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News:

Israeli lawmakers tell US Amb. to Israel Shapiro that Sec. Kerry is “coercing” Israel into a terrible deal. (Ha’aretz/Ynet)

A Palestinian official claims Israel is excluding the Al-Aqsa mosque from the peace talks. (Xinhua)

A Knesset debate on Israeli sovereignty of the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount sets off intense criticism in the Arab world.(The Times of Israel)

Jordanian MPs vote unanimously to expel the Israeli Ambassador. (AP/Ma’an/The Jordan Times)

Russian Duma Chair Naryshkin tells Pres. Peres Russia is keen to see a “satisfactory conclusion” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (The Jerusalem Post)

Today is the anniversary of the massacre of 29 Palestinians in a mosque in Hebron. (AFP/Ha’aretz)

PLO official Ashrawi denounces an Israeli bill that distinguishes between Muslim and Christian Palestinian citizens of Israel. (PNN)

Israeli occupation forces detain nine Palestinian men in Hebron. (Ma’an)

Gazans see solar power as the only alternative to their energy crisis. (AFP)

Hezbollah calls on all Palestinians to protect Jerusalem and the Haram al-Sharif from the “Zionist enemy.” (The Jerusalem Post)

Hezbollah says Israel bombed one of its positions near the Syrian border, and vows to retaliate.(AP/Reuters/The Washington Post)

The UN urges all sides to exercise restraint to avoid escalating tension in Lebanon. (Xinhua)

The UN says Syrians are now the world’s largest refugee population. (Reuters)

The Syrian army claims to have killed 175 al-Qaeda linked rebels. (AP/The Times of Israel)

FM Davutoglu says Syria’s worsening war now poses a danger to all countries. (Reuters)

Russia warns Saudi Arabia against supplying Syrian rebels with shoulder-launched missiles. (AFP)

Gen. Sisi will keep his post as DM in the new Egyptian government formed by PM Mehlib.(Reuters/The New  York Times)

Another explosion hits Egypt’s gas pipeline in Sinai. (AP)

An Egyptian court sentences 26 people over allegations of forming a terrorist group and targeting the Suez Canal. (AP)

The Iraqi government denies it has an arms deal with Iran. (Xinhua)

11 people are killed across Iraq. (Xinhua)

PM Erdogan is investigated for corruption. (AP)

Iranian robots remind children to say their daily prayers in schools. (The National) 

Commentary:

Rami Khouri says Palestinians desperately need to strengthen their hand in peace talks. (The Daily Star)

Chris Doyle says there can be no peace without taking into consideration the status of Hebron. (Al Arabiya)

Ha’aretz says Israel’s distinguishing between Christian and Muslim Arab citizens is racist. (Ha’aretz)

Ben Sales says PM Netanyahu may have to choose between the majority of the Knesset and the majority of his own party. (JTA)

Kenneth Marcus outlines ten ways that BDS is different now. (The Jerusalem Post)

Carolina Landsmann says that boycotts are compelling  wealthy Israelis to press Netanyahu to cut a deal with the Palestinians. (Ha’aretz)

Peter Beinart says orthodox Jewish institutions cannot be truly open if they are closed to Palestinians. (Ha’aretz)

Sheerly Avni interviews Palestinian Oscar-nominated director Hany Abu-Assad. (The Jewish Daily Forward)

Michael Ignatieff says the only remaining option in Syria is to use military force to deny Pres. Assad’s air superiority. (The New York Times)

Osama Al Sharif says Russia’s apparent defeat in Ukraine will affect its policies in Syria. (The Jordan Times)

Abdallah Schleifer says the failure of the interim government is of greater importance to Egyptians than the “over-zealousness of the security forces.”  (Al Arabiya)

The Gulf News says the resignation of the entire Egyptian government will make it easy for Sisi to run for President. (Gulf News)

Octavia Nasr tells Lebanese lawmakers to make it a priority to protect women. (Al Arabiya)

Thomas Friedman says the Cold War is not back and today’s geopolitics are more interesting than that. (The New York Times)

Michael Young says the appointment of Rob Malley to the NSC has overly raised expectations in Pres. Obama’s Middle East policy. (The National)

Abraham Sofaer says, while pursuing nuclear talks,  the US should pressure Iranian hardliners without hurting the people. (The New York Times)

S. Frederick Starr says the US should look to countries in Central Asia as examples of moderate Islam. (The New York Times)

News:

Chancellor Merkel meets with PM Netanyahu and both express hope to advance peace talks.(Reuters/Xinhua)

Merkel says Germany is obliged to follow EU guidelines on the labelling of goods produced in Israeli settlements. (Ha’aretz/The Jerusalem Post)

The Palestinian presidency says Jordan is not an alternative homeland for the Palestinians. (Xinhua)

Israeli occupation forces storm Jerusalem’s Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount to disperse a protest, arresting three Palestinians. (AP/Xinhua/Ma’an/Ha’aretz)

Israeli warplanes reportedly launch two raids near the Lebanese-Syrian border. (AP/The New York Times/Ha’aretz)

Netanyahu refuses to say whether Israel carried out the airstrikes. (AP/The Jerusalem Post)

Sec. Kerry and Treasury Sec. Lew will speak at the annual AIPAC conference. (JTA)

Fatah is still waiting on an answer from Hamas regarding a recent proposal for national reconciliation. (Ma’an)

An Israeli right wing group starts an “anti-Jewish state” campaign. (The Jerusalem Post)

Israel passes a bill to distinguish between Muslim and Christian Arab citizens for purposes of employment. (Ha’aretz)

Hamas allegedly planned to bomb a major route linking Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. ( The Times of Israel)

UNRWA says Palestinians in the Yarmouk camp in Syria are “traumatized.” (AP)

The Syrian war stirs a new US debate on cyberattacks.(The New York Times)

The leader of the Nusra Front in Syria gives ISIS an ultimatum. (Reuters)

Anger is spreading through Lebanon’s Sunni community toward the country’s military. (AP)

Iran signs a deal to sell Iraq arms and munitions worth $195 million. (Reuters/The National)

Pres. Mansour asks Housing Minister Mahlab to form a new Egyptian government. (Xinhua/AFP)

Seven Egyptians are found dead in Libya. (The New York Times)

Kuwait launches a bid to end a standoff between Egypt and Qatar ahead of the Arab Summit. (Gulf News)

The Turkish opposition demands an investigation into PM Erdogan for alleged corruption. (AP)

Commentary:

Raanan Eliaz says Israel’s challenge is to work closely with the emerging German political generation. (Ha’aretz)

Simon Shiffer says Israel cannot deny the Germans the right to criticize its behavior towards the Palestinians. (Ynet)

Willem-Gert Aldershoff and Michel Waelbroeck say EU settlement guidelines do not constitute a boycott of Israel. (Ha’aretz)

The Jordan Times says King Abdullah is angry about rumors that Jordan will be a homeland for the Palestinians. (The Jordan Times)

Hassan Barari says Jordanian political forces will not stop talking about the “alternative homeland for the Palestinian people” due to parochial interests (The Jordan Times)

Jonathan Cook accuses Israelis of living in a “large bubble of denial.”(The National)

Cesar Chelala says Israel’s treatment of Palestinian children undermines its democratic principles and continues to perpetuate the Arab-Israeli conflict. (The Daily Star)

Ha’aretz says Economy Minister’s Bennett obsession is to turn the Arab population in Israel into second-class citizens. (Ha’aretz)

Beth Kissileff says its up to US Jews to make more of an effort to understand Jewish identity in Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Doyle McManus says Pres. Obama may soon face a turning point in Syria. (The Los Angeles Times)

HA Hellyer says all journalists in Egypt should be freed. (Al Arabiya)

Peter Jenkins says US-Iranian nuclear negotiations are finally dealing with facts, instead of assumptions. (The Daily Star)

Faisal Al Yafai says the Arab world’s concern over Iran’s nuclear programme is a symptom, not the cause, of the regional distrust of Iranian intentions. (The National)

Dennis Blair and Michael Hagee say if the US is to remain prosperous and secure, more significant progress should be made toward ending its oil dependence (The New York Times)

Richard Cohen says as the world is looking for guidance not only does the US refuse to be its “policemen” but will not be its ”hall monitor.”  (The Washington Post)

Hussein Ibish says Russia is an unacceptable ally for the Arabs. (Now Media)

The Los Angeles Times says Qatar’s World Cup preparations should not include abusing its workers. (The Los Angeles Times)

The National says Iraq’s arms deal with Iran has political repercussions far beyond its monetary value. (The National)

Elif Shafak says the “tempest of fear” in Turkey is reflected through the recent proliferation of conspiracy theories. (The New York Times)

Dalia Ghanem-Yazbeck says Algeria’s upcoming elections demonstrate the steady decline of Islamist parties. (The Daily Star)

News:

Pres. Abbas will meet with Pres. Obama to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.(Xinhua/Ha’aretz)

On the eve of Chancellor Merkel’s visit, PM Netanyahu says settlements are not the biggest obstacle to peace. (The Jerusalem Post/The Times of Israel)

Merkel and German ministers head to Israel for a landmark visit. (Ynet)

Netanyahu voices his concern over the Iranian nuclear program amid the Geneva talks.(Xinhua)

Former Fatah official Dahlan accuses Abbas of taking part in negotiations with Israel for his own political and financial benefit. (The Jerusalem Post)

A Palestinian official says the PA could address the UN over an Israeli settlement boycott. (Ma’an)

Hamas seeks to privatize Gaza border crossings due to the deteriorating economic situation.(AFP/Reuters)

Israeli occupation forces arrest two Palestinians in the West Bank. (Xinhua)

Israeli occupation forces issue eviction orders to 40 Palestinian families in East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)

The destruction of tunnels by Egyptian authorities marks “the end of good times” for Gazan entrepreneurs. (The National)

Israeli gas will be sold to Jordan. (AP)

An Arab professor is elected deputy chairman of the Council for Higher Education at the University of Haifa. (Ha’aretz)

The Palestinian Scouts Association organizes a unified march in three Arab countries to demand the “right of return.” (PNN)

The UN Security Council demands humanitarian aid for all of Syria. (AP/The New York Times)

Syria’s opposition Supreme Military Council is in chaos. (The New York Times)

Syrian regime troops advance near a Golan Heights city.(AP)

A Syrian rebel commander is killed by rival Islamists. (Reuters)

An Al-Qaeda linked group claims responsibility for a suicide bombing against Lebanese soldiers. (AP)

Egypt’s military-backed government resigns. (AP/Reuters/The Washington Post)

The Egyptian army kills 14 militants in Sinai. (Xinhua)

Egypt elects the first woman, Hala Shukrallah, to head a political party.(The Jerusalem Post)

There are growing concerns over the status of academic freedom in Egypt. (The New York Times)

Chinese FM Yi visits Baghdad. (The National)

Iraqi election officials begin handing out new computerized voter identification cards. (AP) 

In Iraq 17 people are killed in bombings and shootings. (Reuters)

Iraq will start building a new oil refinery. (AP) 

Commentary:

Amal Moussa says the Palestinian issue has become more complicated because it has lost both its position and prominence among Arab nations. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Danny Danon says Israel has no choice but to reject the framework proposal of Sec. Kerry. (The Jerusalem Post)

Donniel Hartman says negotiations with the Palestinians do not only require a coalition in the Knesset but also need to be supported in the streets. (The Times of Israel)

Ha’aretz says as long as Israel controls East Jerusalem, it must protect the rights of the Palestinians living there. (Ha’aretz)

Oudeh Basharat says if the Israeli government intends to try to draft Christian Arabs into the army, it should start building more prisons. (Ha’aretz)

Moshe Arens says those who call for a boycott of Israeli investments in the settlements lack the knowledge of basic economic principles. (Ha’aretz)

Amir Oren says next year Netanyahu will decide if he will move on to the presidency. (Ha’aretz)

Amos Schonfield and Ella Taylor say UK Jewish students are urging their community to use only maps that show Israel in its 1967 borders.(Ha’aretz)

David Benkof says “Palestine denial” rhetoric invalidates Palestinian rights. (The Times of Israel)

Yishai Mishor and Oded Steinberg say there is no difference between Jewish and Palestinian extremists. (Ynet)

Ofra Bengio says the “Shiite threat” in the Middle East has helped form a “virtual alliance” between some Sunni states and Israel. (The Jerusalem Post)

Theodore Karasik says the US and Saudi Arabia are finally cooperating on Syria. (Al Arabiya)

The Jordan Times says the adoption of the UN Security Council resolution on humanitarian aid in Syria is a starting point. (The Jordan Times)

The National says the UN resolution on Syria highlights the limited ability of the international community to challenge the Assad regime. (The National)

The Gulf News says there is nothing to celebrate about the UN resolution on Syria.(Gulf News)

Amer Al Sabaileh says the key to current US strategy in Syria is to remove any possible obstacle to a regional settlement. (The Jordan Times)

Sharif Nashashibi says the grievances of Sinai residents are long-running, and many have little to do with former Pres. Morsi and Islam. (The National)

Hussein Ibish says Libya’s oil reserves should be its biggest asset but is its greatest liability. (The National)

The New York Times says Turkey’s new law that tightens government control of the internet is the latest blow to its democracy. (The New York Times)

Fred Hiatt says Obama’s turnabout on foreign policy is “dizzying.” (The Washington Post)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says there is too much conspiracy theory in many interpretations of modern Middle East history. (Al Arabiya)

News:
Sec. Kerry asks Pres. Abbas to extend peace talks with Israel for an additional nine months. (Xinhua)
A Palestinian official says the ideas Kerry presented to Abbas could not serve as the basis for a framework agreement. (The Jerusalem Post/The National)
US Amb. to Israel Shapiro says framework agreement will include Palestinian recognition of Israel as a “Jewish state.” (The Times of Israel)
A PLO official says there is a possibility that the Palestinian leadership could recognize Israel as a “Jewish state.” (Ma’an)
Pres. Peres says there is no alternative to peace with the Palestinians. (Xinhua)
Israeli right-wing lawmakers warn PM Netanyahu against settlement freeze. (Ha’aretz)
Israeli Interior minister Sa’ar claims the Jordan River Valley will “prosper for agesunder Israeli sovereignty.” (Ynet)
A group of Israelis plans to lobby the Knesset to declare the country a “Jewish state” by law. (AP)
Israel debates a bill that would ban NGOs that deny Israel’s “Jewish character.” (Ha’aretz)
A Palestinian official denies Israeli reports about a joint Palestinian-Israeli committee to solve environmental problems. (Xinhua)
PLO official Ashrawi meets with a J Street delegation in Ramallah. (Ma’an/Ynet)
Six Palestinians are injured in clashes after extremist Jewish settlers attack a high school near Nablus. (Ma’an)
Israel questions a Palestinian citizen of Israel over Facebook remark. (Ha’aretz)
An Israeli anti-racism group petitions Israeli government to compensate Palestinian citizens of Israel targeted by “price tag” extremists. (Ha’aretz)
Gaza’s unemployment rate increases. (Reuters)
Oscar nominated film “Omar” hits US theaters today. (The Times of Israel)
The UN Security Council will vote on the Syria aid resolution on Saturday. (Reuters)
The Syrian army intensifies its aerial bombardment of southern areas. (AP)
Iran boosts military support of Assad regime. (Reuters)
Syria offers to work with Lebanon in fighting terrorism. (The Daily Star) 
Saudi Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef is reshaping Saudi’s domestic policies against Islamist militancy. (Reuters)
In Egypt, three Al Jazeera journalists plead not guilty. (The New York Times/AP)
Egypt’s population reaches 94 million. (Xinhua) 
Lebanese security forces detain a militant suspected of recruiting suicide bombers. (Reuters)
21 people are killed in attacks across Iraq. (The New York Times/The National)
The EU says Iran nuclear talks are off to “a good start.” (AP)
Arab governments are poised to increase Arabic web content. (The Jordan Times)
Commentary:
Ha’aretz says the Israeli government must stop kowtowing to the settlers. (Ha’aretz)
George Hishmeh calls on Pres. Obama and Netanyahu to revisit their policies in the Middle East. (The Jordan Times)
Yossi Sarid says “yes to a boycott” of the Israeli settlements. (Ha’aretz)
 
Uri Savir says Israel must make every possible effort to help Kerry. (The Jerusalem Post)
Michael Gerson says a Somalia-like future for Syria would be an uncontainable regional and global threat. (The Washington Post)
Fouad Ajami says it would be a moral stain to see Pres. Assad’s reign outlasting that of Obama. (The Wall Street Journal)
J.J. Goldberg says the new escalation of American involvement in Syria is due to the stalemate in Geneva. (The Jewish Daily Forward)
The Gulf News says Lebanon’s “fragile peace” is in danger. (The Gulf News)
Ahmad Majdoubeh says there are no quick solutions to the problems in the Middle East, and democracy takes time. (The Jordan Times)
PM Maliki says Iraq is using all the political, economic, and military tools at its disposal in its effort to defeat al-Qaeda. (Foreign Policy)
Sami Moubayed says Iran might be behind Sadr’s decision of early retirement from Iraqi politics. (The Gulf News)
George Weidenfeld says Europe should help foster peace in the Middle East as an “unbiased mediator.” (Project Syndicate)
Anne-Marie Slaughter says Germany and other EU countries must step up as the US steps down from its role as a “global policeman.” (Project Syndicate)
News:
Sec. Kerry holds a second round of talks with Pres. Abbas in Paris after discussing the framework agreement yesterday. (AFP/The Times of Israel)
Kerry meets FM Judeh to push for a framework agreement. (The Jordan Times)
Kerry is disappointed with Palestinian verbal attacks against Israel. (The Jerusalem Post/Ynet)
A PLO official says Kerry’s framework draft is too vague. (The Times of Israel)
The PLO proposes an understanding on a joint ruling of Jerusalem. (Xinhua)
Israel debates a legislation offering compensation for West Bank settlers to move inside the internationally recognized borders of Israel.(Ha’aretz)
Pres. Peres will award Chancellor Merkel Israel’s highest civilian honor. (Ha’aretz)
Extremist settlers uproot 700 olive tree saplings in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)
Palestinian public sector employees in the West Bank will strike against the government. (Ma’an)
A Jewish-Arab couple protests against the demolition of their house in the occupied East Jerusalem. (Ha’aretz)
Israel’s Tamar gas field will sell gas to Jordan. (Xinhua)
A Jordanian-Israeli citizen named after Yitzhak Rabin will join the IDF.(Ha’aretz)
A Jewish museum in New York comes under fire for featuring BDS-backing professorJudith Butler at an event. (Ha’aretz)
Two Israeli arms dealers are arrested for allegedly selling parts of military aircrafts to Iran. (The Times of Israel)
UNRWA resumes food distribution in Yarmouk after an 11-day halt. (AP)
The UN resolution on Syria aid will face a vote on Friday. (AP/The New York Times/Reuters)
Some Syrian rebel commanders reject the dismissal of Gen. Idris. (AP)
Syrian activists accuse the Assad regime of using chemical weapons again. (The Daily Beast)
Islamist rebels in eastern Syria order women to put the face veil. (Reuters)
The Egyptian army bombs suspected militants in Sinai. (AP)
Egypt adjourns the Al Jazeera journalists trial to March 5th. (AFP)
FM Lavrov arrives in Baghdad to hold talks with Iraqi leaders. (Xinhua)
A Bahrain court sentences a Shiite protester to death. (The National)
Pres. Obama and PM Erdogan discuss Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and the conflicts in Syria and Iraq. (AP)
Iran and the six world powers agree on a framework for nuclear talks. (AP/Reuters/The New York Times)
An American official says the US will remain “very mindful” of Gulf states’ concerns over Iran in the nuclear talks. (Xinhua)
Commentary:
Rami Khouri asks if Israelis and Palestinians are ready for Kerry’s framework. (The Daily Star)
David Benkof says Jews should look to their own history to find compassion for the Palestinian  “right of return.” (The Times of Israel)
Ari Shavit argues that the late Palestinian leader Arafat publicly recognized Israel as a "Jewish state" six months before his death. (Ha'aretz) 
Yossi Mekelberg says the continuing Israeli occupation can lead to an international isolation and confrontation with the EU and the US. (Al Arabiya)
Roy Isacowitz says PM Netanyahu's rhetoric makes him feel like an “anti-Semite.” (Haaretz)
Akiva Eldar says the Israeli anti-boycott policies are counterproductive. (Al-Monitor)
Daniel Friedmann says the boycott disputes are purely political. (YNet)
Myriam Schermer claim the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is largely religious based. (The Times of Israel)
Gideon Levy accuses Israeli media of bias against the Palestinian citizens of Israel. (Ha'aretz)
David Ignatius says a revived US-Saudi alliance on Syria will stop aid from leaching away to Al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front and ISIS. (The Washington Post)
 
Michael Young says Russia's increased activity in Syria is due to America's inaction. (The National)
The Los Angeles Times says diplomacy remains the best option for Obama’s Syria policy.  (The Los Angeles Times)
Fehim Taştekin says Syria war sparks Turkish Alawite anxiety. (Al-Monitor)
Enas Hamed accuses the Egyptian security forces of abusing female detainees. (Al-Monitor) 
Michael Jansen says the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt can be held responsible for the escalation of jihadist attacks. (The Jordan Times)
Rob Ben-Yeshi is not optimistic about the outcome of the Iranian nuclear talks. (YNet)
Aaron Miller says the costs of failure of the US-Iran talks will be significant. (Foreign Policy)
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