News:

Pres. Obama says “tough choices” are nearing in the peace talks. (AP/AFP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

PM Netanyahu “pushes back” against Obama’s diplomacy. (Reuters/New York Times)

Pres. Abbas meets with Israeli politician Gal-On to discuss the future of the peace talks. (Xinhua/Ma’an/Ynet)

In a speech before AIPAC, Sec. Kerry says the peace process requires “tough choices for the two parties.” (Ha’aretz/PNN/Ynet/JTA)

International Relations Minister Steinitz says freezing settlement construction to extend peace talks is “not an option.”(Jerusalem Post)

Abbas says he will not extend peace talks without a settlement freeze and further prisoner releases. (AFP)

Israeli settlement construction more than doubled in 2013 compared to 2012. (AP/AFP/Ha’aretz)

An Israeli airstrike kills two Palestinian men in Gaza. (New York Times/Xinhua)

An Egyptian court bans all activities of Hamas in Egypt. (Reuters/AFP/The National)

The Knesset debates a bill that could threaten Arab representation in the body. (Ha’aretz)

Israeli Arab MKs will educate airport officials on “humiliation” in security checks.(Ha’aretz)

The OPCW says Syria has relinquished about a third of its chemical weapons. (Reuters)

The Syrian forces advance on a rebel-held town near Lebanon.(AP)

International powers will give Lebanon’s military an economic boost. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia calls on all foreign fighters to leave Syria. (AP)

Gen. Sisi gives a new sign indicating he may run for Egypt’s president. (AP/Reuters)

An Egyptian corruption investigator accuses officials of retaliation. (New York Times)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish says Israel’s “PR problem” is actually a reaction to its indefensible policies. (Now)

Daniel Abraham asks what trust has to do with peace. (Jerusalem Post)

The Daily Star says the Palestinians must understand that the US is not concerned with their struggle to achieve statehood. (Daily Star)

Shimon Shiffer says as long as settlement construction increases, one can understand why the Palestinians are refusing to join the “Middle East peace dance.” (Ynet)

Henry Siegman says its time for the UN Security Council to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians. (Ha’aretz)

Ha’aretz says Israel should stop force-feeding hunger striking prisoners. (Ha’aretz)

The New York Times says the EU is worried about the “long-term security threat” posed by European combatants returning from Syria. (New York Times)

Lorie Graham says the UN Security Council has an obligation to take “bolder action” in Syria. (Los Angeles Times)

Abdul Rahman al-Rashed says Obama’s decision not to invade Syria was wise but he should have supported the rebels. (Al Arabiya)

Hassan Hassan says the teachings of Abu Musab Al Suri could spark the rise of a more formidable generation of jihadists. (The National)

Diana Moukalled says the world has succeeded in making the death of Syrians “easy, cheap, and meaningless.” (Asharq al-Awsat)

Mona Alami says Jordanian jihadist fighters have come to play an important role in the Syrian conflict. (Daily Star)

Brooklyn Middleton says as Hezbollah becomes more entangled in the Syrian war, Israel becomes increasingly ready to strike back. (Al Arabiya)