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NEWS:

Palestinian and Israeli negotiators will hold their third round of direct talks next week in Jericho. (Xinhua)

Talks thus far have been shrouded in secrecy. (The National)

Pres. Abbas explains why he prefers negotiations to new UN initiatives. (Reuters)

Abbas says all issues are being discussed with Israel. (Ma'an)

UNSG Ban says he is "deeply troubled" by Israel's new settlement announcements and urges the parties to continue to seek peace. (AP/Xinhua)

A new poll suggests 80% of Israelis believe peace is impossible. (AFP)

PLO officials say they are waiting to see the outcome of events in Egypt before moving on reconciliation with Hamas and warn of "painful decisions." (Ma'an/Times of Israel)

Israel destroys a Bedouin village for the 54th time. (Ma'an)

14 are killed in attacks by militants in Sinai. (Xinhua)

FIFA asks Israel to allow Arab players to participate in a Palestinian soccer tournament. (AP)

A survey finds 20,000 Palestinians are currently employed in Israeli settlements. (Jerusalem Post)

The Israeli military admits a lavish mall it depicted online as being in Gaza is actually in Malaysia. (Ha'aretz)


COMMENTARY:

Anshel Pfeffer says Israel will eventually have to dismantle West Bank settlements just as it did those in Gaza. (Ha'aretz)

Ha'aretz interviews Zvi Hauser, a longtime aide to PM Netanyahu, who dismisses settlement evacuation as a fantasy. (Ha'aretz)

Convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard condemns Israel's prisoner release. (Jerusalem Post)

Yoel Marcus says Israel paid a heavy price with prisoner release but got nothing in return from the Palestinians. (Ha'aretz)

The Economist outlines the importance of prisoner release for Palestinians. (The Economist)

Kenneth Stein looks at the history of, and prospects for, a two-state solution. (WINEP)

The Jerusalem Post thinks Israel has no chance of a fair hearing in international forums. (Jerusalem Post)

Uri Savir says Israel knows how to prepare for the worst, but it should now prepare for the better. (Jerusalem Post)

Avi Issacharoff says Hezbollah has miscalculated by getting into a fight with deadly jihadist enemies. (Times of Israel)

Yehuda Avner says Menachem Begin is still the icon of Israeli hardliners. (The Forward)

The Economist eulogizes its longtime Palestine correspondent Graham Usher who recently passed away. (The Economist)

Adnan Abu Amer says Hamas and other armed factions in Gaza are trying to avoid getting drawn into the Sinai conflict. (Al Monitor)

NEWS:

Palestinian and Israeli negotiators meet again for another round of talks, and will hold more soon, but agreement seems far away. (AFP/Ha'aretz/Jerusalem Post/Xinhua)

Security and sovereignty are key issues for both Israelis and Palestinians. (USA Today)

The CSM looks at Israeli public opinion on compromises with Palestinians on various issues. (Christian Science Monitor)

Egypt closes the Gaza crossing point indefinitely. (Xinhua/Times of Israel)

Israeli-Egyptian security cooperation has quietly intensified. (AP)

Jordan's Prince Hassan insists the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a regional issue. (Times of Israel)

US House Majority Leader Cantor says only a Palestinian "mind-shift" can bring about peace. (Jerusalem Post)

Hezbollah's leader says his group was responsible for attacking Israeli soldiers last week andpromises to attack any who cross into Lebanon. (AP/AFP)

Hamas continues its efforts to restore ties with Iran. (The Media Line)

The EU and Israel begin talks about the future of a research program, given the new occupation guidelines. (AP)

Israel has an existing agreement with the United States dating from 1972 that closely mirrors the new EU occupation guidelines. (Ha'aretz)

Israeli settler leaders vow they will never leave the occupied territories no matter what the Israeli government says. (Foreign Policy)

Israel is hiring university students to defend it online and in social media. (AP)

The PA demands DNA testing on unidentified bodies returned by Israel. (Ma'an/Xinhua)

15,000 Bedouin citizens of Israel are awaiting home demolitions after a court rejects their appeal. (Ma'an)

An Arab bus driver is beaten by passengers in northern Israel. (Ha'aretz)

A Russian company is set to invest $30 million in a new building in Bethlehem. (Ma'an)

An Israeli police officer is dismissed for arresting a social activist and calling her "a retarded leftist."(Ha'aretz)

Fatah leaders confirm a new government will be formed in coming weeks but will not involve reconciliation with Hamas. (Ma'an)

Hamas insists its recent closure of media offices is "temporary." (Ma'an)


COMMENTARY:

The Forward says it is baffled by Israel's spate of new settlement announcements. (The Forward)

Elias Harfoush says Pres. Abbas agreed to go back to negotiations to put the Palestinian issue back on the international map. (Al Hayat)

Roy Isacowitz says the occupation makes a mockery of Israel's claims of being both "Jewish" and "democratic." (Ha'aretz)

Shmuel Rosner says Israel shouldn't cooperate with the new EU occupation guidelines. (New York Times)

Hussein Ibish looks at the dynamic of anti-American rhetoric in contemporary Arab political discourse. (Ibishblog)

Abdulateef Al-Mulhim says it's time to give Israeli-Palestinian peace a chance to succeed. (Arab News)

David Harris further explains why he thinks everyone ought to give peace a chance. (Huffington Post)

National Geographic Explorer interviews Aziz Abu Sarah about the peace process. (National Geographic Explorer)

Alan Elsner says the outcome of the peace process mostly depends on the mindset of PM Netanyahu. (Reuters)

Gershon Baskin says a compromise on Jerusalem is the key to peace with the Palestinians. (Jerusalem Post)

J.J. Goldberg says peace talks are proceeding with even less goodwill than one might have anticipated. (The Forward)

Yossi Melman outlines Israel's concerns about unrest in Egypt. (Jerusalem Post)

Mazal Mualem says Israeli ultra-Orthodox parties are abandoning the settler movement. (Al Monitor)

NEWS:

Sec. Kerry says he had a "frank" discussion with PM Netanyahu about Israel's settlement activity, and reportedly said they violate israel's commitments. (AP/Ha'aretz)

Kerry says he and the Palestinians were warned about new settlement activity. (Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

Israel's housing minister promises more settlements to come. (Jerusalem Post/AFP)

The EU says the US is quietly supporting its new occupation guidelines. (Ha'aretz)

New Israeli-Palestinian direct negotiations are due to resume today in Jerusalem. (AP)

Hours before new talks are due to begin, Israel launches air strikes against Gaza. (New York Times)

Kerry says talks should continue despite the tensions, and mixed moves by Israel. (Washington Post/Xinhua)

Hamas denounces the negotiations and levels various charges at Fatah. (Times of Israel)

UNSG Ban will travel to the Middle East to support the negotiations later this week. (Xinhua)

26 Palestinian prisoners are released by Israel, with different responses in both communities. (New York Times/AP/Christian Science Monitor)

Pres. Abbas vows to secure the release of all Palestinian prisoners. (Ha'aretz)

Abbas asks PM Hamdallah to form a new government. (AP/Ma'an)

Israel places new restrictions on Palestinians retrieving their property in Jerusalem. (Ha'aretz)

The PA says it expects to receive a report on the late Pres. Arafat's remains in September. (Xinhua)

The UN calls on Hamas to cease executing prisoners, but Hamas says executions will continue. (AP/Al Monitor)

Hamas is keeping close surveillance on Facebook activity in Gaza. (Al Monitor)

Palestinians say Israeli forces attacked and detained three Palestinian fishermen. (PNN)

A Palestinian man is accused of slaying his own daughter in an "honor killing." (Ha'aretz)

Lebanese security forces say Israeli forces seized a Syrian shepherd in Lebanon.(Xinhua)

Palestinian social indicators are said by some to be remarkably high under the circumstances. (Albawaba)

An Israeli cosmetics company based in the occupied territories tries to avoid EU sanctions by simply changing addresses. (Bloomberg)


COMMENTARY:

ATFP intern Rachel Bessette looks at the problem of sexual harassment, especially in Egypt. (Now Media)

Brent Sasley says, if talks fail after all of Israel's new settlement announcements, Kerry could and should blame Netanyahu. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Jim Hecht lays out some steps the US could take to facilitate real progress in Israeli-Palestinian talks. (Baltimore Sun)

The National says Israel's new settlement announcements reveal its true intentions. (The National)

Yossi Mekelberg says Netanyahu must find the courage to stop settlement activity. (Al Arabiya)

Ha'aretz says using trolls and other social media "dirty tricks" won't fix Israel's public image. (Ha'aretz)

Zvi Bar'el says, despite rhetoric to the contrary, Israel and the settler movement are responding to the EU with a boycott of its own. (Ha'aretz)

David Horovitz says by releasing violent prisoners while resuming settlements, Netanyahu is having the worst of both worlds. (Times of Israel)

Gil Troy is upset that international law prohibits Israeli settlement in the occupied territory. (Jerusalem Post)

The Jerusalem Post denounces the prisoner release as immoral and the EU as anti-Semitic. (Jerusalem Post)

John Whitbeck says Israel needs negative incentives for the peace process to succeed. (Asharq Al Awsat)

The Guardian says Netanyahu must decide whether he wants peace or endless occupation. (The Guardian)

Jonathan Cook says there are many obstacles, not just settlements, in the way of a successful peace negotiation. (The National)

Peter Beinart says even after a two-state agreement, Israel will still have to deal with its own Palestinian citizens. (Daily Beast)

Michael Singh says US "re-engagement" in the Middle East is essential to secure Israeli-Palestinian peace. (Foreign Policy)

Sari Bashi says Israel giving Palestinians more freedom of movement is a win-win scenario. (The Forward)

Omer Taspinar asks if Hamas' new vulnerability could be the key to renewed Turkish regional relevance. (Al Monitor)

Jeffrey Goldberg says Kerry has gotten Netanyahu's attention by warning about the consequences of failed peace talks. (Bloomberg)

Huang Yinjiazi says the new Israeli-Palestinian negotiations are good for everyone. (Xinhua)

Greg Myre asks if the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is more difficult to solve now, 20 years after Oslo. (NPR)

NEWS:

Israel announces 900 more settlement units in and around occupied East Jerusalem. (Al Jazeera)

Israel's new settlement announcements seem to been based on domestic political calculations, butcreate a dark mood for renewed negotiations. (New York Times/Reuters)

The US says it is "concerned" about the new "illegitimate" settlement building plans, and the EU says they may make peace "impossible." (Xinhua/AFP)

Despite the dispute over settlements, Sec. Kerry says he is still optimistic about peace talks andurges Palestinians not to overreact. (AP/AFP)

Kerry says he was "not surprised" by Israel's settlement expansion announcements. (Times of Israel)

Kerry reportedly warns PM Netanyahu of a "delegitimization campaign on steroids" if talks fail. (Jerusalem Post)

Pres. Abbas says Palestinians are still committed to peace with Israel through negotiations. (Xinhua/Asharq Al-Awsat)

Hamas says Abbas is "not authorized" to negotiate with Israel and that talks are futile. (Xinhua/AFP)

A new poll suggests Palestinian youths are evenly divided about the new talks and not particularly optimistic. (Xinhua/Times of Israel)

Israeli missile defense systems intercept rockets fired from the Sinai Peninsula. (New York Times/AP/Reuters)

A scheduled Israeli release of Palestinian prisoners is still on track after a court ruling, though no date is yet set. (Reuters/Ha'aretz/Ma'an)

Israeli pain is mixed with Palestinian joy regarding upcoming prisoner releases. (AP/Xinhua)

Palestinians report another Palestinian refugee is killed in Syria, bringing the estimated total to 1,472. (Ma'an/PNN)

Palestinians say Israeli settlers burn land and attack Palestinians near Nablus. (PNN)

A new book outlines the ideology of the extremist settler movement. (Ha'aretz)

Israel and Egypt are demonstrating ever-stronger security coordination. (The Media Line)

Egypt's new government has greatly increased border restrictions with Gaza. (Reuters)

Hamas continues to try to rebuild ties with Iran following the downfall of former Egyptian Pres. Morsi. (Al Monitor)

Israel completes clearing landmines near its Red Sea port of Eilat. (Xinhua)

NPR looks at the complications for Palestinians getting running water in the occupied West Bank. (NPR)


COMMENTARY:

The New York Times says Netanyahu must have the courage not to expand settlements if peace is to have a chance. (New York Times)

Lara Friedman provides a clear timeline on the new negotiations and new settlement announcements. (APN)

The Daily Star says peace and settlements simply do not mix. (The Daily Star)

Ha'aretz says the settlement expansions are a "targeted assassination" of the peace talks. (Ha'aretz)

Mazal Mualem says the new settlement housing units are no real threat to peace. (Al Monitor)

The Economist says the settler movement would probably be a bigger spoiler outside of government. (The Economist)

Nassif Hitti says a forceful American role is essential for peace talks to succeed. (Al Monitor)

Aaron David Miller says Israelis and Palestinians need American middlemen for peace. (Foreign Policy)

Roger Cohen says the one-state dream would actually prove a nightmare in practice. (New York Times)

Niva Lanir says peace based on the 1967 borders is the only way forward. (Ha'aretz)

The LA Times says the controversy over whether non-Jewish Israelis should vote in a referendum on peace is another strain on its democracy. (Los Angeles Times)

Henry Siegman says withdrawing from the occupied territories would enhance Israel's security for more than attacking Iran. (Ha'aretz)

Moshe Arens says a smaller Israel would be too vulnerable. (Ha'aretz)

Elliott Abrams questions whether Israel can rely on American security guarantees. (The Weekly Standard)

The Jerusalem Post interviews former Israeli negotiator Yossi Beilin, who says he is "truly delighted" at the new talks. (Jerusalem Post)

Raphael Ahren says it's hard to imagine what the next step forward on peace will be. (Times of Israel)

Jonathan Marcus says Western diplomats believe Israeli-Palestinian peace is essential. (BBC)

Gershom Gorenberg says Israel's settlement policies are threatening its economic future. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Oded Shalom says Upper Nazareth's mayor is running on an openly racist platform. (YNet)

Larry Derfner says Jewish-American should stop ignoring Israel's "everyday racism." (The Forward)

Marc Grey says education can help counteract racism in Israel. (The Forward)

Maysoon Zayid looks at Israel's separate and unequal West Bank "bypass roads." (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Rachel Shabi says Arabs and Israelis can unite over food, if nothing else. (The Guardian)

Abdalla Khader says Palestinians need elections, not reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah. (Foreign Policy)

NEWS:

New Israeli settlement expansions raise tensions in the run-up to the second round of direct negotiations with the Palestinians. (New York Times/AP/Los Angeles times)

Palestinians may be considering skipping the next round of talks because of the new settlements. (Xinhua/AFP)

Arab Idol winner Mohammed Assaf strongly endorses the goal of Palestinian independence in the occupied territories. (The Guardian)

Israel lists 26 Palestinian prisoners scheduled to be released this week. (AP/Reuters)

Palestinian families await the return of prisoners not seen for decades. (Ha'aretz)

A Palestinian man is killed, and another wounded, by Israeli occupation forces in Gaza. (Xinhua)

Hamas forces launch a crackdown on Fatah in Gaza. (Ma'an)

Amnesty International urges Hamas to stop executing prisoners. (PNN)

Hamas officials say Egypt has reopened the Gaza crossing after four days of closure. (Xinhua)

Palestinian officials say the West Bank economy is starting to improve. (PNN)

Palestinians continue to struggle to build their first planned city in the occupied territories, Rawabi. (New York Times)

The new EU occupation guidelines may cost Israel hundreds of millions of dollars in lost research funding. (AP)

Syrian singer Asala Nasri, a strong supporter of the Syrian opposition, gives a rare performance by a Syrian citizen in the occupied West Bank. (AP)

PM Netanyahu undergoes successful hernia surgery. (AP)

An Israeli drone strike kills five militants in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. (AP)

Israel's airport near Sinai is reopened after a temporary security closure. (Xinhua)

Upper Nazareth's mayor seems determined to try to keep his town exclusively Jewish. (Ha'aretz)

Right-wing Israeli politician Tzachi Hanegbi will attend this year's annual J Street conference. (JTA)

Lebanese officials deny there has been any decision to prevent Palestinian refugees fleeing Syria to enter Lebanon. (Naharnet)


COMMENTARY:

Avi Issacharoff says even if Israel's new settlement units are built in "consensus" blocs, this is no way to build trust. (Times of Israel)

Ilan Baruch says pressure from the US and Europeans, along with the Arab Peace Initiative, could produce successful talks. (YNet)

Gershon Baskin says economic growth and prosperity are essential, but not enough to produce peace. (Jerusalem Post)

Barak Ravid says, if Netanyahu wants Americans, Palestinians and, above all, Israelis, to take him seriously on peace, he has to change his familiar tactics. (Ha'aretz)

Adel Safty says Israel is making a mockery of the peace process. (Gulf News)

David Harris says everyone needs to give the peace process a chance. (Huffington Post)

Natan Odenheimer says Palestinian identity is constantly evolving. (Times of Israel)

Francesca Borri thinks that for many Palestinians national unity is more important than peace talks with Israel. (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Efraim Halevy says Israel may be missing a big opportunity with the change of leadership in Iran. (YNet)

Oudeh Basharat says vicious racism against Arabs in Israel is nothing new, but it's getting much worse. (Ha'aretz)

Amir Fuchs says Israel is not just for Jews, despite what Upper Nazareth's mayor seems to think. (Ha'aretz)

Noah Beck says Palestinians shouldn't be allowed to monopolize the refugee issue. (YNet)

The Jerusalem Post says Israel and Egypt should renegotiate parts of their peace treaty to deal with the security crisis in Sinai. (Jerusalem Post)

Hugh Naylor says Israel and Egypt have little choice but to cooperate on Sinai. (The National)

Ben Caspit says the Israeli military is preparing for another conflict with Hezbollah. (Al Monitor)

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