military says the PA is taking steps in the West Bank to try to promote an atmosphere for successful talks. (Reuters/Jerusalem Post)

The Israeli military warns of unrest in the occupied West Bank should negotiations fail. (Ha'aretz)

Israel arrests three Palestinian men in connection with the killing of a Jewish settlerIn 2011. (Jerusalem Post)

Quartet envoy Blair warns that the window of opportunity for peace may be closing soon. (Xinhua)

PM Netanyahu vows to deal harshly with ‘un-Jewish’ Abu Ghosh Jewish vigilante "price tag" attackers. (Times of Israel)

The Israeli government is sending distinctly mixed signals on interest in peace with the Palestinians. (Washington Post)

Repudiating comments from his cabinet colleagues, Netanyahu insists his government seeks a "demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes the Jewish state."(Reuters)

Dignitaries and celebrities gather to celebrate Pres. Peres' 90th birthday. (New York Times/AP)

The Knesset launches a legislative caucus to teach MKs about the US system of government. (The Media Line)

Several rockets are launched in the direction of southern Israel from Gaza. (Xinhua)

Israel's housing minister repeats his assertions, contradicted by several NGOs, that a settlement housing freeze has been in place since the beginning of the year. (AFP)

Three Arab singers are denied entry into the West Bank by Israel. (Ma'an)

Two Palestinian writers in Gaza are denied visas to visit the UK for a literary fest. (The Guardian)

A new report shows Palestinian citizens of Israel face extensive barriers to higher education. (Ha'aretz)

An independent, secular Palestinian TV station has been struggling to stay on-air in the occupied West Bank. (Bloomberg)

COMMENTARY:

Rachel Shabi says the Israeli government's obsession with settlement expansion is by far the biggest threat to peace. (The Guardian)

The PLO issues a fact sheet entitled "The Israeli Government’s Unbreakable Commitment to the Israeli Settlement Enterprise." (PLO  

Negotiations Affairs Department)

Anne Penketh says Iran's nuclear program remains the main foreign policy priority for Israel. (The National)

Avi Shilon says a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians is still possible. (Ha'aretz)

Aaron David Miller interviews Peres. (Foreign Policy)

Ha'aretz says Netanyahu needs to stop blaming the Palestinians and start working to break the impasse. (Ha'aretz)

Elyakim Haetzni says Netanyahu depends on a dormant, dysfunctional peace process that is designed to fail in order to stay in power. (YNet)

Chemi Shalev says numerous American leaders, including Pres. Obama, former President Clinton and Kerry, among others, all have the same message Israel: you don't understand how important peace is for you. (Ha'aretz)

Nathan Guttman says right-wing pro-Israel Jewish groups are asking if they're being targeted by the IRS. (The Forward)

Mairav Zonszein looks at unusual statements by the American Jewish Committee critical of Israeli government leaders' comments. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Alec Ross says introducing 3G mobile phone networking in the occupied West Bank could genuinely help the peace process. (Foreign Policy)

Adnan Abu Amer says there's no real sign of improvement in ties between Hamas and Hezbollah. (Al Monitor)