February 18th

News:
Sec. Kerry will meet with Pres. Abbas in Paris to discuss the current peace talks. (AP/Reuters)
A Palestinian official says no date has been set for Kerry’s framework. (Xinhua)
The US reportedly has recently offered to compile a list of Palestinian refugeesinterested in settling in Israel. (The Times of Israel)
Sen. Kaine urges PM Netanyahu to cooperate with Kerry. (JTA)
Finance Minister Lapid warns that failure of peace talks would leave Israel facing ademographic threat. (Ynet/The Jerusalem Post)
Economy Minister Bennett claims that a Palestinian state would lead to more terrorism. (Ynet)
PM Hamdallah says Kerry’s economic initiative will decrease the Palestinian unemployment rate. (Ma’an)
An Israeli settler advocacy group targets Kerry in a new satirical website. (Ha’aretz)
Netanyahu calls boycotters of Israel “anti-semites.” (AP)
Hamas reportedly sends a message to Netanyahu asking him to avoid military action.(Ma’an/Ha’aretz)
Israeli occupation forces might end the night arrests of Palestinians.(The Jerusalem Post)
Israeli occupation forces detain nine Palestinians in overnight raids across the West Bank. (Ma’an)
Palestinians seek UN Heritage status for an ancient village in the occupied West Bank. (AFP)
young Gaza comedy troupe seeks laughs without offending Hamas. (The Washington Post)
The bombings in Aleppo force a new wave of Syrian civilians to flee. (The New York Times)
A four year old Syrian boy crosses the Jordanian desert to reunite with his family. (Al Arabiya)
Syrian government forces regain full control of a village in Hama. (AP/Reuters)
The US opposes the supply of the shoulder-fired missiles to the Syrian rebels. (Reuters)
Saudi Arabia blames the Syrian regime for the failure of the Geneva II talks. (The National)
Ansar Beit al-Maqdis claims responsibility for Egypt’s tourist bus blast and warns tourists to leave the country. (Xinhua/Reuters)
Egypt refers two Israelis and two Egyptians to trial for allegedly forming an espionage ring for Israel. (Reuters/The Times of Israel)
Kerry is in Tunisia to laud recent political compromises and the new Constitution.(AP/The New York Times)
Saudi Arabia aims to counter Islamist radicalization on the internet. (The National)
Car bombings kill at least 33 people in Iraq. (AP)
Commentary:
The Jordan Times commends Abbas’s comments aimed at allaying Israel’s concern over Palestinian refugees. (The Jordan Times)
Khaled Diab hopes that one day Arab states and Israel will allow the possibility of return for Arab and Jewish refugees. (Ha’aretz)
Alex Mintz praises Kerry’s maneuverability in the peace talks.(Ynet)
Hagai Segal says Israel is failing to create a broad national consensus over the definition of a Jewish state. (Ynet)
Moshe Amirav says if Israel does not divide Jerusalem with the Palestinians, it will lose it. (Ynet)
Stephen Davis asks if sanctions on Israel would work. (Times of Israel)
Lihi Ben Shitrit and Mahmoud Jaraba say the current political and economic conditions in the occupied West Bank are conducive to the emergence of jihadists. (The Daily Star)
J.J. Goldberg says the Israeli right is becoming antagonistic towards the security establishment. (The Jewish Daily Forward)
Hussein Ibish explains what, exactly, vital American interests are at stake in Syria. (Now Media)
Richard Cohen says Pres. Obama’s policies in Syria do not seem to be working. (The Washington Post)
Michael Gerson criticizes the world’s indifference over the despair of the Syrian refugees. (The Washington Post)
Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed says Muqtada Sadr’s withdrawal from Iraqi politics will help PM Al-Maliki win the upcoming elections. (Asharq Alawsat)
Rami Khouri says the jihadist threat is a “frightening symptom of erratic modern Arab statehood.” (The Daily Star)
Ali Ibrahim interviews former Gen. Anan on his campaign for Egypt’s presidency. (Asharq al-Awsat)
Linda Heard says the new marriage of convenience between Egypt and Russia is justifiable. (The Gulf News)
Abdulkhaleq Abdulla says a sectarian Iran is more dangerous than a nuclear-armed Iran. (The Gulf News)
Faisal Al Yafai says America’s relationship with the Middle East is quickly unravelling. (The National)
John Bolton says Obama’s failures on Iran, Syria and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will have devastating effects. (The Los Angeles Times)
The Daily Star says Lebanon’s new government has only several months to produce results. (The Daily Star)
Asma Ghribi says Tunisia’s nascent democracy is facing a dilemma on how to fight terrorism without encroaching upon human rights. (Foreign Policy)
Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg asks whether Saudi-US relations will endure the Syrian debacle. (Arab News)
Sarah bin Ashoor blames Iran for hindering Bahrain’s reform efforts. (The New York Times)

February 17th

News:
Pres. Abbas signals flexibility on the right of return. (AP/The New York Times/Ma’an)
Abbas says the PA will not share sovereignty over the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. (Ha’aretz)
Israeli Economy Minister Bennett suggests that Israel may try to assume greater control over the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. (Ha’aretz)
Palestinian negotiator Erekat warns that the failure of the peace talks will lead to thecollapse of the PA. (Xinhua/Ynet)
American Amb. to Israel Shapiro says the framework agreement will have “real significant content.” (Ynet)
Fatah officials claim Hamas will endorse a two-state deal. (The Times of Israel)
Hamas says it will oppose any international force in a future Palestinian state. (AP)
An Israeli opposition leader expresses support for boycotting settlement products. (Ha’aretz)
Bennett says boycotting Israel is “the new anti-semitism.” (The Jerusalem Post)
Israeli occupation forces demolish five Bedouin structures in East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)
Israeli forces confiscate Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)
Bodyguards in Gaza open the first private security firm in the area. (The National/AFP)
Rebels evacuate the Yarmouk camp in Syria. (Xinhua)

Pres. Obama is soliciting new policy options for Syria. (The Washington Post/The Los Angeles Times)
Sec. Kerry accuses Russia and Iran of undermining the Geneva II peace talks. (The Washington Post)
The Syrian opposition appoints a new military chief. (AP/Reuters)
Hezbollah leader Nasrallah says his forces will leave Syria if other Arabs stop “meddling.” (Reuters)
bombing of a tourist bus kills at least three people in Sinai. (The New York Times)
Former Egyptian military chief of staff Anan will run for president. (Xinhua)
A growing number of young Egyptians say the government’s crackdown on the opposition is widening a generation gap. (The New York Times)
Saudi Arabia may begin to try to acquire nuclear weapons because of the P5+1 “first step” deal with Iran. (The Daily Beast)
Lebanese PM Salam forms a cabinet more than 10 months after taking office. (AP/The Daily Star)
A Libyan official says the country’s key factions have agreed to hold early elections. (AP)
Key Iraqi cleric al-Sadr decides to quit politics. (AP/The New York Times)
PM Maliki visits the embattled Anbar Province to announce a rebuilding plan. (Xinhua)
Commentary:
Oudeh Basharat says its time to define the State of Israel. (Ha’aretz)
Akiva Eldar asks if Europe can take the lead if peace talks fail. (Al-Monitor)
Uzi Baram says Jewish radicals are working hard to make Israel an apartheid state. (Ha’aretz)
Gideon Levy says Israeli right-wing’s claim of an “eradication” threat is a myth. (Ha’aretz)
Ha’aretz says it’s unacceptable to legislate against boycott calls. (Ha’aretz)
    
Moshe Arens says the ongoing tumult in the region is complicating ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. (Ha’aretz)
Seth Siegel says Arab and Muslim countries can benefit from Israel’s advanced water management. (The New York Times)
Amer Al Sabaileh calls on the Jordanians to rediscover their national identity to protect Jordan’s interests in any peace deal. (The Jordan Times)
Samuel Berger says the US must take action to deal with Al-Qaeda in Syria. (The Washington Post)
Hussein Ibish says the US will pay a price for inaction in Syria. (The National)
Joseph Nye says American prudence does not require an isolationist foreign policy. (The Daily Star)
Stephen Hawking says Syria’s war is an abomination. (The Washington Post)
The Jordan Times says the formation of a transitional government in Syria should be preceded by the cessation of all violence. (The Jordan Times)
The National says warming relations between Egypt and Russia are good for both sides. (The National)
Joyce Karam says Lebanon’s new cabinet can ease tension and build stability away from Syria’s turmoil. (Al Arabiya)
Amal Mousa says extremists Salafis were behind the collapse of Ennahda’s coalition government in Tunis. (Asharq Alawsat)
Amir Taheri worries that Obama might be handing the Middle East to Russia. (The New York Post)
Muhammad Khan says Saudi Arabia and Pakistan will boost their bilateral relations. (Asharq Alawsat)

February 14th

News:
 
Leaked reports suggest Sec. Kerry’s potential framework proposal could have modest goals. (The Globe and Mail)  

The PA reportedly informs Kerry that it will not accept his framework as it currently stands. (The Times of Israel)

Jewish American leaders send a letter to PM Netanyahu praising Kerry’s efforts. (The Jerusalem Post)

King Abdullah of Jordan urges Jewish American organizations to back Washington’s peace initiative. (The Jordan Times)

Israeli right-wing politicians take part in a demonstration against peace talks. (Xinhua/Ma’an/The Jerusalem Post)

Israeli forces kill a Palestinian man at the Gaza border. (Los Angeles Times/The New York Times)

Representatives of various Palestinian political parties meet in Gaza to discuss negotiations and national reconciliation. (Ma’an)

Hamas objects to UN human rights books in schools. (AP)

A Palestinian family in Hebron is suing the Israeli police for failure to act on evidence of tree vandalism. (Ha’aretz)

Israeli occupation forces raid a house in Bethlehem. (PNN)

Arab idol winner Assaf says he has been “banned” from singing at the World Cup ceremony. (Ma’an)

Washington hopes the Sochi Winter Olympics will force Pres. Putin’s hands on Syria. (Foreign Policy)

Russia rejects a proposal that could remove Pres. Assad from power. (The Wall Street Journal)

Syrian evacuees from Homs comment on their dire living conditions. (The Washington Post)

Barrel bombs wreak havoc in Aleppo's opposition-held neighborhoods . (The Los Angeles Times)

The UN halts the evacuation of civilians from the city of Homs. (AP)

11 people are killed in insurgent attacks in Iraq. (Xinhua) 

Bahrain arrests 29 people at the anniversary of the ongoing uprisings. (AP/Reuters)

Libyan PM Zeidan says the government is safe after an army statement. (Reuters/AFP)

Commentary:

Ha’aretz says the Knesset is doing everything in its power to thwart peace talks. (Ha’aretz)

Elliott Abrams says the US must demand that a future Palestinian state be democratic. (Council on Foreign Relations)

Thomas Friedman says Israelis ought to define what they mean by “the nation state of the Jewish people.” (The New York Times)

Bakir Oweida says the UN can and must do more for Palestinian refugees. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Yossi Sarid says, by rejecting the US-Palestinian anti-incitement proposal, Netanyahu’s government is perpetuating the conflict. (Ha’aretz)

Ben Caspit says Israeli FM Liberman has a secret plan to take over the Likud party. (Al-Monitor)

David Weinberg says the boycott threat against Israel has been inflated. (The Jerusalem Post) 

Noa Osterreicher says Economy Minister Bennett needs a “reality check.”  (Ha’aretz)

The Jerusalem Post says helping Palestinians solve their water issues is not only the right thing to do, but could provide considerable political gains. (The Jerusalem Post)

Ben Barber says compensating Jews from Arab countries may win their support for Kerry’s initiative. (McClatchy)

Barry Leff says the Jerusalem municipality’s planning approval for a Yeshiva council in an Arab neighborhood is more than bad timing.  (The Jerusalem Post)

David Ignatius says a regional accord that defuses the sectarian schism can end the war in Syria. (The Daily Star)

Eyad Abu Shakra blames the Syrian crisis on both American “retrenchment” and reported Iranian collusion with Al-Qaeda groups in Syria. (Asharq Alawsat)

Hassan Mneimneh says recent developments in Syria threaten to deal a serious blow to Al-Qaeda. (The German Marshall Fund)

Adel El-Adawy says the US is an indispensable partner for Egypt, and Russia cannot take its place. (The Washington Institute for Near East Policy)

Mieczyslaw Boduszynski and Kristin Fabbe say the US must speak up against the assaults on democracy in both Egypt and Turkey. (Christian Science Monitor)

José Ciro Martínez says Jordanians are showing signs of restlessness, and any instability in Jordan will reverberate in the whole region. (Los Angeles Times)

The Brookings Institute issues a new study called “The Arab World Learning Barometer”  which highlights shortcomings in educational access and learning among children and youth in the Arab world. (The Brookings Institute)
 

News:
Palestinian negotiator Erekat says PM Netanyahu needs to prepare the Israeli public for difficult concessions. (The Jerusalem Post) 
Sec. Kerry briefs King Abdullah of Jordan on the peace talks. (The Jordan Times) 
Israeli Economy Minister Bennett walks out of the Knesset when European Parliament Pres. Schultz discusses Palestinian freedom of movement. (Ha’aretz/The Jerusalem Post)
An Israeli bill on a peace deal referendum edges closer to becoming law.(Ha’aretz/The Jerusalem Post)
Israel advances with plans to build a Jewish seminary in East Jerusalem.(AP)
PM Erdogan says a rapprochement with Israel will be contingent upon removing the siege on Gaza. (The Jerusalem Post)
Israeli Aerospace Industries unveils its new Super Heron drone. (Times of Israel)
Israeli forces demolish tents set up by Palestinian residents in the Jordan River Valley. (Ma’an)
Israeli occupation forces detain five Palestinian teenagers in Jerusalem. (Ma’an)
The first female high tech entrepreneur in the occupied West Bank signals new job hopes for Palestinian women. (AP)
68 patients from Gaza are denied access into Israel for holding documents using the term “State of Palestine.”(Xinhua)
One Palestinian family is behind the West Bank’s best soccer team.(AP)
Two Texas universities debate boycotting  Israel. (AP)
The Syrian regime attacks the town of Yabroud to assert control over the Lebanese-Syrian border. (Reuters)
The Syrian regime warns the EU against using its frozen assets to finance the destruction of Syria’s chemical arsenal. (XInhua)
Gen. Sissi will meet with Pres. Putin to discuss an arms deal. (AP)
Egypt detains an Egyptian employee of the US embassy who worked as a liaison to the Muslim Brotherhood. (The New York Times)
Gunmen kill three policemen in Ismailiya. (Ahram)
Human Rights Watch says Egyptian authorities have abandoned the victims of trafficking in Sinai. (Los Angeles Times)
The Lebanese army arrests a Palestinian leader in the Qaeda-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades. (Naharnet)
Pres. Suleiman and PM Salam will meet to resolve the dispute on the new Lebanese government. (Naharnet)
Qatar scales back its regional ambitions amid financial constraints. (BBC)
Commentary:
Peter Beinart says it’s “Orwellian” to  cast Israel as a “democracy” inspite of the occupation. (Ha’aretz)
Jonathan Cook says the delegitimisation of Israel is already underway and Netanyahu is the one to blame. (The National)
Gil Troy says Israelis should engage in a substantive debate over Kerry’s initiative and avoid personal attacks. (The Jerusalem Post)
Moshe Dann questions whether land claims by Arabs in Palestine are legally valid. (The Jerusalem Post)
Eric Yoffie questions whether Rep. Rand Paul really supports Israel.(Ha’aretz)
Hassan Hassan profiles the Al-Qaeda linked Jabhat Al Nusra in Syria as it navigates local tribal sensitivities in Deir Ezzor. (The National)
Mohammed Al-Harthi argues that Saudi Arabia has made a strategic shift toward the East. (Arab News)
Manal al-Sharif says the abusive 75-year-old Saudi religious police force is starting to crack, thanks to social media. (The New York Times)
Qais Ghanem says the Tunisian success story is an example worthy of emulation by the rest in the Arab world. (The Gulf News)
 
Abdel Monem Said says Sisi should shed the image of the military man and become a politician. (Asharq Alawsat)
Ali Ibrahim says the Egyptian political process will be better served if more politicians run for president. (Asharq Alawsat)
Nathan Brown says a Sissi presidency will start with strong popular support but it will have difficulty meeting popular expectations. (Foreign Policy)

News:
Jordan again expresses concern that peace between Israel and the Palestinians will come at its expense. (The Washington Post)
Palestinian refugees hail Jordan’s position on the Palestinian issue. (The Jordan Times)
A senior Fatah leader says peace deal is within reach. (Al-Monitor)
PM Netanyahu accuses EU Parliament Pres. Schulz of “selective hearing.” (Ha’aretz)
Israeli MK Kalfa endorses a one-state agenda. (Ha’aretz)
The UN Middle East envoy is concerned over the deteriorating situation in the Gaza strip. (Xinhua/Ynet)
Hamas says it will violently confront any peace deal that might be reached. (Xinhua)
Netanyahu rejects the draft of a reconciliation agreement with Turkey. (Ynet)
Israel admits 35 Palestinian patients from Gaza after initially barring them. (Reuters/Ma’an/The New York Times)
Israeli occupation forces detain 12 Palestinians in overnight raids in the West Bank. (Ma’an)
Israeli occupation forces fire tear gas canisters into four schools in East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)
Dozens of Palestinians are held in PA jails on suspicion of fighting in Syria. (Times of Israel)
Two thirds of children killed in Israeli traffic accidents in 2013 were Arab citizens. (Ha’aretz)
A Jewish vintner in a West Bank settlement faces increasing pressure agaist selling his products in Israel. (AP) 
Believing the imminent arrival of the “Jewish Messiah,” many religious Jews are scrambling to secure residence in Jerusalem. (The Christian Science Monitor)
VP Biden and King Abdullah of Jordan meet to discuss the Syrian civil war. (AP)
Syrian government airstrikes kill 51 people in Aleppo. (AP)
The Syrian opposition presents a peace plan that omits a demand for Pres. Assad. (The New York Times)
Pres. Putin backs Gen. Sissi’s for the Egyptian presidency. (AP)
Bomb blasts kill five people in Iraq. (AP)
Hundreds of escaped Iraqi inmates fuel the Syrian and Iraqi insurgencies. (The New York Times)
Kuwait describes its relations with Iran as “excellent, historical and developing.” (The National)
Turkish police fire tear gas at Ankara protesters. (AFP)
 
Commentary:
The Jordan Times echoes Pres. Abbas spokesman’s pessimism on peace talks, and calls for a “serious and decisive” American intervention. (The Jordan Times)
Eylon Aslan-Levy accuses Israeli Economy Minister Bennett of having “bad manners.” (The Times of Israel) 
Gershon Baskin says Israel will be blamed for the failure of Kerry’s initiative if the Palestinains decide to reject it. (Jerusalem Post)
 Ari Shavit gives four reasons why Israel should be recognized as a “Jewish state.” (Ha’aretz) 
Gideon Levy says Kerry’s initiative is exploiting Palestinian weaknesses and its success will be a “disaster.” (Ha’aretz)
Alan Dershowitz says the BDS movement is threatening the peace process. (Ha’aretz)
Emily Hauser asks why the Israeli media are not covering Palestinian peaceful protests. (The Forward)
Gidon Bromberg says Israelis and Palestinians should keep water scarcity in the occupied West Bank out of politics. (The Times of Israel) 
Asmaa al-Ghoul says Hamas is becoming isolated as Iran boosts its ties with Fatah and Islamic Jihad. (Al-Monitor)
Pres. Obama and Pres. Hollande call on the international community to save the Syrian people from dictatorship and terrorism. (The Washington Post)  
Aaron David Miller says Iran is the reason why Obama refuses to be involved in Syria. (Foreign Policy)
The Washington Post asks if Obama is rethinking his policy on Syria. (The Washington Post)
The National says Saudi Arabia is seeking new allies to offset a perceived American tilt toward Iran. (The National)
H A Hellyer says the Egypt presidential election offers hope. (The National)
Mushreq Abbas says the Anbar crisis was never purely military crisis. (Al-Monitor)

February 11th

News:
The EU says strengthening its ties with Israel is dependent on the success of the peace talks. (The Jerusalem Post)
A Palestinian official says the framework agreement is doomed to fail. (Reuters)
Chief Palestinian negotiator Erekat says Palestinians will not recognize Israel as a “Jewish state.” (PNN)
Israeli Amb. Dermer defends Sec. Kerry in interviews. (Ha’aretz/The Jerusalem Post)
The Israeli military strikes Gaza in response to a rocket attack. (AP)
Industrial areas in West Bank settlements provide some economic relief to Palestinian workers while undermining their national aspirations. (The New York Times)
The number of Israelis killed in “terror attacks” drops to six in 2013. (Xinhua)
Extremist settlers uproot over 150 olive trees near Bethlehem. (Ma’an)
Israel will allow a shipment of goods to enter the Gaza strip. (Ma’an)
Israeli forces detain three Palestinian fisherman off the coast of Gaza. (Ma’an)
Israeli occupation forces reportedly block a pregnant Palestinian woman from taking the quick route to a hospital in East Jerusalem. (Ha’aretz)
The Syrian forces allow some fighting-age men to leave Homs. (AP)
The Syrian negotiators hold their first face-to-face meeting this month in Geneva. (AP/Reuters/The New York Times)
The Ansar Beit al-Maqdis extremist group blows up a gas pipeline in Sinai. (AP)
The Egyptian government uses UAE funds for a second stimulus package. (The National)
Militants attack military barracks in Iraq, killing 15 people. (AP)
Jordan’s King Abdullah urges Arab and Muslims organizations leaders to support his country’s policies. (The Jordan Times)
Qatar’s World Cup organizers outline new rights for workers.  (AP/The National)
Pres. Rouhani says Iran will pursue “peaceful” nuclear technology. (Xinhua/The Washington Post)
AIPAC has reportedly botched its campaign for more sanctions on Iran. (The Daily Beast)
Commentary:
Roger Cohen says "BDS movement" has a hidden agenda, and its one-state arrangement is an "illusion."
Aaron Magid says both Pres. Abbas and PM Netanyahu’s national and political interests are aligned with responding positively to Kerry’s initiative. (Ha’aretz)
Avraham Burg says the Israeli government is messianic, and Kerry deserves a medal if he succeeds in saving Israel from itself. (Ha’aretz)
Osama al Sharif says it’s better for the Palestinians, Jordanians, and Israelis to preserve the status quo than accepting Kerry’s plan. (Gulf News)
Rami Khouri says the US is finally offering its own proposals for permanent-status arrangements. (The Daily Star)
Naomi Chazan says Israel will no longer be able to avoid paying the price for occupying Palestinian land. (The Times of Israel)
Akiva Eldar says Labor party leader Herzog is now closer to the premiership after adopting the “Jewish state” demand. (Al-Monitor)
Mazal Mualem says FM Liberman is reinventing himself. (Al-Monitor
Sharif Nashashibi says the recent SodaStream controversy shows how boycotts are proving to be the most effective means of achieving Palestinian rights. (Al Arabiya)
Neil Lazarus says Israel is facing a real challenge in winning a new generations of Jewish American college students. (Times of Israel)
Danny Postel and Nader Hashemi say the international community must use force to save the starving Syrians. (The New York Times)
 
The New York Times suggests three steps to achieve a political solution in Syria. (The New York Times)
Hussein Ibish says Gen. Sissi has the same reason to run or not run for Egypt’s presidency: he will win. (Now Lebanon))
Hassan Barari says real democratic reform in Jordan requires a popular culture of tolerance and pluralism. (The Jordan Times)
 
Faisal Al Yafai says the use of sectarianism to understand conflicts in the Middle East is “simplistic” and “flawed.” (The National)
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says the US has finally discovered that Iran is behind al-Qaeda. (Al Arabiya)
The Gulf News says Iran should stop trying to export its “Islamic Revolution” outside its territory. (The Gulf News)

February 10th

News:

Fatah considers appointing a deputy to Pres. Abbas. (Times of Israel)

Hamas says it will intensify discussions with Fatah in an effort to promote reconciliation.(Xinhua)

PM Netanyahu will meet Pres. Obama in Washington next month. (Xinhua/Ha’aretz)

The White House reaffirms Obama’s support for Sec. Kerry’s peace efforts. (The Jerusalem Post)

Israeli Economy Minister Bennett claims that well-intentioned peace efforts have the “opposite effect” provoking violence and instability. (Times of Israel)

FM Lieberman praises Kerry’s initiative. (Xinhua)

Israeli security forces are accused of using Palestinian children to gather intelligence. (ABC)

Despite DM Ya’alon’s pledge, unauthorized settlement construction continues in the occupied West Bank. (Ha’aretz)

Israeli ministers reject a controversial bill to annex settlements in the occupied West Bank. (Xinhua)

According to Palestinian factions, a political initiative is underway for rebel fighters to leave the Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria. (Xinhua)

An Israeli military airstrike targeting a Palestinian militant in Gaza leaves two wounded. (AP/The New York Times)

Jewish Israeli “price tag” extremists slash tires and spray graffiti in an Arab neighborhood in Jerusalem. (AP/Ma’an/Ha’aretz)

The PA is planning for an airport in the occupied West Bank and a seaport and railway line in the Gaza strip. (Ma’an/Ynet)

The Syrian peace talks resume in Geneva. (AP/Reuters/The New York Times)

France will introduce a resolution in the UN Security Council to help bring humanitarian aid to the Syrian people. (AP)

A rebel attack on a Syrian Alawite village kills 40 people. (AP)

Egypt accuses the Muslim Brotherhood of forming a military wing. (AP)

A Kuwaiti MP seeks to emulate the Saudi law against citizens fighting abroad. (Reuters)

One of their own truck bombs accidentally kills 25 Al-Qaeda extremists in Iraq. (Xinhua)

Iraqi Shiite militia, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, reportedly admits remobilizing in targeted killing. (The Washington Post)

Tunisia arrests a suspect in the assassination of opposition politician Brahmi. (BBC)

Commentary:

ATFP Pres. Ziad Asali says a new dynamic is developing in the Middle East that has the potential to build a better future for the Arab world. (Asharq Alawsat)

Hussein Ibish says some “BDS” rhetoric is harming European anti-settlement, pro-peace boycotts campaigns.  (The National)

Hanan Ashrawi says BDS empowers Palestinians and worldwide activists to stand for justice and human rights and against settlements. (Ha’aretz)

Moshe Arens says the BDS movement is an attempt to delegitimize Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Peter Joseph and Charles Bronfman say Kerry has proven himself to be a true and loyal friend of Israel. (The Jerusalem Post)

The New York Times says Netanyahu could face the possibility of having to form a new coalition if he really wants to move forward on a peace deal. (The New York Times)

Eitan Haber says Netanyahu will rely on the defense establishment in formulating his response to Kerry’s plan. (Ynet)

Ali Hashem interviews Fatah leader Jibril Rajoub during his visit to Iran. (Al-Monitor)

Oudeh Basharat says Israeli society pays the price for excluding Arabs by embracing racism and discrimination. (Ha’aretz)

The Jordan Times says the Jordanian government will secure its interests in any peace deal between the Palestinians and Israel. (The Jordan Times)

Amer Al Sabaileh complains about the lack of communication between the Jordanian government and the people over Kerry’s initiative. (The Jordan Times)

Renee Ghert-Zand says launching an Arabic site of the The Times of Israel can help build bridges between Jews and Arabs. (Forward)

Bassem Sabry says Gen. Sissi is poised to win presidency if he decides to run in the elections. (Al-Monitor)

Neil Hicks responds to a critical op-ed by Wael Nawara accusing the American “Working Group on Egypt” of offering bad advice. (Al-Monitor)

Ahmed Maher from inside a prison in Egypt accuses the US government of supporting oppression in his country. (The Washington Post)

Manuel Almeida says if Russia manages to maintain influence in Ukraine it might be less committed to Pres. Assad. (Asharq Alawsat)

February 7th

News:

Israeli occupation forces evacuate Palestinian activists protesting in the West Bank. (AP)

Hamas struggles to rein in armed factions that are not completely under its control. (The Washington Post)

FM Lieberman calls Sec. Kerry a “true friend of Israel” and criticizes Economy Minister Bennett’s comments. (Ha’aretz)

UNRWA announces that a strike by its employees in the West Bank has ended. (The New York Times)

Aid agencies working in the occupied territories express concern over rise in Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes and property.(Reuters)

A Fatah Central Committee delegation arrives in Gaza to examine the state of the parties apparatus in Gaza. (Ma’an)

Malcolm Hoenlein calls on western governments to combat the growing BDS movement. (AP)

Israel is trying to include more Arabs in its tech sector. (AP)

The Syrian government will take part in a second round of peace talks in Geneva. (AP/Reuters)

Syria begins evacuating civilians from a besieged area in Homs. (Reuters)

The Syrian rebels free hundreds of prisoners in an attack on a prison. (AP)

A bombing and a shooting kill six people in Iraq. (AP/Xinhua)

A blast hits two police vehicles injuring six people in Egypt. (Xinhua)

PM Zeidan calls on Libyans to avoid violence in settling a standoff over the interim parliament. (Reuters)

World leaders attend a ceremony for the formal adoption of the new Tunisian Constitution. (AP/AFP)
 

Commentary:

The Jordan Times says no one will fooled by Netanyahu’s “Jewish state” demand. (The Jordan Times)

Ahmad Majdoubeh says Kerry’s plan is the last chance to rescue the two-state solution. (The Jordan Times)

Bakir Oweida says Kerry’s plan will likely fail, and the Palestinians and Israelis will have to coexist anyway. (Asharq Alawsat)

Yehezkel Dror says Israel should seize the opportunity in the changing Middle East for peace and reform. (Ha'aretz)

Rami Khouri says the SodaStream controversy highlights important Palestinian and international activism against the Israeli occupation. (The Jordan Times)

David Landau uses excerpts from Jewish religious texts to show how Israeli incitement works. (Ha'aretz)

Ha'aretz says a new proposed bill forcing schools to present Israel as a "Jewish state" is anti-democratic. (Ha'aretz)

Harold James says the Syrian war could have dire global consequences. (The Daily Star)

Michael Young says US Syria policy is in total meltdown. (The Daily Star)

Anne Applebaum likens Pres. Assad starving Syrians to killing them with a low-tech weapon of mass destruction. (The Washington Post)

Alan Philps says Russia is being seen as a supporter of Assad’s “kneel or starve” policy in Syria. (The National)

Sherif Mansour says arrests of journalists in Egypt are an attempt to bring back “Mubarak-era repression.” (The Washington Post)

Vivek Wadhwa says social media is excellent for democracy, but terrorists are also using it. (The Gulf News)

February 6th

News:

Israelis and Palestinians argue over the percentage of West Bank land that Israel might annex in a peace agreement. (Times of Israel)

Israel’s chief negotiator Livni criticizes “hypocrites” in the government on the peace process. (The Jerusalem Post)

Israeli Economy Minister Bennett accuses the US of endangering the security of Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Former Fatah official Dahlan denies meeting with an Israeli official in Dubai. (Ma’an)

Israeli occupation forces detain 10 Palestinians in the West Bank. (Ma’an)

Palestinians blame social media for increasing divorce rates. (Xinhua)

The Syrian government and rebels reach an agreement over the besieged city of Homs. (Reuters)

The US reiterates its pledge to improve energy cooperation with Iraq. (Xinhua)

A car bomb kills 13 people in Baghdad. (AP)

American military officers are helping the Iraqi government retake Fallujah. (The New York TImes)

A former Iraqi general says PM Maliki is squandering the “Anbar Awakening.” (Foreign Policy)

Human Rights Watch says Iraqi forces sexually abuse women prisoners. (AFP)

The escalation of attacks in Egypt is blamed on the return of jihadists to the country. (The New York Times)

The Egyptian military denies report that Gen. Sissi is running for president. (AP)

Saudi Arabia aims at weakening ISIS and Muslim Brotherhood-linked groups in Syria. (The National)

The UAE might establish a government committee to fight online attacks, mostly on Twitter. (The National)

Turkey approves legislation that tightens government control over the internet. (AP/Reuters)
 

Commentary:

Matthew Duss says its entirely “defensible and necessary” to support boycotts against the Israeli occupation. (The American Prospect)

Ha’aretz says the Red Cross is signaling that Israel’s policy of demolitioning Palestinian buildings in the Jordan Valley has gone too far. (Ha’aretz)

Daniel Levy says Israel is on a slow-track trajectory to face painful sanctions. (Ha’aretz)

Anshel Pfeffer says Israel must end the occupation regardless of boycott campaigns. (Ha’aretz)

Naomi Paiss says boycotting settlements is not anti-Israeli. (JTA)

Ari Shavit says Israel is running into a headlong collision with the Obama administration unless it reinvents itself. (Ha’aretz)

Adi Schwartz says Israel must demand financial compensation for the Jews who were driven from Arab lands. (Ha’aretz)

Jay Rothman says the key to peace for Israelis and Palestinians is identity and mutual recognition. (The Jerusalem Post)

The Jordan Times says employing skilled Syrians in Jordan should not come at the expense of Jordanians. (The Jordan Times)

Michael Jansen says US military strikes in Syria will not end the conflict. (The Jordan Times)

The National says the new Saudi anti-terror law shows that the kingdom understands theseriousness of the terrorist threat. (The National)

Michael Young says the ongoing tumults in the Middle East will not redraw the Sykes-Picot borders. (The National)

Eyad Abu Shakra says the sectarian tensions in the Middle East have reached a point of no return. (Asharq Alawsat)

Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed says education and culture are the only ways to counter the growing threat of Al-Qaeda. (Asharq Alawsat)

February 5th

NEWS:
 
PLO chief negotiator Erekat says no progress has been made in talks yet. (Ma'an)
 
Pres. Perez praises Sec. Kerry's peace efforts. (AFP) 
 
NSA Rice complains about "unfounded and unacceptable" criticism of Kerry by Israeli officials. (YNet) 
 
Palestinian refugees are fleeing the Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria. (AFP)
 
Palestinian diplomat Nasser al-Kidwa, deputy head of the international team running the Syria peace talks, is dismissed at the demand of the Syrian government. (Reuters)
 
The EU envoy to Israel warns of greater isolation if settlement activities continue. (AP) 
 
An Israeli court orders the state to explain why an extension to the separation barrier is dividing Palestinian towns. (Ha'aretz)
 
Hamas rejects Pres. Abbas' efforts to achieve peace with Israel. (Xinhua) 
 
Hamas redeploys its forces along the border with Israel. (Ma'an)
 
Islamic Jihad threatens to sabotage any peace agreement. (Times of Israel) 
 
Palestinians accuse Israeli settlers of attacking farms. (AP) 
 
Palestinians are planning to centralize their electricity sector. (The Media Line)
 
FIFA says Israel is finally helping to facilitate Palestinian soccer. (Ha'aretz)
 
An Israeli officer is killed near the Gaza border by "friendly fire." (Xinhua) 
 
Middle East scholar Barry Rubin dies at 64. (YNet) 
 
AIPAC's push for new sanctions against Iran appears to be blunted. (New York Times)
 
Kerry reportedly tells Congress US Syria policy is failing. (Daily Beast/Washington Post/Bloomberg) 
 
Russia says Syria is preparing to ship out some of its chemical weapons. (Reuters) 
 
Syrian government forces bomb a mosque, killing five people. (AP) 
 
Video of the arrest of journalists in Egypt is seen as a new threat to the media in that country. (New York Times)

Bombings around Baghdad kill seven people. (AP) 
 
The Iraqi government is giving away millions in food aid. (New York Times) 
 
Two are killed in an attack on a military bus in Yemen. (AP) 
 
Rebels and local tribesmen agree to a cease-fire in northern Yemen. (Reuters) 
 
Seven militants and a policeman are killed in a raid in Tunisia. (Reuters) 
 
A new suicide bombing in Beirut makes Hezbollah and Lebanese security forces seem impotent. (Christian Science Monitor) 
 
Pres. Obama will visit Saudi Arabia next month, where he will face significant diplomaticchallenges. (AP/AFP) 
 
Saudi Arabia makes it illegal for citizens to fight in foreign conflicts. (AP) 
 
Commentary:
 
Ha’aretz rebukes PM Netanyahu for disputing Kerry’s statement on the prospect of intensifying boycotts if peace talks fail. (Ha’aretz)
 
Akiva Eldar says settlers are growing increasingly nervous Netanyahu may plan to evacuate some of them. (Al Monitor) 
 
Caroline Glick calls Kerry’s statement on boycotts “anti-Semitic.”
(The Jerusalem Post)
 
The National says the boycott campaign against Israeli settlements is gaining momentum. (The National) 
 
Shaul Arieli says Netanyahu should agree to Kerry’s plan to further the “realistic goals of Zionism.” (Ha’aretz)
 
Hassan Barari says resigning could be Abbas' only option if he wants to avoid accepting or rejecting Kerry’s plan. (The Jordan Times) 

Elhanan Miller says Abbas is trapped between all kinds of difficult pressures. (Times of Israel) 
 
David Landau says Israel’s left must speak out in support of Kerry’s plan. (Ha’aretz)
 
Shlomo Avineri says settlers must vacate Palestinian land and relocate to the Israeli sovereignty. (The Jerusalem Post)
 
Roger Cohen expresses optimism on the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks. (The New York Times)
 
Peter Beaumont says Netanyahu might ultimately agree to Kerry’s plan because of his narrowed room of maneuverability. (The Gulf News)
 
Jonathan Schanzer says the balance of power in the Middle East is getting increasingly difficult to determine. (Foreign Policy) 

Faisal Al Yafai says Pres. Obama is focused on disengaging from the Middle East. (The National) 

Hassan Hassan says the Muslim Brotherhood was never "moderate," even though many Western academics claimed they were. (The National) 

Nervana Mahmoud says Gen. Sisi must focus on stabilizing the country if he becomes the next president. (Al-Monitor) 
 
Mshari Al-Zaydi criticizes former Pres. Morsi for the contempt of court that he showed in his trial. (Asharq Alawsat)
 
Gareth Smyth says Iran’s own reality is a major obstacle to realizing its economic goals. (The Daily Star) 

The Gulf News says Qatar must restrain cleric Qaradawi. (The Gulf News)
 
The Gulf News says the US should consider the interests of the other parties in its deal with Iran. (The Gulf News)
 
The Wall Street Journal says the US should help the “good Arab model” in Tunisia. (The Wall Street Journal)
 
Hussein Ibish asks if Libya's recent soccer victory could help reunite the country. (NOW)


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