NEWS:
 
In his weekly radio address, outgoing PM Fayyad urges Palestinians to hold elections. (AP)
 
A new Palestinian opinion poll shows Pres. Abbas and his Fatah party much more popular than Hamas, or any of its leaders, but student elections show strong support for Hamas. (PNN/Al Monitor)
 
Israel fines Palestinians for displaying Palestinian flags on their cars in Jerusalem on Israel's "Independence Day." (Ma'an)
 
The PA says Israel is detaining at least 236 children as young as 12 among its 5000 Palestinian prisoners. (Ma'an)
 
Israel is reportedly trying to negotiate the end of a hunger strike by a Palestinian prisoner that has gone on and off for 250 days. (Reuters)
 
Jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti complains the PA isn't doing enough to secure his release. (Jerusalem Post)
 
The Palestinian economy in occupied East Jerusalem is struggling. (The Media Line)
 
Palestinian refugees are fleeing Syria for the Gaza Strip. (Xinhua)
 
Two rockets are fired into southern Israel from the Sinai Peninsula and Islamist extremists claim responsibility. (AP/Reuters)
 
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee adopts a resolution to support Israel in a confrontation with Iran. (Ha'aretz)
 
A promotional video prepared by Israel's Foreign Ministry ignores the existence of Palestinians and the Oslo Accords. (Ha'aretz)
 
Turkey's deputy PM says relations with Israel are returning to normal. (Jerusalem Post)
 
Jewish-American activists say fewer teenagers are visiting Israel every year. (JTA)
 
Israel's Housing Minister Uri Ariel vows to move forward with the highly controversial E1 settlement expansion project. (Ma'an)
 
 
COMMENTARY:
 
John Ware asks what the future holds for Israel on its 65th anniversary. (BBC)
 
Jihad el-Khazen says Fayyad is better than all of Fatah's leadership put together and that Fatah and Hamas are "playing with fire." (Al Hayat)
 
The Jordan Times says Fayyad's resignation cannot be good for peace. (Jordan Times)
 
David Makovsky says Fayyad was scapegoated or shortchanged by all parties. (WINEP)
 
Elliott Abrams says Fayyad faced stiff Palestinian opposition and insufficient international support. (The Weekly Standard)
 
Akiva Eldar asks if Fayyad's resignation will be a wake-up call for Israel. (Al Monitor)
 
Zvi Bar'el says Israel needs peace with Palestinians in the occupied territories, and sincere reconciliation with those that are citizens of Israel. (Ha'aretz)
 
Yitzhak Laor says Israeli racism against its Arab citizens cannot be concealed. (Ha'aretz)
 
Yossi Yona says the victory of a Palestinian citizen of Israel in a TV singing contest doesn't mean racism in Israel is eliminated, but it does show a real desire to move beyond it. (YNet)
 
Azriel Bermant says Margaret Thatcher's "friendship" with Israel was based on pragmatism, not love. (Ha'aretz)
 
Hossam Zaki offers his advice for peacemakers. (Al Monitor)
 
Bernard Avishai says peace is essential, but the peace processes become the "ultimate bore." (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

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