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News:

In a speech at AIPAC, PM Netanyahu demands Pres. Abbas recognize Israel as a “Jewish state.”(Reuters/New York Times/Ma’an/Ha’aretz)

Pres. Obama will ask Abbas to accept a framework agreement and extend peace talks.(Ha’aretz/Ynet)

The PA accuses Netanyahu of wasting time and “thwarting US peace efforts.” (Times of Israel/JTA)

A UN report says 300,000 Palestinians live in Area C of the occupied West Bank. (Ha’aretz)

Israel tightens control over key areas in the occupied West Bank. (AP)

Former Israeli and Palestinian negotiators plea for a two-state solution at Tel Aviv University. (Ynet)

Israeli naval forces raid a ship and seize rockets from Iran allegedly destined for Gaza.(AP/Reuters/Ha’aretz)

FM Lieberman accuses Arab MKs of representing the positions of Hamas. (Ha’aretz/JTA)

Hamas says Egypt is no longer impartial in resolving its political split with Fatah. (Ma’an)

Gaza public employees demand Hamas to pay them full salaries. (AP)

Israeli occupation forces impose a curfew on two villages in the West Bank. (Ma’an)

Palestinian farmers detain an Israeli settler after they caught him uprooting olive trees in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an/PNN)

11 Arab Israeli MKs threaten to resign from the Knesset if a electoral “reform” bill is passed. (Jerusalem Post)

The Israeli army fires at militants along the Syrian border. (AP/New York Times)

Syria accuses Israel of targeting its forces. (AP)

The UN says all world powers are responsible for failing to stop the war crimes in Syria. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain recall their ambassadors from Qatar. (AP/Reuters/The National)

Lebanon’s political crisis sinks the nation into more debt. (AP)

Western powers pressure Iran to reveal all its nuclear research. (Reuters)

Commentary:

Barak Ravid says settlers should be concerned by Netanyahu’s AIPAC speech. (Ha’aretz)

Ron Ben-Yishai says Netanyahu’s AIPAC speech was weak, predictable and conventional. (Ynet)

Aaron Miller says Obama will not and cannot pressure Netanyahu on peace. (Foreign Policy)

Ha’aretz says the current Israeli government has no intention of reaching an agreement with the Palestinians. (Ha’aretz)

The Daily Star says Hamas has failed the Palestinian people. (Daily Star)

Yossi Mekelberg says the Knesset debate about imposing Israeli sovereignty on Muslim holy places should be a “wakeup call” for all moderates to unite. (Al Arabiya)

Zvi Bar’el says Israel has “no city square” in which to protest. (Ha’aretz)

Jay Michaelson outline five reasons why their critics should talk to BDS supporters. (Jewish Daily Forward)

Tal Harris says unlike in Ukraine, Gaza’s people can only do so much to overturn the status quo. (Jerusalem Post)

Theodore Karasik says GCC countries see Qatar as returning to its “old tricks” and pursuing policies outside of the GCC framework. (Al Arabiya)

Gulf News says the death of an Emirati police officer and his Bahraini colleagues underlines the GCC’s commitment to defeat terrorism. (Gulf News)

Rami Khouri says art and culture should define the Middle East not killings and violence. (Daily Star)

The Jordan Times says Jordan and Morocco can teach each other about the path to democracy. (Jordan Times)

Ali Ibrahim says the crisis in Ukraine has become the global priority while the Middle East “retreats to the periphery.” (Asharq al Awsat)

News:

Pres. Obama says “tough choices” are nearing in the peace talks. (AP/AFP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

PM Netanyahu “pushes back” against Obama’s diplomacy. (Reuters/New York Times)

Pres. Abbas meets with Israeli politician Gal-On to discuss the future of the peace talks. (Xinhua/Ma’an/Ynet)

In a speech before AIPAC, Sec. Kerry says the peace process requires “tough choices for the two parties.” (Ha’aretz/PNN/Ynet/JTA)

International Relations Minister Steinitz says freezing settlement construction to extend peace talks is “not an option.”(Jerusalem Post)

Abbas says he will not extend peace talks without a settlement freeze and further prisoner releases. (AFP)

Israeli settlement construction more than doubled in 2013 compared to 2012. (AP/AFP/Ha’aretz)

An Israeli airstrike kills two Palestinian men in Gaza. (New York Times/Xinhua)

An Egyptian court bans all activities of Hamas in Egypt. (Reuters/AFP/The National)

The Knesset debates a bill that could threaten Arab representation in the body. (Ha’aretz)

Israeli Arab MKs will educate airport officials on “humiliation” in security checks.(Ha’aretz)

The OPCW says Syria has relinquished about a third of its chemical weapons. (Reuters)

The Syrian forces advance on a rebel-held town near Lebanon.(AP)

International powers will give Lebanon’s military an economic boost. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia calls on all foreign fighters to leave Syria. (AP)

Gen. Sisi gives a new sign indicating he may run for Egypt’s president. (AP/Reuters)

An Egyptian corruption investigator accuses officials of retaliation. (New York Times)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish says Israel’s “PR problem” is actually a reaction to its indefensible policies. (Now)

Daniel Abraham asks what trust has to do with peace. (Jerusalem Post)

The Daily Star says the Palestinians must understand that the US is not concerned with their struggle to achieve statehood. (Daily Star)

Shimon Shiffer says as long as settlement construction increases, one can understand why the Palestinians are refusing to join the “Middle East peace dance.” (Ynet)

Henry Siegman says its time for the UN Security Council to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians. (Ha’aretz)

Ha’aretz says Israel should stop force-feeding hunger striking prisoners. (Ha’aretz)

The New York Times says the EU is worried about the “long-term security threat” posed by European combatants returning from Syria. (New York Times)

Lorie Graham says the UN Security Council has an obligation to take “bolder action” in Syria. (Los Angeles Times)

Abdul Rahman al-Rashed says Obama’s decision not to invade Syria was wise but he should have supported the rebels. (Al Arabiya)

Hassan Hassan says the teachings of Abu Musab Al Suri could spark the rise of a more formidable generation of jihadists. (The National)

Diana Moukalled says the world has succeeded in making the death of Syrians “easy, cheap, and meaningless.” (Asharq al-Awsat)

Mona Alami says Jordanian jihadist fighters have come to play an important role in the Syrian conflict. (Daily Star)

Brooklyn Middleton says as Hezbollah becomes more entangled in the Syrian war, Israel becomes increasingly ready to strike back. (Al Arabiya)

News:

Pres. Obama will meet with PM Netanyahu today to discuss peace talks and Iran. (AP/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post/Reuters)

The extension of the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations will depend on the meeting between Obama and Pres. Abbas.(Ma’an)

The US is reportedly pessimistic that a framework agreement can be reached by the end of March. (Ha’aretz)

A Palestinian official says Israel must meet certain demands for peace talks to be extended. (XInhua)

Chief Palestinian negotiator Erakat accuses Israel of “propping up Hamas in Gaza.” (Times of Israel)

US Treasury Secretary Lew defends the Iran Interim deal in a speech before AIPAC. (Jerusalem Post)

Egypt keeps the Rafah crossing closed for the past 23 days. (Xinhua)

Hamas urges Egypt to resume commercial cooperation with Gaza. (Xinhua)

Palestinians consider who should succeed Abbas. (Financial Times)

Former Fatah leader Dahlan reportedly hopes to replace Abbas. (Ynet)

Extremist settlers uproot 180 olive tree saplings in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)

The settler group “Elad” is closer to controlling the Western Wall, despite objections among Israelis. (Ha’aretz)

The Israeli Medical Association says forcing hunger strikers to eat is “tantamount to torture.” (Ha’aretz)

Israel is planning to lower the volume levels of microphones in all mosques in occupied East Jerusalem. (Gulf News)

The Palestinian poet “Abu Arab” dies at 83. (Ma’an)

Israel is reportedly buying information on extremists from Syrian rebel groups. (National)

UNRWA says the latest clashes in Yarmouk have disrupted efforts to distribute aid. (AP)

In Syria, the government is looking for local and temporary ceasefires. (AP)

A pro-Hezbollah song highlights tensions over the civil war in Syria. (The New York Times)

The new Egyptian government is sworn in ahead of the presidential elections. (AP)

PM Mehlib calls for an end to protests in Egypt. (AP)

The IAEA says Iran has cuts its higher enriched uranium stock. (AP/Reuters)

Commentary:

ATFP Pres. Ziad Asali says “losing Egypt” should not be considered an option for the US. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Hussein Ibish says nationalism is the real reason Islamists are losing in North Africa and beyond. (The National)

Amal Mousa says the Salafists have emerged victorious due to the collapse of the Muslim Brotherhood. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Amer al Sabaileh says Jordan is still a haven of safety and stability in a chaotic region. (Jordan Times)

Abdullah Ali says Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood is feeling the pressures of regional changes. (The National)

Oudeh Basharat says “Jordanians are a light unto the nations” for taking in so many refugees. (Ha’aretz)

Jeffrey Goldberg interviews Obama on the peace process. (Bloomberg)

David Horovitz says Goldberg’s interview with Obama is “a bombshell battering” for Netanyahu. (Times of Israel)

Ha’aretz says Netanyahu must understand that the White House is “not an enemy but a partner.”(Ha’aretz)

Rami Khouri asks what’s behind the “Jewish State” demand. (Daily Star)

Shibley Telhami says a survey indicates that if the two-state solution collapses, Americans favor democracy over a  “Jewish state.”(Foreign Policy)

Gershon Baskin says annexing the West Bank would be a “catastrophic plan” for the Jewish people. (Jerusalem Post)

Lara Friedman and Daniel Gordis debate whether settlement boycotts are best for Israel. (New York Times)

Gideon Levy says Israelis refuse to acknowledge what Amnesty International has demonstrated about the occupation. (Ha’aretz)

Bakir Oweida says a Geneva III meeting is bound to fail.(Al Arabiya)

News:

Pres. Obama will meet with Pres. Abbas in Washington on March 17th. (AP/Xinhua/JTA)

The White House pushes back against a report that Obama will pressure Israeli and Palestinian leaders to make progress on peace talks. (The Times of Israel)

A new survey in Israel indicates a rising support for Sec. Kerry’s initiative. (Ynet)

Former PM Olmert says Abbas agreed to a Jewish Israeli mayor of an umbrella municipality for Jerusalem. (The Jerusalem Post)

Egypt warns Hamas that it will not tolerate any use of tunnels between Sinai and Gaza. (The Times of Israel)

Israeli occupation forces will limit access to the Al Aqsa mosque for Friday’s prayers. (AFP)

Israeli occupation forces injure three Palestinian men following the Birzeit killing. (Ma’an)

Jewish “price tag” extremists torch a house near Ramallah. (Ma’an)

Israel warns Lebanon to curb Hezbollah’s threats. (Reuters/Ha’aretz)

The US says Syria leads in human rights violations in 2013. (AP)

The Syrian opposition demands an investigation into killings of 175 rebels by government forces. (AP)

ISIS claims Christians agreed to pay a discriminatory tax in parts of Syria it controlled. (AP)

ISIS withdraws from a Syrian town near the Turkish border. (Reuters)

31 more people are killed in Iraq. (AP/The New York Times)

Pres. Mansour restructures the military council in Egypt. (Xinhua)

Gunmen kill an Egyptian policeman in Mansoura. (AFP)

Israel urges the IAEA to issue their full report on Iran’s nuclear research. (Reuters)

Commentary:

Patrick Tyler says “deferral” is the key ingredient to Israeli-Palestinian peace. (The Los Angeles Times)

George Hishmeh says it is alarming that Kerry’s initiative fails to include any ideas on the future of Gaza. (The Jordan Times)

Uri Savir says peace must aim at the pragmatic interests of young people in Israel and Palestine. (The Jerusalem Post)

The Jordan Times says Jordan’s role as custodian of holy places in East Jerusalem will be compromised if ties are severed with Israel. (The Jordan Times)

Raed Omari says Jordan will remain Jordan and Palestine will remain Palestine. (Al Arabiya)

Aaron Miller says Netanyahu is “trapped” because he cannot call the shots on Iran or the peace process. (Foreign Policy)

Amos Schocken says Netanyahu’s demand to recognize Israel as a “Jewish State” is outlandish. (Ha’aretz)

Clemens Wergins says Israel no longer trusts Europe. (The New York Times)

Ha’aretz says the “unnecessary and humiliating” treatment that Arab Israelis suffer routinely in Israeli airports must change. (Ha’aretz)

John Judis says AIPAC seems to have lost “a bit of heft.” (Foreign Policy)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says providing the Syrian opposition with arms is the only way to defeat ISIS and al-Nusra. (Al Arabiya)

The Daily Star says the Syrian war is mired in stalemate. (The Daily Star)

Abdallah Schleifer says the most encouraging sign for Egypt’s future is the appointment of Mahlab as PM. (Al Arabiya)

Eyad Abu Shakra says Lebanon is deeply divided and national allegiance low. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Fareed Zakaria says Obama is “navigating” the changing world correctly.  (The Washington Post)

News:

Pres. Obama plans to take a more personal role in the Middle East peace talks. (The New York Times/The Jerusalem Post)

Sec. Kerry says peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians will extend beyond the April deadline. (Reuters/Xinhua)

PLO negotiator Erekat says he rejects the US move to extend peace talks. (AFP/The Times of Israel/The National) 

The US is convening an investors conference to help the Palestinian economy. (JTA)

A PLO official says Pres. Abbas’ successor could turn to “armed resistance.” (Ynet)

Palestinian women seek tougher laws to combat honor killings. (AP)

Amnesty International says some killings of Palestinians by Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank could be considered “war crimes.”(Reuters/Ma’an)

Israeli occupation forces kill a Palestinian man in the West Bank. (Reuters/Ma’an/Ha’aretz)

Israeli occupation forces deport 23 Palestinian families from the Jordan Valley. (PNN)

A teacher, who is a Palestinian citizen of Israel, is “strip-searched” before flying with her Jewish students for a school trip.(Ha’aretz)

Israel takes a risk with airstrikes against Hezbollah. (AP/The Jerusalem Post)

Hezbollah has reportedly amassed tens of thousands of troops for the decisive Syrian battle in Qalamoun. (USA Today)

The State Department accuses the Syrian regime of retaliating against the Syrian opposition’s peace negotiators by arresting their relatives. (The New York Times)

Syria delivers mustard gas to the port of Latakia. (The New York Times)

A mortar attack kills five people in a government-controlled neighborhood in Syria. (AP)

Widespread incredulity greets Egypt’s announcement of cures for both AIDS and Hepatitis C. (The New York Times)

An apparent gas explosion in Qatar kills 12 people. (Reuters)

Iran and Qatar will establish a free trade zone. (Xinhua)

21 more people are killed across Iraq. (Xinhua)

Commentary:

Gideon Levy says the day the US becomes committed to Kerry’s efforts, a peace deal will be made between Israel and the Palestinians. (Ha’aretz)

Shai Franklin says there is “backhanded” Jewish support for Kerry’s initiative. (The Jerusalem Post)

Alan Elsner says AIPAC must back Kerry’s initiative. (The Guardian)

Ari Shavit says Israel has a “golden opportunity” to make peace.  (Ha’aretz)

Yossi Mekelberg says the recognition of Israel as a “Jewish state” should not be at the expense of the legitimate rights of the Palestinians. (Al Arabiya)

Efraim Halevy says Israel should beware the “Jewish statehood” trap. (Ynet)

Zvi Bar’el says Economy Minister Bennett needs to decide if he counts Palestinian citizens of Israel or not. (Ha’aretz)

The Daily Star says the Israeli airstrike on the Lebanese-Syrian border highlights Hezbollah’s conundrums in Syria.(The Daily Star)

Michael Young says Hezbollah does not deserve a “special role” as protector of Lebanon. (The Daily Star)

Joyce Karam says Israel has a new “game plan” for both Hezbollah and Syria. (Al Arabiya)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed asks if the crisis in Ukraine weakens Russia and therefore also Syria and Iran. (Al Arabiya)

Brian Jenkins says al-Qaeda and ISIS are fighting over the future of “Salafist-Jihadism”. (The Daily Star)

Diana Moukalled says the execution of the poet Shaabani shows the true face of the current Iranian regime. (Al Arabiya)

Frank Costigliola says Obama should rediscover George Kennan’s wisdom when it comes to foreign policy. (The New York Times)

Adnan Oktar says educating both men and women, and living by the “moral values of the Qur’an,” are the solutions to gender discrimination. (The Jordan Times)

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