News:

The temporary truce in Gaza is extended for another five days. (AP/AFP)

Cease-fire negotiations face new hurdles. (Reuters/Xinhua/Los Angeles Times)

Israeli officials blame Hamas leader Mishaal for the cease-fire
impasse. (Jerusalem Post)

The US halts the transfer of hellfire missiles to Israel. (Wall Street
Journal/Ha'aretz/YNet)

Israeli politicians argue about the state of bilateral relations with
the United States. (Jerusalem Post)

Two journalists are among the six killed in a bomb disposal accident
in Gaza. (New York Times)

57 Palestinians are arrested for "rioting" in occupied East Jerusalem. (Xinhua)

A Palestinian dies after being struck by a settler car in the occupied
West Bank. (Ma'an)

The Arab Bank terrorism financing civil lawsuit goes to the jury. (AP)

The Pentagon says the IS siege on a mountain in northern Iraq is over,
allowing thousands of Yazidis to survive, but some are reportedly
still trapped. (New York Times/Washington Post)

Many Iraqi Christians no longer feel at home given the rise of IS.
(Los Angeles Times)

Pres. Obama is considering US policy options towards IS. (AP)

The UN raises the humanitarian crisis level in Iraq to the highest
possible threat. (AP/BBC)

Asharq Al Awsat profiles Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Al-Abadi.
(Asharq Al Awsat)

The US says it will provide more weapons to the Lebanese military. (AP)

Saudi Arabia gives $100 million to the United Nations
Counter-Terrorism Center. (New York Times)

Commentary:

Adnan Abu Amer says Hamas believes its most important tunnels are
intact. (Al Monitor)

Avi Issacharoff says Hamas may not return to cease-fire negotiations.
(Times of Israel)

Udi Dekel asks if Israel is facing a war of attrition with Hamas. (INSS)

Mitch Ginsberg asks if the Gaza blockade is unraveling. (Times of Israel)

George Hishmeh says the White House seems to have conflicting stances
regarding Palestinians. (Gulf News)

Gershon Baskin says Israel doesn't seem to have a post-conflict
strategy. (Jerusalem Post)

The National says Israel is trying to crush the Palestinians spirit by
attacking soccer, but is not succeeding. (The National)

Anna Altman says, whether there is a resurgence of anti-Semitism or
not, Israel has lost the PR war in Europe. (New York Times)

Ari Shavit says Israeli liberals need to face the brutality of the
contemporary Middle East. (Ha'aretz)

Michael Hanna says Egyptian foreign policy is entirely fixated on
smashing Islamists everywhere. (Foreign Policy)

The Washington Post says "mission creep" in Iraq is inevitable.
(Washington Post)

David Horsey says, despite criticism, US airstrikes in Iraq are
preventing genocide. (Los Angeles Times)

James Jeffrey outlines how PM al-Maliki "broke Iraq." (Politico)

Michael Jansen says American policies are crucial for the prospects of
defeating IS in Iraq. (Jordan Times)

Joyce Karam looks at conspiracy theories in Lebanon, especially about
IS. (Al Arabiya)

Suzanne Kianpour also looks at Lebanese conspiracy theories about IS. (BBC)

Hussein Ibish offers an explanation for the rise in IS conspiracy
theories among Sunni Arabs. (NOW)

Robert Ford says, while IS is fighting in Iraq, moderate opposition
groups are gaining ground in Syria. (Foreign Policy)

Frederic Hof says saving Syria is no fantasy and strongly critiques US
policy. (Politico)

Michael Young says Christian communities are threatened in the Middle
East, but in Lebanon are also self-destructive. (Daily Star)

Alaa Al Aswany says when Egyptians become xenophobic, it reflects the
attitudes of their leaders, not the people. (New York Times)