News:

The PLO says existing policy negotiators will continue to "oversee the talks" until a new team is formed. (Ma'an)

Gaza's streets are flooded with rainwater and sewage, and electricity is running low. (New York Times)

USAID is reportedly halting key aid programs in Gaza. (Al Monitor)

Islamic Jihad warns the Gaza ceasefire could come to an end, citing Israeli "violations." (Ma'an)

Palestinian anti-corruption officials say complaints quintupled in 2013. (Ma'an)

The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics says at least 100,000 Palestinians from the occupied territories work in Israel. (Ma'an)

An Israeli soldier is arrested for suspected "price tag" vigilante attacks. (Xinhua)

Some Israeli settlers routinely reach out to pro-Palestinian tour groups in the occupied territories. (Christian Science Monitor)

UNSG Ban appoints Pierre Krähenbühl to be the new Commissioner-General of UNRWA. (Ma'an)

Jibril Rajoub reportedly suggests the "fool" former Pres. Bush" colluded what he alleges was Israel's assassination of the late Pres. Arafat. (Times of Israel)

Sec. Kerry is taking innovative approaches to a range of long-standing, tough problems. (New York Times)

Observers think an interim deal with Iran might be nearing as new talks begin. (New York Times)

Iran says difficult differences remain to be overcome. (AP)

Iran is demanding the removal of oil and banking sanctions in even a short-term deal. (Xinhua)

The US assures its allies of "caution" as new talks begin, while Iran insists it won't back down. (Los Angeles Times)

Israeli officials say they are "frustrated" not to be familiar with any details about the talks. (YNet)

Iran holds a military drill near the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz. (AP)

Israel and Gulf states appear to be forming a "strange" alliance against Iran. (AP)

Syrians continue to flood into Lebanon, fleeing the conflict in their country. (AP/BBC/The National)

Palestinian refugees fleeing Syria face terrible difficulties in Egypt and Lebanon. (Reuters/Huffington Post)

Seven are killed in a mortar attack in the Syrian city of Homs. (Xinhua)

An Iraqi Shiite militia says it has fired six mortar rounds into Saudi Arabia as a warning against "interference." (Reuters)

Kuwait's national airline resumes Iraq flights in another sign of continuing improved relations. (Reuters)

An Egyptian police officer is killed in an operation to arrest wanted militants. (Reuters)

Egyptian army chief Sisi does not rule out a presidential bid. (Reuters)

A truck bomb kills 27 people at an outdoor market in northeast Iraq. (AP)

Commentary:

Mohammed Dajani Daoudi explains the importance of teaching the Holocaust in Palestine. (Sharnoff's Global Views)

The ICG looks at Israel's "national religious groups" and the future of the conflict. (International Crisis Group)

Hazem Balousha says Palestinians in Gaza are distinctly unimpressed with Hamas' military parades. (Al Monitor)

Michael Oren tries to explain PM Netanyahu's hard-line policies. (Los Angeles Times)

Shlomi Eldar says the Israeli public is generally standing with Netanyahu on the question of Iran. (Al Monitor)

George Hishmeh says on both Iran and Israel, major "serious arm-twisting by the major powers" is required. (Gulf News)

Carlo Strenger says "Netanyahu is paying a steep price for fanning fear and hatred." (Ha'aretz)

Zvi Bar'el says Israeli society is hiding the occupation behind euphemisms and doublespeak. (Ha'aretz)

Salman Masalha says Israelis are yearning for a "Palestinian Ben-Gurion" because they can't have another of their own. (Ha'aretz)

Amira Hass notes that in the tally of violence throughout the decades, Palestinians have paid a much steeper price than Israelis. (Ha'aretz)

Ronald Lauder says both Palestinian and Jewish refugee claims must be redressed. (JTA)

David Ignatius says Egyptians are making a good-faith effort to really try to build a democracy. (Washington Post)

Michael Weiss profiles Russian mercenaries in Syria. (Foreign Policy)

Ghassan Charbel says, because of the Syrian conflict, Lebanon has never been so divided and its future is threatened. (Al Hayat)

Abdullah Iskandar says terrorism in Lebanon doesn't help the Syrian opposition, it helps the Damascus dictatorship. (Al Hayat)

The Daily Star says, unfortunately, the Lebanese can't expect their elected officials to prevent more such bombings. (The Daily Star)

Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid worries Beirut could turn into another Baghdad. (Arab News)

FM Zarif says Iran's neighbors are its priority. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Diana Moukalled says Hezbollah is scared of satire. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Omar Alvi says Ennahda finds itself at a crossroads in Tunisian politics which will determine its future. (The Daily Star)