News:

Israeli occupation forces demolish two Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem. (Reuters/Ma’an/Ha’aretz)

Palestinian Chief Negotiator Erekat says Israel’s plans for 500 new settler homes in occupied East Jerusalem are a “slap in the face” to the US and the international community. (AFP/Times of Israel)

The US condemns Israel’s plan for new settlement housing units in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ha’aretz)

The New York Times looks at the history of the Ramat Shlomo settlement in occupied East Jerusalem. (New York Times)

The Knesset passes a law aimed at limiting the release of Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis. (Reuters/AFP/JTA/Ha’aretz)

Erekat reportedly asked Sec. Kerry to support a new Palestinian UN initiative. (Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

EU Foreign Policy Chief Mogherini calls for a Palestinian state within five years. (Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

Hamas calls on Palestinians to protest in support of access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque. (Ma’an)

Israel will reopen its two border crossings with Gaza. (AFP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga forces and moderate Syrian rebels bomb ISIS positions in Kobani. (Reuters)

ISIS releases 93 Syrian Kurds. (Reuters)

Human Rights Watch says ISIS abused captive Kurdish children from Kobani. (AP)

France says the anti-ISIS coalition must not abandon moderate rebels in Aleppo. (Reuters)

Shi'ite Muslims gather at shrines and mosques across Iraq for Ashoura with Iraqi security forces on alert. (Reuters/AP)

Saudi Arabia and Iran have offered competing aid packages to the Lebanese military. (Washington Post)

VP Biden says he never apologized to Turkey regarding ISIS’ growth. (AP)

An Egyptian cleric defends the government's forced evacuation of families from Sinai. (New York Times)

Iran has reportedly agreed to ship much of its stockpile of uranium to Russia if it reaches a broader nuclear deal with the West. (New York Times)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish says if the Supreme Court forces the State Department to issue passports implying that Jerusalem is part of Israel this will completely alter the American foreign policy-making process. (Now)

Raphael Ahren says Israeli officials fear they can no longer rely on Washington’s veto in the Security Council. (Times of Israel)

Nahum Barnea says a unilateral withdrawal from the occupied West Bank will prevent Israel's international isolation. (Ynet)

Nabila Ramdani says bus segregation in the occupied West Bank is only one aspect of Israeli “apartheid.” (The National)

Hassan Barari says Israel’s plan to change the status quo in occupied East Jerusalem is a “perfect recipe” for another bloody confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians. (Jordan Times)

Akiva Eldar says Netanyahu’s government is using the Al Aqsa mosque for political purposes at the risk of damaging the fragile status quo. (Al-Monitor)

Peter Beinart asks why the Obama administration is angry with PM Netanyahu. (Ha’aretz)

Ron Kampeas says political and diplomatic uncertainty fuel the US-Israel divide. (JTA)

Uzi Baram says Israel’s right-wing fanatics do not speak for the people. (Ha’aretz)

FM Fabius says, after Kobani, the anti-ISIS coalition must save the people of Aleppo. (Washington Post)

Tirana Hassan says Shi’ite militias in Iraq are using the fight against ISIS to destroy Sunni Arab communities. (Foreign Policy)