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News:

Israel withholds tax revenues from the PA for the second month in a row. (JTA/The Media Line/Jerusalem Post)

The PA urges the EU to pressure  Israel to release withheld tax revenues. (Times of Israel)

An unnamed international diplomat says Pres. Abbas may halt security cooperation with Israel unless the state of Palestine is established. (Jerusalem Post)

Nikolay Mladenov, currently UN Iraq envoy, will replace Robert Serry as UN Mideast envoy. (Ha’aretz)

Three Palestinian security officers are injured in armed clashes with gunmen in Balata refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an/Times of Israel)

Hamas leader Zahhar says there will be no new prisoner swap with Israel until all prisoners from the Shalit deal are released. (Ma’an/Jerusalem Post)

Israeli occupation forces raid a Palestinian high school in the West Bank. (Ma’an)

PM Netanyahu rejects the criticism over his upcoming Congress speech and says his duty is to warn about Iran. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Israeli officials fail to calm a furor created by Netanyahu’s planned speech to Congress and quell a “Democratic revolt” that has dozens threatening a boycott. (Politico/Times of Israel/JTA/Ha’aretz)

A bipartisan group of American lawmakers demands that the UN enforce all Security Council resolutions. (JTA)

The UN will appoint a panel to investigate the killing of one of its peacekeepers by Israeli troops near the Israel-Lebanon border. (New York Times/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

Hundreds of Palestinians rally in solidarity with Jordan against ISIS. (Ma’an)

Jordanian fighter jets carry out new airstrikes in Syria, after King Abdullah vows to wage a “harsh war” against ISIS. (AP/Reuters/The National/Jordan Times)

The UN says ISIS is systematically killing, torturing and raping children and families of minority groups in Iraq. (AP)

ISIS has executed three Chinese militants who tried to flee. (Reuters)

Foreign fighters reportedly keep joining ISIS in large numbers despite the American-led bombing campaign. (Daily Beast)

Fox News website posts the unedited ISIS execution video of a Jordanian pilot. (New York Times)

PM al-Abadi says Baghdad’s decade-old curfew will end on Saturday. (Reuters/AP)

Peter Greste, an Al-Jazeera journalist who was detained in Egypt, arrives home in Australia. (Reuters/AP)

One person is killed in an attack on a restaurant north of Cairo. (Reuters)

Al-Qaeda in Yemen says a senior cleric was among four people killed in a recent US drone strike in the country's south. (AP)

American officials have praised the Saudi government for cracking down on terrorism, but suspicions of a past, tacit alliance with Al Qaeda have resurfaced again. (New York Times)

Houthi leaders and former Pres. Saleh reportedly strike a power-sharing deal in Yemen. (Asharq al-Awsat) 

Sec. Kerry will meet FM Zarif in Germany on Saturday. (AP)

Pres. Rouhani accuses the West of distorting Iran’s nuclear policies. (New York Times)

Commentary:

Ha’aretz says Israel is obliged to investigate military conduct during last summer’s Gaza war. (Ha’aretz)

Gideon Levy says getting the head of the UN panel fired won't change the outcome of its probe into possible war crimes committed in Gaza. (Ha’aretz)

Roger Cohen says Israel’s future is on the line in the March 17 elections. (New York Times)

Barnett Rubin says Netanyahu and Speaker Boehner are wrong to think they know what Iran wants. (Washington Post)

The Jordan Times says Jordanians are once again brought together as one by a tragic act of savagery. (Jordan Times)

David Kenner profiles the men who support ISIS in Jordan. (Foreign Policy)

Benjamin Fishman says Jordan can play a leading role in coordinating a more aggressive strategy to counter ISIS’ messages and appeal. (Al Arabiya)

Michael Young says ISIS has a reached a decisive turning point with the murder of the Jordanian pilot. (Daily Star)

Joyce Karam says, by murdering the Jordanian pilot, ISIS has effectively hastened its own demise. (Al Arabiya)

Alan Philps says the horrific burning of a Jordanian pilot by ISIS is testing the cohesion of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. (The National)

Matthew Levitt looks at the search for the late Hezbollah military commander Imad Mughniyeh. (The Hill)

The New York Times asks if anyone will be held accountable for abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison. (New  York Times)

Michael Young says the US should be careful not to emulate traditional British policies in the Middle East. (The National)

Jamal Khashoggi says the Middle East needs Saudi-American-Turkish cooperation. (Al Arabiya)

News:

The UN names American judge Mary McGowan Davis to lead an investigation into the 2014 Gaza conflict. (New York Times/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

The Israeli army is reportedly planning to indict several soldiers who fought in Gaza last summer on charges of looting. (Ha’aretz)

A 14-year-old Palestinian schoolgirl jailed by Israel has become a symbol of Palestinian anger over the arresting of children. (AFP)

Israeli occupation forces detain 11 Palestinian teenagers in the occupied territories. (Ma’an/PNN)

Fatah official Rajoub compares PM Netanyahu to Hitler. (Times of Israel)

Israeli occupation forces raid protest tents set up near Abu Dis in East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)

An annual campaign to plant one million trees on land facing possible annexation in the occupied West Bank kicks off in Hebron. (Ma’an)

The White House’s top Middle East official, Phil Gordon, will speak in Israel later this month at a conference on security. JTA)

Many Democrats are considering skipping Netanyahu’s address to Congress. (Ynet/Jerusalem Post)

Jordan executes two Iraqi terrorists in response to an ISIS video showing captured Jordanian pilot Mouath al-Kasaesbeh being burnt alive. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Washington Post/The National/Jordan Times) 

Pres. Obama and King Abdullah vow not to let up in the fight against ISIS. (AP/AFP) 

The father of the murdered pilot says Jordanians must stand united behind their leadership in the fight against terrorism. (Jordan Times)

Political leaders and Muslim clerics in the Middle East denounce the burning alive of al-Kasaesbeh as “un-Islamic.” (Reuters/AP)

The UNSC says the world should help Jordan in fighting terrorism. (Jordan Times)

The EU criticizes Jordan’s decision to execute two terrorists. (Ha’aretz)

Many in Congress support increased military assistance to Jordan. (AP/JTA)

American officials hope the murder of al-Kasaesbeh will toughen Jordan's resolve in the fight against ISIS. (Reuters)

The UAE, a key-US ally in the fight against ISIS, reportedly suspended airstrikes in December after al-Kasaesbeh was captured. (New York Times/AFP)

A video showing ISIS extremists burning alive al-Kasasbeh raises the question of which images news outlets should use. (New York Times)

Reuters looks at Egypt’s fight against extremists in Sinai. (Reuters)

Saudi oil is seen as a lever to lure Russia away from Pres. Assad. (New York Times)

Commentary:

Asmaa al-Ghoul says in light of physical assaults and abuses in Gaza and the West Bank, some Palestinian journalists engage in self-censorship. (Al-Monitor)

Ali Ibrahim says Hamas is not only a security risk but its existence and actions are a serious impediment to the Palestinian cause. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Ben Caspit says Israel has accepted Hamas rule in Gaza. (Al-Monitor)

Zvi Bar’el asks who is going to save Gaza. (Ha’aretz)

Anders Persson says EU member states have the power to create an international consensus for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Ha’aretz)

Thomas Friedman says Netanyahu’s forthcoming speech before Congress is a “bad mistake.” (New York Times)

Peter Beinart critiques Israel’s “arrogant” Amb. to the US Dermer. (Ha’aretz)

The Jordan Times says Jordan, along with its allies, will wipe out ISIS and its ideology.(Jordan Times)

The National says the brutal killing of the Jordanian pilot must only increase the world’s resolve against ISIS. (The National)

Theodore Karasik says Jordan’s military and special operation forces are likely to be unleashed to track down and eliminate ISIS on Syrian territory. (Al Arabiya)

Sean Naylor and Lara Jakes ask if ISIS’ last hostages can be saved. (Foreign Policy)

Kenneth Pollack says for real peace in Iraq, the US must insist that Shiites and Sunnis share power. (New York Times)

Aki Peritz says the Iraqi government is unwittingly subsidizing ISIS. (New York Times)

David Ignatius looks at King Salman’s decisive leadership changes in Saudi Arabia. (Washington Post)

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum says governments must innovate or become irrelevant. (Asharq al-Awsat)

News:

A UN inquiry into possible war crimes in last summer’s Gaza war will produce its report on time next month despite the resignation of its chairman. (Reuters/New York Times/AFP/PNN/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

PM Netanyahu calls for scrapping the UN commission on Gaza. (AP/Ha’aretz)

Hamas accuses Israel of “exerting pressure” on the head of the commission. (Ma’an)

The PA will reportedly ask the ICC to look into Israel’s settlement construction. (Jerusalem Post)

Saudi Arabia allocates $13.5 million to UNRWA. (Ma’an)

Palestinians protest Pres. Rivlin’s visit to Hebron. (AFP/JTA/Ynet)

Pres. Abbas orders an investigation into the official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadidah for publishing a caricature depicting the Prophet Mohammed. (Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

The mayor of Bethlehem Vera Baboun hopes Pope Francis will help her prevent Israel from extending its security barrier near the city. (Ha’aretz)

At least eight women are killed and 50 injured in a collision involving a bus who was carrying Bedouin women who had visited the Al-Aqsa mosque and a tractor in the Negev. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Ynet/Jerusalem Post)

A poll forecasts Netanyahu’s Likud party may win 25 of parliament's 120 seats in the upcoming election. (Reuters)

An Israeli satirical TV show returns on air just in time for the elections. (Washington Post)

Iraq’s Cabinet approves a draft law creating a national guard. (Reuters)

AP says the cost for fighters leaving ISIS is death or jail. (AP) 

The Pentagon says ISIS extremists are expanding their “international footprint” in ungoverned areas of the Mideast and North Africa.  (Bloomberg)

Iraqi DM al-Obeidi claims ISIS can be defeated “within months.” (CCTV)

Pres. Obama requests $8.8 billion to fund the fight against ISIS in the 2016 budget. (AFP)

Canada’s FM Baird says the release of Al-Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy is "imminent." (AP/The National)

By sacking two reformist ministers and authorizing bonuses for employees of large companies, King Salman is already making his mark. (Reuters/The National)

The new Saudi channel Al Arab suspends broadcasting in Bahrain, supposedly for technical reasons, after giving opposition leaders airtime. (New York Times)

King Abdullah of Jordan will be meeting with senior US administration officials in Washington. (Jordan Times)

Commentary:

The Washington Post says all parties, especially Hamas, deserve  blame for Gaza’s “tragic cycle.” (Washington Post)

Khaled Diab says Mizrahi Jews and Palestinian citizens of Israel could form a formidable voting bloc. (Ha’aretz)

Niva Lanir says Netanyahu is playing “dangerous games” in Israel’s back yard. (Ha’aretz)

David Horovitz interviews Israel’s youngest female Labor politician Stav Shaffir. (Times of Israel)

Alise Mofrej describes conditions inside Syria’s jails. (New York Times)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed wonders if Jordan will still release Iraqi terrorist Sajida Rishawi after the execution of the two Japanese hostages. (Al Arabiya)

Michael Weiss and Michael Pregent say Iran is making it impossible for the US-led coalition to beat ISIS. (Daily Beast)

Hassan Barari looks at Egypt’s Sinai challenge. (Jordan Times)

Bel Trew says no one will save Al Jazeera’s Egyptian journalist Baher Mohamed. (Foreign Policy)

Fethullah Gulen complains that Turkey’s democracy is eroding. (New York Times)

News:

A Jewish settler shoots and injures a Palestinian teenager in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)

The UN says Israel has demolished the homes of 1,177 Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in 2014. (Ha’aretz)

PM Hamdallah says a portion of public employee salaries will be paid "soon." (Ma’an)

Hamas leader Abu Marzouq strongly denounces the Egyptian government. (Ma’an)

Palestinian security forces raid the building of the former general intelligence chief Jamal Tirawi. (Ma’an)

Israel has dropped all charges against Palestinian-American teenager Tariq Abu Khdeir who was filmed while being beaten by Israel police last summer. (JTA)

Israeli occupation forces demolish two farms near Nablus. (Ma’an)

Israeli navy opens fire at fisherman off the coast of Gaza. (Ma’an)

Serbia grants citizenship to Palestinian leader Dahlan. (AP)

Jordan will return its ambassador to Israel. (JTA/Times of Israel/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

PM Netanyahu says UNIFIL is failing to report weapons smuggling into Lebanon. (Times of Israel/Reuters)

Hezbollah leader Nasrallah warns that the group is “ready for war” with Israel, although it does not want one. (Washington Post)

Analysts say ISIS’ tactics have backfired, particularly in Jordan. (New York Times)

The fate of the Jordanian pilot held by ISIS has raised public pressure on King Abdullah. (Reuters/AP)

In a new video ISIS claims to have beheaded Japanese hostage Kenji Goto. (New York Times/Jordan Times) 

Syrian warplanes carry out several raids on a rebel-held village in the south, killing 12. (AP)

Hackers are using old tactics on the internet to support Pres. Assad’s regime. (New York Times)

Egypt releases Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste after 400 days in prison. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Washington Post)

An Egyptian court sentences 183 Muslim Brotherhood supporters to death. (Reuters/AP)

Three women are killed in clashes between militants and security forces in Sinai. (Reuters)

Pres. Sisi laments the recent shooting death of a female protester, calling her a "martyr." (AP/The National)

Houthi rebels are reportedly attempting to control Yemen’s Bab El-Mandeb strait. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Commentary:

Amira Hass says some Palestinians are yearning for the days before the establishment of the PA. (Ha’aretz)

Kobi Niv says without its Palestinian citizens, there would be no democracy in Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Aaron David Miller says the “US-Israel relationship is too big to fail.” (Politico)

Hussein Ibish says another full-scale conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is still possible, even if neither side wants one right now. (The National)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says the disputes over the size of the Free Syrian Army highlights just how vague the situation in Syria is. (Al Arabiya)

Amer Al Sabaileh looks at the conflict between ISIS and Jordan. (Jordan Times)

Peter Bergen and Emily Schneider ask if the US-led coalition is winning against ISIS. (CNN)

AP interviews former PM Maliki. (AP)

Faisal Al Yafai says Yemen’s Houthis are holding the former president and the entire country hostage. (The National)

Khaled Almaeena says new Saudi ministers should innovate and be role models. (Al Arabiya)

Michael Singh says the first step toward a nuclear deal with Iran is for the P5+1 to make no more concessions. (Washington Post)

Michael Doran argues Pres. Obama’s “secret strategy” is a fixation on rapprochement with Iran. (Mosaic)

News:

Israel issues new tenders to build 430 settlement housing units in the occupied West Bank. (AP/AFP/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz)

Former Israeli Amb. Oren criticizes the new settlement tenders. (Ha’aretz)

Pres. Abbas will visit Stockholm next month. (AFP)

The IMF says the Gaza war has pushed the Palestinian economy into a recession. (AFP)

Many US senators pledge not to support assistance to the PA until the Obama administration reviews Palestine’s efforts to the ICC. (JTA)

A delegation of parliamentarians from EU states welcomes Palestine’s efforts to join the ICC. (PNN)

With tensions rising the UN is reviewing its operations in Gaza. (Ha’aretz)

Unknown assailants throw a grenade into the home of a Fatah official in Gaza. (Ma’an)

15,000 young Palestinians graduate from Hamas’ training camps. (Times of Israel/Al-Monitor/Jerusalem Post)

PM Netanyahu is reportedly seeking Democratic support in trying to ease criticism over his coming address to Congress. (New York Times/Ha’aretz/Ynet)

Israel continues to search for Hezbollah tunnels. (New York Times)

Pres. Sisi cuts short his visit to Ethiopia after ISIS's Egyptian wing claims that it killed at least 32 security personnel in Sinai. (Reuters/AP/New York Times)

Hamas’ militia imposes “strict security measures” along the border with Egypt. (Ma’an)

ISIS is silent as the deadline for a prisoner swap with Jordan expires. (AP/Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post/The National/Jordan Times)

ISIS kills a senior Kurdish commander in Iraq. (AP)

KRG leader Barzani says the anti-ISIS coalition will not be able to retake Mosul before the fall. (Reuters)

Clashes between Al-Nusra and Western-backed rebels spread from Aleppo province into neighboring Idlib. (Reuters)

King Salman abolishes government bodies, changes ministers, dismisses the chief of intelligence and further consolidates his own authority. (New York Times/Al Arabiya)

Saudi Arabia postpones the flogging of blogger Raif Badawi for a third week in a row. (AFP) 

Commentary:

Zeev Sternhell says even an Israeli centrist government will not end the occupation. (Ha’aretz)

Eugene Robinson says inviting Netanyahu to speak before Congress was a “mistake” by Speaker Boehner. (Washington Post)

Robert Kagan outlines five reasons why Netanyahu should not address Congress. (Washington Post)

Nathan Guttman asks if Amb. Dermer’s Republican ties are “too tight” for Israel’s good. (The Forward)

Jeffrey Goldberg interviews Dermer. (The Atlantic)

Nahum Barnea says Hezbollah’s “revenge” for Israel’s Quneitra strike is not over yet. (Ynet)

Ben Caspit says Hezbollah is opening another front against Israel in the Golan Heights, where it can blame other organizations for possible escalations. (Al-Monitor)

David Brooks says the US should stop trying “to play chess” in the Middle East and simply keep its promises. (New York Times)

The Daily Star says the Russian peace initiative on Syria is a “waste of time.” (Daily Star)

Amir Taheri says Saudi Arabia’s greatest asset is its stability. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Kenneth Roth says Western inattention to human rights abuses in the Middle East has given rise to a culture of violence and impunity. (Foreign Policy)

David Rothkopf says Pres. Obama’s main foreign policy legacy is likely to be seen as empowering Iran. (Foreign Policy)

 
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