News:

Sec. Kerry will brief the Quartet in Munich on the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. (Ha’aretz)

The US Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations Indyk outlines the framework agreement toJewish leaders. (Ma’an/The Jerusalem Post/JTA)

Israeli fighter jets strike Gaza, injuring seven people. (Xinhua/Ma’an)

An Israeli Minister calls Pres. Abbas the world’s most “anti-semitic” leader. (Ha’aretz)

DM Ya’alon expresses doubt in the prospect of democracy in the Arab world. (The Jerusalem Post)

Israeli occupation forces prevent a Palestinian activist from traveling to Jordan. (Ma’an)

Gaza’s youth seek employment in Qatar. (Al-Monitor)

An Israeli car rental company discriminates against Arabs. (Ha’aretz)

The first round of the Syrian peace talks ends in deadlock.  (Reuters)

The Syrian government delegation seeks Pres. Assad’s approval to return to the talks. (Reuters)

The Syrian regime kills 16 people in Aleppo. (AP)

Turkish jets attack an ISIL convoy in Syria. (Al Jazeera)

Ansar Beit al-Maqdis claims responsibility for the assassination of a police officer in Cairo. (AP)

Saudi Arabia will give $4 billion to Egypt in the form of deposits and oil products. (Xinhua)

Egypt arrests 11 Muslim Brotherhood members accused of incitement. (AP)

Libya’s parliament sets a date for a national election to choose a constitutional panel.  (AP)

An Iraqi-American launches a grassroots campaign to win the mayoral position in Washington, DC. (Al Jazeera)

Commentary:

Khaled Diab questions the efficacy of boycotting Israel to end the occupation. (Ha’aretz)

George Hishmeh discusses how PM Netanyahu has resorted to his 'flip flop tactics' to delay peace negotiations. (Gulf News)

Yoel Marcus says there will be no final agreement without evacuating all of the settlers from a Palestinian state. (Ha’aretz)

Giora Eiland says Israel cannot afford the estimated $34 billion needed to relocate settlers. (Ynet)

Avi Issacharoff says if peace talks fail it won't be Kerry’s fault. (The Times of Israel)

Ben Caspit says Kerry might address the Israeli public on the framework agreement. (Al-Monitor)

Eric Yoffie says Israelis and Palestinians must keep religion out of the conflict. (Ha’aretz)

Michael Jansen critiques the US position regarding the Geneva II talks. (Jordan Times)

The Wall Street Journal says the White House’s claims of victory in Syria are greatly exaggerated. (The Wall Street Journal)

Alan Philps says Ennahda has learned lessons  from the Brotherhood’s downfall in Egypt and the mayhem in Syria. (The National)

Sarah Mersch says the new Tunisian constitution is “full of contradictions.” (The Daily Star)

The Christian Science Monitor says the approval of the Tunisian constitution should be considered the restart of the “Arab Spring.” (The Christian Science Monitor)

H.A. Hellyer says the Egyptian military is betting its popularity in backing Gen. Sisi to be the next president. (The National)

Stephen Hadley says Americans should be proud of what has been achieved in Iraq. (The Wall Street Journal)

News:

A convoy carrying 900 food parcels enters the Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria. (AP/Ma’an)

A PLO official calls Sec. Kerry’s proposal on Jerusalem “general and vague.” (The Jerusalem Post)

Israeli Finance Minister Lapid says Israel’s economy will be “battered” if peace talks fail. (AP/Ha’aretz)

Jordanians protest against Kerry’s peace plan. (Xinhua/The Jordan Times)

Norway drops two Israeli firms from its “Government Pension Fund Global.” (Ha’aretz)

Oxfam accepts Scarlett Johansson’s decision to step down following her association with an Israeli settlement company. (AP/Oxfam)

Israeli occupation forces issue demolition orders for two Palestinian homes in the West Bank. (Ma’an)

Iran says it intends to invite Pres. Abbas to visit Tehran. (Xinhua)

Israeli Economy Minister Bennett claims victory over PM Netanyahu after apologizing to him. (Ha’aretz)

Israeli MK Yogev accuses Kerry of being “anti-Israel.” (The Jerusalem Post)

Hamas will form an independent committee to dispute Egyptian accusations it is meddling in their internal affairs. (Xinhua/Ma’an)

Palestinians in Gaza are facing a growing water shortage.(The Media Line/The Guardian)

A study indicates that Arab families in Israel are larger on average than Jewish families. (Ha’aretz)

Palestinians in Gaza are producing a film about captured Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit. (AP/The Jerusalem Post)

The Syrian regime and opposition delegations both observe a minute of silence in Geneva. (Reuters/The New York Times)

Human Rights Watch provides evidence of the use of explosives and bulldozers by the Assad regime in razing residential buildings. (AP/The National)

A US intelligence report finds that Pres. Obama’s chemical weapons agreement with Syria “adds legitimacy” to the Assad regime. (The Hill/DNI)

US intelligence chiefs say Syria has become a “huge magnet” for international terrorists. (Foreign Policy)

Gen. Sissi is riding on a popular wave that could carry him to the Egyptian presidency. (AP)

Egypt rejects US criticism over the prosecution of Al-Jazeera journalists. (AP)

King Abdullah II of Jordan will meet with Obama to discuss peace talks and Syria. (AP)

Militants storm a government office in Baghdad, killing two people. (AP)

Commentary:

Dmitriy Shapiro asks what if peace talks fail. (Washington Jewish Week)

David Ignatius says Kerry's diplomacy centers on the "art of the interim deal" regarding both the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and Iran. (The Washington Post)

Avi Shlaim says Netanyahu seeks to obstruct Kerry’s plan and prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. (The New York Times)

Zeev Sternhell says boycotting Israel is not anti-Semitic. (Ha’aretz)

Gershon Baskin says Israel and the Palestinians should allow settlers to live as Palestinian citizens in a future Palestinian state. (The Jerusalem Post)

The National says that Netanyahu's proposal for settlers to stay in Palestine plan may have some upside. (The National)

Roger Cohen reflects on a myriad of recent developments in the Middle East. (The New York Times)

The Jordan Times says US assurances are comforting, but uncertainty will continue until details of any peace plan are revealed. (The Jordan Times)

Diana Moukalled says the Assad regime is being damaged by the Geneva talks due to public scrutiny. (Asharq Alawsat)

Rami Khouri says Sissi if he becomes president must reduce tensions in Egypt including the Muslim Brotherhood. (The Daily Star)

Intissar Fakir says attempts to ban Takfir in Tunisia and Morocco could entrench the secularist-Islamist polarization. (The National)

Samir Salha says PM Erdogan's visit to Tehran will not succeed in averting the inevitable clash between Turkey and Iran. (Asharq Alawsat)

News:

PM Netanyahu says Israel is not obliged to agree to all of the terms of Sec. Kerry’s framework. (PNN/Ynet)

Israeli newspapers speculate on the soon-to-be-unveiled “Kerry plan.” (Ha’aretz/The Jerusalem Post)

A Palestinian official says Israelis are welcome to apply for immigration to the future Palestinian state. (The Media Line)

Fatah says Hamas has not yet replied to its reconciliation proposal. (Ma’an)

Israeli occupation forces kill a Palestinian man in the West Bank. (AP/Reuters)

Israeli occupation forces detain eight Palestinians in overnight raids across the West Bank. (Ma’an)

Israeli Economy Minister Bennett might lose his job over personal attacks against Netanyahu. (Xinhua/Ha’aretz)

Netanyahu postpones a ministerial meeting on the growing threat of boycotts and sanctions against Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Netanyahu expresses concern over alleged continuing anti-Israel incitement in the Palestinian press. (Ha’aretz)

FM Zarif accuses Israel of using the nuclear issue to distract from its “crimes” against the Palestinians. (Times of Israel/Ynet)

Negotiators resume Syrian peace talks amid declining expectations. (AP/The New York Times)

Pres. Obama promises more support for the Syrian opposition. (AP)

The Al-Qaeda inspired ISIS group in Syria is selling oil to the Assad regime. (The New York Times)

15 are killed in Iraq as clashes continue in Anbar province. (Xinhua)

Obama threatens to veto new economic sanctions against Iran in his State of the Union address. (AP/JTA)

PM Erdogan visits Iran in an effort to mend ties. (Reuters/AP)

Tunisia’s parliament approves a caretaker government. (The National)

Libya’s interior minister Karim escapes an assassination attempt in Tripoli. (AFP)

Egypt refers 20 journalists from the Al Jazeera network to trial. (AP)

Commentary:

ATFP Pres. Ziad Asali says Israel’s future requires a peace agreement and a state of Palestine. (Huffington Post)

Thomas Friedman says Kerry would have to declare the end of the negotiated two-state solution if his plan fails. (The New York Times)

Herb Keinon says agreeing to the framework deal with the Palestinians will not bring down Netanyahu’s coalition. (The Jerusalem Post)

Debra DeLee says her love for Israel inspires her opposition to generalize boycotts against the country but staunch opposition to settlements and their products. (Forward)

Kara Bue says Kerry’s focus on Mideast peace is coming at the expense of other US strategic interests. (The Christian Science Monitor)

Peter Beinart says the Obama administration should stay away from this year’s AIPAC Conference. (Ha’aretz)

Yaron Friedman says cutting Arabic studies in Israel will harm both Israeli intelligence services and the chances of dialogue with Arabs. (Ynet)

Rime Allaf says drawn out talks in Geneva will only benefit the Assad regime. (Gulf News)

The Jordan Times says the Geneva II talks are destined for failure and the fighting in Syria will continue without direct intervention. (Jordan Times)

Hassan Hassan condemns controversial fatwas by noted cleric Qaradawi that encourage violence. (The National)

Alasdair Soussi says car bombs continue to be influential instruments of terror in the Middle East. (The National)

Horacio Falcao says American-Iranian negotiations will be a long process but has begun well. (Gulf News)

Michael Young says by implementing Iran’s strategy in Lebanon, Hezbollah is provoking a civil war. (The National)

Diana Moukalled says the Hariri Special Tribunal is improving the judicial standards in the region. (Asharq Alawsat)

The National says political developments in Tunisia and elsewhere show strong ongoing support  for secular ideals in the Arab world. (The National)

Max Strasser asks whether Gen. Sissi is “turning back the clock to the Nasser era in Egypt.” (Foreign Policy)

News:

Pres. Abbas says the Israeli military can stay for no more than three years in any part of Palestine if a peace agreement is signed. (The Jerusalem Post/The New York Times)

Palestinian negotiators are in Washington to seek further clarifications on the potential framework agreement. (Ha’aretz)

DM Ya'alon questions the PA’s ability to maintain security in the West Bank. (Ha'aretz/The Jerusalem Post/Reuters)

Hamas will allow 120 Fatah members to return to Gaza as a “goodwill gesture.” (Ma’an)

An additional seven Palestinian refugees die of hunger and lack of medical care at the Yarmouk camp in Syria. (Ma’an)

Israeli forces detain 22 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)

A Palestinian man leaves an Israeli prison with two university degrees. (AP)

A proposed extension of Israel’s separation barrier could split two Palestinian villages near Bethlehem. (AFP)

An Israeli contractor plans a “Jewish-only” residential project in Jaffa. (Ha'aretz)

Israel keeps Arab teachers out of Jewish religious schools. (Ha'aretz)

The PA is looking to offshore gas to increase its revenues. (Bloomberg)

Oxfam faces pressure to drop Scarlett Johansson as an ambassador over her SodaStream commercial. (Ha’aretz)

The Syria peace talks focus on transfer of power and humanitarian aid. (AP/Reuters)

The US accuses the Syrian regime of harming talks by denying aid. (Reuters)

A US ship will help destroy chemical weapons removed from Syria. (AP/The New York Times)

Lebanese FM Mansour expresses his support for a political solution to the Syrian conflict. (Xinhua)

Former Pres. Morsi appears in court and says he remains Egypt’s president. (AP/The Wall Street Journal)

Tunisia asks the international community for financial support. (Reuters)

Iraq will receive six leased American Apache helicopters in the summer, awaiting the sale of another 24. (Xinhua/Foreign Policy)

Iran says it will preserve and maintain its “peaceful” nuclear program. (Xinhua)

Commentary:

Miriam Awadallah says Israel can and should stop “price tag” attacks. (Huffingtonpost)

Barak Ravid says the Palestinians should accept Sec. Kerry’s framework to test PM Netanyahu’s seriousness. (Ha’aretz)

Sara Hirschhorn says settlers should be allowed to remain in the future Palestinian state. (Ha’aretz)

The Jerusalem Post says if the Palestinians are truly interested in peace then they should tolerate a Jewish minority in their state. (The Jerusalem Post)

Akiva Eldar says Netanyahu’s insistence on controlling the Jordan Valley is politically driven and linked to the settlers’ agenda. (Al Monitor)

Ron Ben-Yishai predicts more violence in the West Bank due to the PA’s “failing governance.” (Ynet)

Sharif Nashashibi asks whether Netanyahu is preparing for another war against Gaza. (Al Arabiya)

David Zonshine says thousands of hi-tech professionals could lose their jobs as result of  international outrage over Israel’s settlement activities. (Ha’aretz)

Faisal Al Yafai says the international community must not allow Geneva II to drag on endlessly. (The National)
 
The National says the Assad regime is positioning itself to claim the moral high ground when the talks fail. (The National)

Michael Glackin say the latest evidence of systematic torture should increase the likelihood of Pres. Assad facing a war crimes tribunal. (The Daily Star)

Camelia Entekhabi-Fard says Iran was more interested in Davos than Geneva II. (Al Arabiya)

The Gulf News says Ennahda may win popularity from their “constructive role” in the approval of the Tunisian constitution. (The Gulf News)

Mohammed Al Ardhi calls on the Gulf governments to invest in human development. (The National)

News:

Pres. Abbas says the Israeli military can stay for no more than three years in any part of Palestine if a peace agreement is signed. (The Jerusalem Post/The New York Times)

Palestinian negotiators are in Washington to seek further clarifications on the potential framework agreement. (Ha’aretz)

DM Ya'alon questions the PA’s ability to maintain security in the West Bank. (Ha'aretz/The Jerusalem Post/Reuters)

Hamas will allow 120 Fatah members to return to Gaza as a “goodwill gesture.” (Ma’an)

An additional seven Palestinian refugees die of hunger and lack of medical care at the Yarmouk camp in Syria. (Ma’an)

Israeli forces detain 22 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)

A Palestinian man leaves an Israeli prison with two university degrees. (AP)

A proposed extension of Israel’s separation barrier could split two Palestinian villages near Bethlehem. (AFP)

An Israeli contractor plans a “Jewish-only” residential project in Jaffa. (Ha'aretz)

Israel keeps Arab teachers out of Jewish religious schools. (Ha'aretz)

The PA is looking to offshore gas to increase its revenues. (Bloomberg)

Oxfam faces pressure to drop Scarlett Johansson as an ambassador over her SodaStream commercial. (Ha’aretz)

The Syria peace talks focus on transfer of power and humanitarian aid. (AP/Reuters)

The US accuses the Syrian regime of harming talks by denying aid. (Reuters)

A US ship will help destroy chemical weapons removed from Syria. (AP/The New York Times)

Lebanese FM Mansour expresses his support for a political solution to the Syrian conflict. (Xinhua)

Former Pres. Morsi appears in court and says he remains Egypt’s president. (AP/The Wall Street Journal)

Tunisia asks the international community for financial support. (Reuters)

Iraq will receive six leased American Apache helicopters in the summer, awaiting the sale of another 24. (Xinhua/Foreign Policy)

Iran says it will preserve and maintain its “peaceful” nuclear program. (Xinhua)

Commentary:

Miriam Awadallah says Israel can and should stop “price tag” attacks. (Huffingtonpost)

Barak Ravid says the Palestinians should accept Sec. Kerry’s framework to test PM Netanyahu’s seriousness. (Ha’aretz)

Sara Hirschhorn says settlers should be allowed to remain in the future Palestinian state. (Ha’aretz)

The Jerusalem Post says if the Palestinians are truly interested in peace then they should tolerate a Jewish minority in their state. (The Jerusalem Post)

Akiva Eldar says Netanyahu’s insistence on controlling the Jordan Valley is politically driven and linked to the settlers’ agenda. (Al Monitor)

Ron Ben-Yishai predicts more violence in the West Bank due to the PA’s “failing governance.” (Ynet)

Sharif Nashashibi asks whether Netanyahu is preparing for another war against Gaza. (Al Arabiya)

David Zonshine says thousands of hi-tech professionals could lose their jobs as result of  international outrage over Israel’s settlement activities. (Ha’aretz)

Faisal Al Yafai says the international community must not allow Geneva II to drag on endlessly. (The National)
 
The National says the Assad regime is positioning itself to claim the moral high ground when the talks fail. (The National)

Michael Glackin say the latest evidence of systematic torture should increase the likelihood of Pres. Assad facing a war crimes tribunal. (The Daily Star)

Camelia Entekhabi-Fard says Iran was more interested in Davos than Geneva II. (Al Arabiya)

The Gulf News says Ennahda may win popularity from their “constructive role” in the approval of the Tunisian constitution. (The Gulf News)

Mohammed Al Ardhi calls on the Gulf governments to invest in human development. (The National)

News:

PM Netanyahu criticizes Palestinian stance on settlers. (AP/Xinhua)

A PLO official says Jews would have the right to apply for Palestinian citizenship, but not settlers. (Times of Israel)

Netanyahu rebukes Economy Minister Bennett over a dispute on the future of settlers in peace deal. (Ha’aretz)           

DM Ya’alon says Israel will not tolerate Palestinian incitement. (The Jerusalem Post)

Former military intelligence Yadlin says if peace talks fail Israel should consider coordinated unilateral action. (The Jerusalem Post)

Israel extends detention of two Palestinian men allegedly affiliated to Al-Qaida. (AP)

Extremist settlers attack Palestinian farmers in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)

Israeli forces injure a Palestinian man in Gaza and demolish a building in East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)

An Israeli official warns of a growing jihadi threat from Syria. (AP)

Israel refuses to confirm a reported Israeli attack of a Syrian military base in Latakia. (Xinhua/Ha’aretz)

The Syrian opposition says there has been no progress on the aid convoys reaching a besieged city in Homs. (AP/The Daily Star/Reuters)

The US resumes nonlethal aid to the Syrian opposition. (AP)

The Syrian army re-opens a strategic freeway connecting Damascus to Daraa after intense clashes. (Xinhua)

Syria's Assyrian Christians find refuge in a Turkish city. (The Media Line)

The Egyptian Military Council discusses a “public request” for Gen. Sissi to run for president. (Reuters)

Pres. Mansour promotes Gen. Sissi to the top military rank of Marshal. (AP/AFP)

Militants down Egyptian military helicopter in Sinai, killing five soldiers. (The New York Times)

Egypt releases a Libyan militia leader after five Egyptian diplomats were freed in Libya. (Reuters)

Egypt’s presidential elections will be held in April. (Los Angeles Times)

Tunisia passes the most progressive constitution in the Arab world. (AP)

Iraqi forces intensify attacks in Fallujah. (The Washington Post)

125 people have been killed in the month-long battles in Anbar. (Xinhua)
 

Commentary:

Amer Al Sabaileh says recognizing Israel as a “Jewish state” could be fatal to the whole region. (The Jordan Times)

Bakir Oweida writes about the ramifications of recognizing Israel as a “Jewish state.” (Asharq Alawsat)

Adel Safty says the US is contradicting itself by asking the Palestinians to say Israel is for the “Jewish people.” (The Gulf News)

Reuven Pedatzur says Jordan thinks that the future Palestinian state cannot sustain itself without a “confederation” system with Amman. (Ha’aretz)

Oudeh Basharat says the Arab high-tech in Israel are the heroes of tomorrow. (Ha’aretz)

The Jordanian Times says the voting down of a bill at the Knesset intended to bolster the two-state solution shows that Israel is not serious about peace. (The Jordanian Times)

Vijay Prashad says Israel should heed the growing BDS movement and make peace with the Palestinians. (The Washington Post)

Emily Ziedman calls on the Dutch government to reject the political warfare of the BDS movement against Israel.(Ynet)

Hussein Ibish analyses the newly passed Tunisian constitution, saying while “significantly flawed,” the new draft provides some hope. (The National)

David Ignatius says the Tunisian model of national consensus and political compromise is worthy of emulation in the Arab world. (The Daily Star)

Samir Atallah says the Syrian peace talks are fake. (Asharq Alawsat)

Christopher Hill says wars in Syria and Iraq are interlinked. (The Gulf News)

Mohamed al-Shewy criticizes the Egyptian transitional justice as being “vengeful” and “highly politicized.” (The Daily Star)

The Gulf News says the terrorist attacks in Egypt aim at forcing the regime to negotiate with the Muslim Brotherhood. (The Gulf News)

The National praises a new pilot program that eases US entry to travelers of the Etihad Airways from Abu Dhabi. (The National)
 

News:

Sec. Kerry meets with PM Netanyahu in Davos to discuss peace talks. (AP/Ha’aretz)

Palestinian security officials dismiss Israel’s claim of dismantling an Al-Qaida plot. (AP)

Pres. Peres says Israel does not want to wage a war with Iran. (Xinhua)

Israeli police prevent Palestinians from protesting in East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)

Israeli occupation forces arrest a Palestinian police officer. (Ma’an)

Extremist settlers assault two Palestinians in a village near Hebron. (PNN)

Syria issues an ultimatum to a UN mediator, vowing to leave if “serious talks” do not begin. (AP/The New York Times/The Washington Post)

Kerry calls Pres. Assad a “one-man super magnet for terrorism.” (AP)

The Syrian government rejects torture allegations, calling the report “politicized.” (Reuters)

Prince al-Faisal calls on the US to lead a military campaign to end the fighting in Syria. (The Daily Star)

Five people were killed in a series of bombings that targeted security headquarter in Cairo. (AP/Reuters)

Pres. Mansour says his government helped bring about “an end to the police state.” (Los Angeles Times)

PM Harper meets King Abdullah II to discuss the situation in the Middle East. (Xinhua)

Jordanian MPs seek to discuss Middle East peace talks and Kerry’s visit. (The Jordan Times)

UNHCR says more than 65,000 people have fled Fallujah and Ramadi. (Reuters/The National)

The IAEA seeks extra funds to monitor Iran’s compliance with the nuclear deal (AP)

The US is reportedly lobbying top Israeli Generals to sell its ideas for securing the Jordan River Valley. (The Daily Beast)

Commentary:

Ha’aretz says the real economic danger to Israel stems from its refusal to make peace with the Palestinians and its insistence on building settlements. (Ha’aretz) 

Uri Savir says the latest rhetoric by Netanyahu and Abbas is detrimental to the peace process. (The Jerusalem Post)

J.J. Goldberg says Israel is safe without militarily controlling the Jordan River Valley. (The Jewish Daily Forward)

Ephraim Sneh gives three reasons as to why Israel should completely abandon its demand to control the Jordan River Valley. (Ynet)

Gideon Levy says Israel should try to help the besieged residents in Yarmouk. (Ha’aretz)

Alan Elsner criticises an act by the State Senate of Georgia that challenges the two state solution. (The Times of Israel)

Rami Khouri says there will be no end to the fighting in Syria without a change in the power balance on the ground. (The Jordan Times)

The Christian Science Monitor says the Syrian sides must develop enough trust in each other so that they can seek an agreement. (The Christian Science Monitor)

Murtaza Hussain says ending Assad’s atrocities must be a precondition to any broader settlement that might come up in Geneva II. (The Gulf News)

Michele Dunne and Thomas Carothers say the Obama administration must stop calling the transition in Egypt "democratic."

Ahmed Maher says the new Egyptian constitution does not contain solutions to the nation’s political and economic problems. (The Gulf News)

The National commends the political progress that has been achieved in Yemen since the beginning of the “Arab spring.” (The National)

The National says the UAE has become a “model power” for being a “modern, open, successful, Muslim nation.” (The National)

Maryam Saleh says the UN decision to stop counting Syrian death is reprehensible. (The National)

Tony Blair calls on all governments to use education to combat extremism in all faiths, and warns of emerging religious conflicts. (The Daily Star)

Charles Rizk says Lebanon’s inability to host the Hariri Special Tribunal shows that it’s a “failed state.” (The Daily Star)

Jamila Trindle says Pres. Rouhani's appearance in Davos is a public relations win for him. (Foreign Policy)

News:

Buzzfeed sees growing divisions in Arab-American opinion on Palestine as exemplified in the relationship between Hussein Ibish and Ali Abunimah. (Buzzfeed)

EU envoy to Israel Faaborg-Andersen rejects PM Netanyahu’s charge of anti-Israel bias. (The Jerusalem Post)

The EU warns Israel and the Palestinians about the high price they will pay if peace talks fail. (Reuters)

Germany wants to extend restrictions on settlement funding to bilateral and private sector agreements with Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Pres. Abbas says he is ready to meet with Netanyahu if he is ready to achieve peace. (PNN)

Netanyahu will focus on economics at the Davos conference. (Ynet)

Israel moves forward with plans for 261 new settlement homes. (AFP)

The PA condemns an Israeli raid on the Al-Quds university campus. (Ma’an)

Israel will reduce the number of years of mandatory Arabic study in schools. (Times of Israel)

The UN is searching for common ground between Pres. Assad and the Syrian opposition. (AP/Reuters/New York Times)

Pres. Rouhani says the best solution to the Syrian crisis is to organize free and fair elections. (AP/The New York Times)

The State Department was reportedly aware of the torture photos in Syria since November. (The New York Times)

Pres. Obama and Iraq’s parliamentary speaker discuss integrating Sunni tribal militias into Iraqi government forces. (AP)

Iraq executes 11 more terror convicts. (Xinhua)

Egypt is not invited to the US-Africa summit. (AP)

PM el-Beblawi backs Gen. Sissi for Egypt’s president. (Reuters)

Egypt’s pro-Morsi alliance calls for 18 days of protests. (Xinhua)

Five policemen are killed by gunmen in Egypt. (AP)

Iran shows the international media its natural gas facilities. (AP)

Commentary:

Ha’aretz condemns comments by some MKs that Arab MKs should go to Syria as “shameful and intolerable.” (Ha’aretz)

Khaled Diab says Egypt’s policies towards Hamas are unprecedented and aligned with Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Akiva Eldar says Israeli “propaganda” about alleged Palestinian “incitement” is a red-herring. (Al-Monitor)

Israel Harel says academic boycotts of Israel are ineffective, and the other boycott campaigns are faltering too. (Ha’aretz)

Barak Ravid says PM Harper proved himself a friend of Netanyahu, but not of Israel. (Ha’aretz)

The Forward says Israel should not focus on banning Nazi symbolism but on supporting Holocaust survivors. (The Forward)

Aaron Miller praises Obama’s Middle East policies but asks him to articulate them better. (Foreign Policy)

Nasouh Majali says the Geneva II talks should focus on the sectarian conflicts in the region rather than the fighting in Syria. (The Jordan Times)

Joyce Karam says the Geneva II talks miss the hard lessons learned from the Lebanese civil war. (Al Arabiya)

Joseph Kechichian says Saudi Arabia is neither promoting sectarianism in the region nor is it engaging in a proxy war with Iran in Syria. (The Gulf News)

Eyad Abu Shakra says Hezbollah seeks hegemony, not resistance. (Asharq Al-awsat)

Michael Young says the UN was not serious in investigating late PM Hariri’s assassination and that the Tribunal will fail to put an end to the climate of impunity. (The National)

Amal Mousa says the new Tunisian constitution must criminalize “takfirism.” (Asharq Al-awsat)

Assia Alaoui says Morocco is poised to play a major role in promoting peace in the region. (The Gulf News)

Gideon Rachman says many countries in the Middle East are worried by the apparent American disengagement. (The Gulf News)

Michael Jansen says the upcoming parliamentary elections in Egypt might see the return of many pro-Mubarak and Muslim Brotherhood candidates. (The Jordan Times)

Kori Schake says the US should develop a full-blown pro-Jordanian strategy and make it the major beneficiary of any Palestinian-Israeli peace deal. (Foreign Policy)

Joseph Nye says wars are never inevitable. (The Daily star)

News:

Pres. Abbas calls Russia a major player in the peace process. (Xinhua)

Pres. Peres says PM Netanyahu’s insistence on the recognition of Israel as a “Jewish state” is “unnecessary.” (Ha’aretz/AFP)

Palestinians denounce Israeli plans to build new settlements near Jerusalem. (Xinhua)

Israel says it arrested three Palestinian Al-Qaeda recruits accused of plotting to attack the US embassy in Tel Aviv. (Ha’aretz)

An Israeli airstrike kills two Gaza militants. (AP/Xinhua) 

Extremist settlers uproot over 600 olive trees in a village north of Ramallah. (Ma’an)

Israeli occupation forces injure two Palestinians after clashes with settlers. (Ma’an)

UNESCO says it's delaying for another six months an exhibit on the Jewish connections to the Holy Land. (AP)

The Syrian peace talks begin with major disputes over the future of Pres. Assad. (AP/New York Times)

Sec. Kerry says Assad will not be part of any transitional government in Syria. (The State Department)

Pres. Rouhani says hopes are slim for the Syria peace talks. (AP)

Violent clashes erupt in different parts of Syria as peace talks begin. (AP)

The Aleppo airport reopens after one year of closure. (AFP)

Jordan arrests five arm smugglers coming from Syria. (AP/The Jordan Times)

The UN is concerned about escalating terrorist attacks in Lebanon. (Xinhua)

The Iraqi government will create three new provinces in an attempt to address Sunni grievances. (AP)

An Egyptian court sentences three activists to two years each for vandalizing a state memorial. (AP)

Members of Bahrain’s political opposition are holding talks with the government. (AP)

The Turkish government dismisses another 470 police officers. (Xinhua)

Commentary:

Peter Beinart says the only person who can legitimately claim to speak for Jewish Americans on the subject of Iran is Pres. Obama. (Ha’aretz)

Naomi Sheffer and Gabi Sheffer say that the IDF has instituted a military dictatorship in the occupied West Bank. (Ha’aretz)

Matthew Hays says many Canadians feel uncomfortable about PM Harper’s visit to Israel.  (Ha’aretz)

Anne-Marie Slaughter says Obama must put the threat of force against Assad on the table in Geneva II. (The Daily Star)

The New York Times says the Geneva II talks must at least achieve a cease-fire and allow for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the civilians. (The New York Times)

Frederic Hof says Geneva II talks will be meaningless without a cease-fire. (The Gulf News)

Tom Friedman says Syria is a "potential human/ecological disaster zone," and that Iran and Saudi Arabia should help build the country, not destroy it. (The New York Times)

The LA Times says the Geneva II conference could help to stop the killing, speed humanitarian assistance, and lay the groundwork for a political transition. (Los Angeles Times)

The National says Russia and Iran must stop supporting the “crazy person” of Syria. (The National)

The Jordan Times says the Geneva II talks are doomed to failure without Iranian participation. (The Jordan Times)

Joshua Cohen says the presence of western intelligence agencies cooperating with the Assad regime demonstrates how messy the Syrian conflict has become.  (The Times of Israel)

Marwan Muasher says the struggle for pluralism in the Arab world is worth waging and winning. (Foreign Policy)

Jed Ober says if the Egyptian interim government wants democracy then its time to give its people the rights that make democracy reality.  (Foreign Policy)

News:

The PA says it will not negotiate with Israel past the 9 month deadline. (Ma’an)

Canadian PM Harper announces a $66 million aid program for the PA. (The Jerusalem Post)

Harper declines to publicly criticize Israel on settlements. (The Jerusalem Post)

PM Netanyahu warns Hamas of a harsh Israeli response to any attack. (Ha’aretz)

Israeli human rights report affirms that Israel’s restrictions on Palestinian movement are splitting families. (AFP)

Israel’s Labor Party leader Herzog questions if Netanyahu has the “guts” to make peace with the Palestinians. (AP)

Hamas is taking security measures to preserve the ceasefire with Israel. (Xinhua/Ynet)

Israeli “price tag” vandals slash the tires of 20 vehicles and spray graffiti in the occupied West Bank. (The Jerusalem Post)

Hamas uses cigarette taxes to pay its employees’ salaries. (Al Monitor)

The Syrian opposition will attend the peace talks in Switzerland. (AP).

Iran criticizes UNSG Ban for rescinding its invitation to the Syria talks.  (AP/New York Times)

Russian FM Lavrov also criticizes the withdrawal of Iran’s invitation. (Independent)

A new report shows the systematic torture and killing of about 11,000 detainees by the Assad regime. (Reuters)

Turkey closes its border crossing with Syria due to security reasons. (Xinhua)

Western intelligence suggests that  Pres. Assad has funded and co-operated with al-Qaeda. (The Telegraph)

A car bomb hits a Shi'ite suburb in southern Beirut, killing four people. (AP/New York Times)

The Al-Nusra Front in Lebanon claims responsibility for the Beirut attack. (AFP)

Iraq executes 26 prisoners for terrorism-related charges. (AP/Reuters)

An Egyptian court sets Feb. 16 as the start date for one of the trials of former Pres. Morsi. (AP)

The UAE convicts 30 men accused of setting up an illegal Muslim Brotherhood branch. (AP)

Commentary:

Ha’aretz calls on the Israeli government to stop the covert and illegal funding of settlement outposts. (Ha’aretz)

Gadi Shamni thinks that the American approach to peace talks has failed, and it’s time to look for an alternative. (Ha’aretz)

David Newman says DM Ya’alon’s comment that Sec. Kerry is  “messianic” is ironic since he is an ultimate “messianist” who believes in a “Greater Israel.” (The Jerusalem Post)

J.J. Goldberg says its not just American pressure that’s pushing Netanyahu toward painful compromises, but the will of the Israeli public. (The Jewish Daily Forward)

Amitai Etzioni says resolving Israel’s security issues surrounding the Jordan border should be a priority. (The Jewish Daily Forward)

Faisal Al Yafai says Assad’s offer of a truce in Aleppo opens the door again for international military intervention. (The National)

James Harkin says the West’s approach to Syria is wrong because it relies on an “anti-extremism strategy.” (The Gulf News)

Colum Lynch and John Hudson say hopes for a diplomatic resolution in Syria appear more distant than ever. (Foreign Policy)

Volker Perthes says Russia and Iran should force Assad to accept a cease-fire agreement at the Geneva II talks. (The Daily Star)

Mohammad Jamal says sectarian strife must be checked in the region. (The Gulf News)