NEWS:

The chorus of opposition in Israel to Palestinian statehood is growing quickly. (AFP)

A leading PLO official says immediate resumption of negotiations with Israel is unlikely. (Xinhua)

The return of Arab Idol winner Mohammed Assaf delights most Palestinians in Gaza, but Hamas is still uneasy about the "un-Islamic" program and his songs. (New York Times)

Assaf urges Palestinian unity. (AP) 

PM Erdogan once again says he will pay a "surprise visit" to Gaza sometime soon. (Xinhua)

Israel's coalition parties are unable to agree on a draft bill defining Israel as a "Jewish state." (Jerusalem Post)

The Israeli military announces it will confiscate more Palestinian land near Nablus. (Ma'an)

25 Israeli authors petition the High Court against plans to evict 1000 Palestinians from their homes south of Hebron. (Times of Israel/Daily Beast–Open Zion)

Israeli settlers attack vehicles and torch fields near Nablus and assault Israeli human rights activists near Qalqiliya. (Ma'an)

Israeli leaders warn against attacks from Syria on the occupied Golan Heights. (AP)

Israel will reopen Gaza crossings today. (Xinhua)

Bedouins in Israel are infuriated by a proposed mass relocation law. (Xinhua)

Israel is now the world's sixth biggest arms exporter. (Xinhua)

Hamas leader Hanniyeh reiterates that his organization will never recognize Israel. (Ma'an)

The Arab Bank asks the US Supreme Court to cancel a lawsuit holding it responsible for actions by Hamas and Hezbollah. (Jerusalem Post)

The latest figures from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics shows a slight increase in imports and exports in April. (PNN)

Israel's far right wing deputy DM Danon is elected president of the ruling Likud party convention. (Ha'aretz)

Arab citizens feel left out of the sentiments contained in Israel's national anthem. (The Media Line)

McDonald's reportedly refuses to open a branch in an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank. (Jerusalem Post)

An amusement park in Gaza caters especially to the children of those killed, wounded or arrested by Israel. (Al Monitor)

COMMENTARY:

Asharq Al-Awsat interviews King Abdullah of Jordan, who warns of another Palestinian uprising of peace talks fail. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Aaron David Miller says Kerry has an outside chance at advancing Middle East peace, but only if PM Netanyahu and Pres. Abbas cooperate. (Foreign Affairs)

Ha'aretz says Netanyahu has to prove that he's really interested in holding negotiations, and not just talking about them. (Ha'aretz)

Zvi Bar'el says Netanyahu wants to ensure peace negotiations never even begin. (Ha'aretz)

Shaul Rosenfeld says Israel has to face the possibility that the conflict with the Palestinians may be irresolvable. (YNet)

Nahum Barnea says negotiations with the Palestinians are vital for Israel. (YNet)

The Jerusalem Post says Kerry should listen to Israel's concerns about resuming peace negotiations with the Palestinians. (Jerusalem Post)

Dov Waxman says there is little chance most Jewish-Americans will heed Sec. Kerry's call to be helpful on peace. (Ha'aretz)

Zalman Shoval says Kerry will find that it is the Palestinian, and not the Israeli, leadership that lacks the will for peace. (Jerusalem Post)

Uri Resnick insists that Israel actually has a fairly good record of international philanthropy. (Los Angeles Times)

David Horovitz interviews Canadian FM Baird about relations with Israel. (Times of Israel)

Shlomi Eldar says "price tag" attacks on Palestinians are the result of official leniency towards Jewish extremists. (Al Monitor)

Meir Javedanfar says Netanyahu needs a new Iran policy following the reformist victory in that country's recent elections. (Al Monitor)

Brent Sasley says, no matter how obstreperous he might be, everyone has no choice but to work with Netanyahu. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Maysoon Zayid looks at Assaf's rise from underdog to idol. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Deema Alsaafin says politicizing Assaf's victory is highly problematic. (SMPalestine)