News:

The PA and Hamas criticize PM Netanyahu’s “united Jerusalem” statement. (Times of Israel/Ha’aretz)

EU Foreign Policy Chief Mogherini says Europe wants a central role in Middle East peace. (AP/Times of Israel/Reuters)

The question of whether Pope Francis called Pres. Abbas an “angel of peace” or actually said “may you be an angel of peace,” causes political discord. (New York Times/AFP/Times of Israel)

A secret meeting was reportedly held between Israeli diplomats and diplomats from Arab countries that do not have open diplomatic relations with Israel in Jordan. (Ma’an)

Jordanian newspaper ad-Dustour reports that Hamas and Israel have been involved in secret talksin recent months. (Ma’an)

Israel’s new interior minister, Silvan Shalom, is appointed chief peace negotiator for any future peace talks with the Palestinians. (JTA/Ha’aretz)

Senior Palestinian officials say without freezing settlement construction and accepting 1967 borders, there is no point in peace talks with Israel. (Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

Netanyahu will meet with FIFA Pres. Blatter. (Jerusalem Post)

Israeli forces demolish three commercial stores belonging to a Palestinian in the Silwan neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)

The Palestinian community in Yemen appeals to the PA for protection and solidarity. (PNN)

Palestinian patients are finding help in Israeli hospitals. (AP)

The UN says nearly 25,000 people fled the Iraqi city of Ramadi after it was attacked by ISIS. (Reuters)

American officials say the use of Shi'ite militias to try to take back the Iraqi city of Ramadi from ISIS risks unleashing more “sectarian bloodletting.” (Reuters)

ISIS fighters seized advantage in Ramadi by striking during a sandstorm. (New York Times)

The fall of Ramadi to ISIS weakens the rule of PM al-Abadi. (New York Times)

ISIS militants look for collaborators after capturing the strategic city of Ramadi. (AP)

The Saudi-led coalition resumes military operations in Yemen after truce expires. (Reuters/Washington Post/The National)

Iran is using its sea power in the Gulf to show it will not be cowed by Washington's newly assertive Arab allies. (Reuters)

The trial of Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian detained in Iran for months will begin next week. (AP/Washington Post)

King Abdullah accepts the resignation of the interior minister and two police chiefs were asked to retire following the handling of tensions in Ma’an. (The National/Jordan Times)

Commentary:

Akiva Eldar asks if the US will endorse a French UN resolution on Palestinian statehood. (Al-Monitor)

Robert Swift looks at the causes for growing poverty in occupied East Jerusalem. (The Media Line)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says ISIS is a cancerous state that is expanding and becoming more dangerous in both Iraq and Syria, and threatening Saudi Arabia and Jordan. (Al Arabiya)

The Washington Post says the fall of Ramadi exposes Pres. Obama’s weak ISIS strategy. (Washington Post)

David Kenner interviews two Sunni leaders who explain why locals opposed to ISIS and Iraqi officials in Baghdad have so far failed to unite against their common foe. (Foreign Policy)

The Daily Star says Iraq has become the “militia nation.” (Daily Star)

Paul Krugman says the Iraq war, based on lies, was more than a mistake.  (New York Times)

Jamal Khashoggi explains why Saudi Arabia will not accept another ceasefire in Yemen. (Al Arabiya)

Faisal Al Yafai says the hands-off approach America is pioneering in its last years in the Middle East will also reach Asia – with serious consequences for its Asian allies. (The National)