News:
Hamas and Fatah agree to form unity government and hold new elections. (AP/New York Times/Washington Post/Los Angeles Times/USA Today/Bloomberg)
The US says it is disappointed by the Palestinian unity deal. (Reuters/PNN/Ha’aretz)
FM Lieberman says a peace deal with the Palestinians is impossible after the unity deal. (AP/Jerusalem Post/Ynet/Times of Israel/AFP)
Israeli Chief Negotiator Livni calls the agreement between Fatah and Hamas a “bad deal.” (Times of Israel)
The Israeli Foreign Ministry reportedly believes that Palestinian reconciliation is not near implementation. (Ha’aretz)
Qatar and Turkey back the Palestinian unity deal. (Ma’an)
Pres. Abbas says there is no contradiction between negotiations with Israel and reconciliation with Hamas. (Ma’an/Xinhua)
A PA official says Hamas has accepted the two-state solution. (Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)
Hamas spokesperson says Abbas will visit Gaza if a unity government is formed. (Ma’an/Jerusalem Post)
Jordan and Palestine sign eight cooperation agreements. (Jordan TImes)
Women, who are Palestinians citizens of Israel, join a professional Israeli soccer team. (AP/Times of Israel)
The OPCW is considering launching a fact-finding mission in Syria to investigatereports of attacks with chlorine gas. (Reuters)
UNSG Ki-moon demands Security Council action in Syria. (Reuters)
British police will ask Muslim women to help persuade young people not to go to fight in Syria. (Reuters/AFP)
Egypt’s military says it has gained “complete control over the situation” in Sinai. (Reuters)
The US vows to help Libya tackle “rising violent extremism.” (Reuters)
Commentary:
Six commentators, including Hussein Ibish, opine on the new Hamas and Fatah agreement. (PBS)
David Horovitz says the Palestinian unity deal is “bad news for everyone” except the extremists. (Times of Israel)
Roger Cohen says the two-state solution can emerge only if the majority of Israelis and Palestinians will accept a “painful compromise” in the name of a better future. (New York Times)
Ari Shavit asks why Israelis are surprised every time Abbas fails to sign a peace agreement with Israel. (Ha’aretz)
Ha’aretz says, by inviting Christian Palestinian citizens of Israel to join the army, Israel is distinguishing between Arabs “on the basis of religion.” (Ha’aretz)
The Jordan Times says Pres. Obama is right in “admonishing various government agencies’ against contradicting the official stance of Washington on Jerusalem. (Jordan Times)
Jeffrey Goldberg blames extremist Islamist violence for the State’s Department unwillingness to review the identification of Jerusalem. (Bloomberg)
Aaron David Miller says Lawrence Wright’s “Camp David” indicates why there is no hope in the current Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. (Foreign Policy)
Joyce Karam says in the last 48 hours, US relations with Egypt have taken a “partial detour.” (Al Arabiya)
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says Pres. Assad is holding elections to buy more time. (Al Arabiya)
Ibrahim Saif says as the Syrian crisis enters its fourth year, the international community should increase burden sharing and better coordination of responses. (Jordan Times)
Michael Young asks how long will Lebanese Christians be ruled by figures from their past. (Daily Star)

American Task Force on Palestine - 1634 Eye St. NW, Suite 725, Washington DC 20006 - Telephone: 202-262-0017