News:

The UN warns of another potential conflict in Gaza, urging Israel to lift its blockade and Palestinian political parties to end in-fighting. (AFP)

Palestinian Finance Minister Bishara says Israel's freeze on Palestinian tax revenues is costing the PA 70 percent of its budget. (Ma’an)

Pres. Abbas and former Pres. Peres reportedly were on the verge of signing a peace agreement in 2011. (Ma’an/Times of Israel)

A 14-year-old Palestinian schoolgirl jailed by Israel will be released from prison custody on Friday. (Ma’an)

A Fatah official says a PLO delegation will head to Gaza soon in order to work on the reconstruction crisis. (Ma’an)

An EU official denies there will be new sanctions against Israel. (JTA)

Israel’s Interior Ministry unlawfully transferred $16 million to settlements. (Ha’aretz) 

Israel says it has intercepted a boat carrying weapons-making materials en route to Gaza from Sinai. (AP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

The former head of the Gaza inquiry, William Schabas, says he faced pressure and threats. (New York Times)

Israel disqualifies controversial Arab MK Hanin Zoabi from running in upcoming election. (AP/PNN/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

A poll indicates Americans disapprove of PM Netanyahu’s invitation, but want Pres. Obama to meet with him anyway. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Former Sec. Albright accuses Netanyahu of interfering in American internal affairs. (Ha’aretz)

An Egyptian court orders the release of two Al Jazeera journalists. (AP/Reuters/New York Times/The National)

An Egyptian prosecutor imposes a media gag order on the case of the death of a female protester killed during a peaceful demonstration. (AP)

An ISIS magazine claims to interview Hayat Boumediene who was involved in the Paris attacks. (Washington Post)

The US-led anti-ISIS coalition has 60 minutes to save a pilot behind enemy lines. (The National/Jordan Times)

Al-Qaeda-linked fighters seize an army base in Yemen after the UN warns that the country is on the brink of civil war. (Reuters/AP/New York Times)

King Salman is changing and shaping Saudi Arabia’s contours of power. (Reuters)

The EU is expected to reimpose sanctions on an Iranian oil tanker firm. (Reuters)

Commentary:

Gershon Baskin says Israeli candidates must present their parties vision regarding the future of relations with the Palestinians. (Jerusalem Post)

Ari Shavit says with Obama and Netanyahu “lost,” opposition leader Herzog must lead. (Ha’aretz)

Akiva Eldar asks what it means to be a modern Zionist. (Al-Monitor)

Haviv Rettig Gur profiles former Amb. Oren. (Times of Israel)

Brian Schaefer says Jon Stewart made it okay to be ambivalent about Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Joyce Karam says militias are “winning the Arab Spring.” (Al Arabiya)

Michael Young says Arab countries have made the campaign against ISIS a priority, undermining the primacy of the struggle against the Syrian dicatorship. (Daily Star)

Hussein Shobokshi compares Pres. Assad to Saddam Hussein. (Asharq al-Awsat)

David Ignatius says the Kurds need weapons now because the fight in northern Iraq is not finished. (Washington Post)

The New York Times says Obama’s war authorization should trigger debate about the goals and scope of the military intervention against ISIS. (New York Times)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed asks if Assad would still commit the crime of assassinating former Lebanese PM Hariri if he were to go back in time. (Al Arabiya)

Alan Philps says Russia is forging new alliances in the Middle East in order to diversify its foreign policy. (The National)

Roger Cohen warns not to expect more from a nuclear deal with Iran than is reasonable. (New York Times)