News:

Sec. Kerry holds “constructive talks” with Pres. Abbas in Amman. (AP/New York Times/AFP/Ha’aretz)

King Abdullah of Jordan reiterates his support for the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. (Xinhua/Jordan Times)

Hamas criticizes the Arab League for not urging an end to the Gaza blockade. (Xinhua)

Economy Minister Bennett says the fourth release of Palestinian prisoners must be renegotiated. (PNN/Jerusalem Post)

Israeli occupation forces kill three Palestinians in the West Bank. (Reuters)

An Israeli soldier admits to the police that he made up the story of being stabbed by Palestinians in Jerusalem. (Ma’an/Ha’aretz)

B’Tselem says Israel is at fault for the killing of a Palestinian teenager in the West Bank. (Ynet)

Israel’s Transportation Ministry earmarks $57 million for roads in the occupied West Bank. (Ha’aretz)

Al-Quds University president Nusseibeh resigns. (Times of Israel)

The King’s College Student Union in London backs a boycott of Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Syrian warplanes bomb rebels in Latakia. (AP)

US lawmakers criticize the Obama Administration’s policy on Syria. (Reuters)

Gen. Sisi says he will run for Egypt’s presidency. (AP/Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post)

Gunmen kill a Lebanese army officer in Tripoli. (AP)

An Amnesty International study indicates a rise in executions worldwide in 2013. (New York Times)

An advocacy group says the US must help repair “environmental poisoning” in Iraq from the war. (New York Times)

Commentary:

ATFP Pres. Ziad Asali addresses the UN on the obstacles and opportunities for peace. (ATFP)

Aaron David Miller outlines five reasons why the peace process seems in trouble. (Foreign Policy)

Daniel Levy says Kerry’s initiative is a step backwards. (Ha’aretz)

Ari Shavit says Israel’s old left cannot end the occupation. (Ha’aretz)

Peter Joseph asks where is the Jewish American outrage over DM Ya’alon’s remarks. (Ha’aretz)

Michael Kaplan says Palestinian and Jewish refugees should not be compared. (Jewish Daily Forward)

The Daily Star says the Arab League is having a “summit of irrelevance.”(Daily Star)

Michael Young says there are many reasons why Pres. Assad is stronger now than ever. (The National)

Michael Young asks why the magnitude of the suffering in Syria continues to provoke little outrage in the West. (Daily Star)

Robert Hunter says Pres. Obama’s trip to Saudi Arabia should aim to reaffirm commitments on both sides. (Majalla)

Joyce Karam says Obama’s visit to Saudi Arabia is crucial in restoring balance to the Middle East. (Al Arabiya)

Caryle Murphy says Saudi Arabia should implement a gradual but genuine power sharing. (New York Times)

Hilary Krieger says, by banning a reporter, Saudi Arabia is sending a mixed message about the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. (Washington Post)

Abdallah Schleifer says Sisi has won the presidential race before it has begun. (Al Arabiya)

Steven Cook says if Sisi becomes president he will be vulnerable to all the forces that befell his predecessors. (Foreign Policy)

Nathan Brown looks at the relationship between the Egyptian judiciary and state. (SADA)

Louisa Loveluck says there are 529 reasons to doubt the Egyptian justice system. (New York Times)

Eyad Abu Shakra says the Lebanese are always the last to know who will be their next president.(Asharq al-Awsat)