NEWS:

A visit by PM Netanyahu to a Jewish settlement on the eve of Sec. Kerry's visit highlights various challenges facing the peace process. (New York Times/Washington Post)

Israeli officials say they will make "goodwill" concessions to Palestinians after Kerry's visit. (Xinhua/Times of Israel)

Kerry is reportedly hoping to host a meeting this week between Netanyahu and Pres. Abbas. (YNet)

Abbas says he intends to resume negotiations with Israel in the near future, though some PA officials deny this. (Ma'an/Times of Israel)

Israeli media reports suggest Netanyahu is considering a settlement freeze and prisoner release in preparation for renewed negotiations. (PNN)

PA officials ask Israel to release 120 Palestinian prisoners as a "goodwill gesture." (Jerusalem Post)

Netanyahu urges Palestinians to negotiate until the conflict is resolved, but says talks must be meaningful. (Ha'aretz/Times of Israel)

Israeli cabinet minister and political leader Bennett says peace would lead to violence. (Times of Israel)

Mohammad Assaf, winner of this year's Arab Idol TV singing contest, receives a hero's welcome back in Gaza, including from the once-unenthusiastic Hamas. (AP/Ma'an/The Economist)

Assaf calls Abbas to thank him for his support. (PNN)

Israel reopens a checkpoint near Nablus after shots were fired at a settler bus. (Ma'an)

Israel keeps Gaza crossings closed for a second day. (Ma'an)

Egypt is intensifying its crackdown on Gaza smuggling tunnels. (Reuters)

The Knesset approves the first reading of a bill for a massive resettlement of Bedouins. (Xinhua)

12 Palestinians are reported to have been killed in Syria last week. (PNN)

A senior Hamas figure says overthrowing Assad has priority over "jihad in Palestine." (Jerusalem Post)

Fatah, Hamas and other Palestinian groups are refusing to get involved in sectarian fighting in southern Lebanon. (Times of Israel/Al Monitor)

Hamas says it has held more talks with Islamic Jihad in order to continue to try to reduce tensions. (Xinhua)

Palestinians say settlers assault local shepherds in the occupied West Bank. (PNN)

The Archbishop of Canterbury will visit Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories soon. (The Guardian)

COMMENTARY:

Michael Wilner says Kerry's return to the region shows he's doubling down on peace efforts. (Jerusalem Post)

The AP says other US officials are trying to "rein in" Kerry's ambitious foreign policy initiatives, including on Israeli-Palestinian peace. (AP)

Daniel Gavron says there just isn't enough popular support for peace in the Israeli public for Kerry to work with. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Noga Tarnopolsky interviews chief Israeli negotiator Livni. (Global Post)

Orni Petruschka says Israel should stop bothering to negotiate and start taking constructive unilateral actions. (Ha'aretz)

Avi Issacharoff agrees that Islamic Jihad's new rocket attacks on Israel are part of its feud with Hamas. (Times of Israel)

Zafrir Rinat and Jonathan Lis explain Israel's new Bedouin resettlement law. (Ha'aretz)

Amos Harel says Israel's military learned important lessons during the last Gaza war. (Ha'aretz)

Moshe Arens says there is a huge spectrum of racism against Arabs in Israel, not restricted to "price tag" attacks. (Ha'aretz)

Arad Nir asks if the Turkish regime is trying to use Israel as a scapegoat for ongoing social unrest. (Al Monitor)

Akiva Eldar says Abbas and the whole world are letting Netanyahu make a mockery of the peace process by not challenging him. (Al Monitor)

Bernard Avishai says Israeli-Palestinian business cooperation actually could help advance peace. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)