April 24th

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)

April 23rd

News:
Fatah and Hamas say they have reached an agreement over the terms of areconciliation deal. (Ma’an/Xinhua/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post/Ynet)
PM Netanyahu tells Pres. Abbas to choose between peace with Israel or reconcilationwith Hamas. (Reuters/Xinhua/Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)
Abbas renews his threat to dissolve the PA if peace talks fail. (New York Times)
An Israeli Minister reports progress in talks with Palestinians. (Times of Israel)
Jewish “price tag” extremists vandalize Muslim cemetery in Jerusalem. (PNN/Jerusalem Post/JTA/Times of Israel)
Palestinian citizens of Israel condemn a plan to recruit Christians in the Israeli military. (Ma’an)
Israeli occupation forces arrest 17 Palestinians in the West Bank. (Ma’an)
A short American film questions the ways Israelis and Palestinians see each other as a result of the conflict. (AP)
France will unveil a plan to prevent young Muslims from going to fight in Syria and becoming radicalized. (Reuters)
The UN says aid efforts for Syria have failed. (New York Times/AP)
Former PM Blair says the world must take a stand against Muslim extremists. (Ha’aretz)
The US will deliver 10 Apache helicopters to Egypt. (Reuters)
Lebanon’s Parliament fails to elect a new President. (AP/Xinhua/Daily Star)
PM Erdogan calls the killing of Armenians during World War I “our shared pain.”(AP/Jerusalem Post)
An Amnesty International report says Qatar is failing to protect domestic workers from exploitation. (AP)
Commentary:
Rami Khouri says more people are realizing Israel is slowly turning into an “apartheid-like state.” (Daily Star)
Salman Mashalha says the PA should hold new elections and get rid of the “corrupt old guard.” (Ha’aretz)
Ha’aretz says Israel continues to undermine the principle of “non-refoulement.” (Ha’aretz)
The Washington Post says Pres. Assad is feeling confident enough to call for elections. (Washington Post)
The National says Assad’s election plan is “farcical and surreal.” (The National)
Osama Al Sharif says Jordan will likely tighten control of its borders with Syria due to the fear of infiltration. (Jordan Times)
Michael Young says Lebanese may not know who will be their next president, but this uncertainty is a “refreshing rarity” in the Middle East. (The National)
The New Yorks Times says neither the closing of Abu Ghraib nor the passage of time can erase the stain created by the brutalization of inmates. (New York Times)
Abdel Monem Said says bringing down the Mehleb government because of the electricity crisis in Egypt will serve nothing. (Al Arabiya)
Ali Ibrahim says if the current situation in Libya persists, the most plausible scenario is international intervention. (Asharq al-Awsat)
Faisal Abbas asks if Qatar will live up to its commitments and normalize its relations with the other GCC states. (Al Arabiya)
Hassan Hassan outlines the details of Qatar’s reported deal with other GCC states.(Foreign Policy)

April 22nd

News:

Palestinian and Israeli negotiators will meet in Jerusalem. (Xinhua/PNN/Times of Israel)

The US warns dissolution of the PA would have “grave implications.” (PNN/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

A Palestinian official dismisses US threats to cut aid if Pres. Abbas dissolves the PA. (Jerusalem Post)

FM Lieberman says the PA should not come up with “new threats” every day. (Jerusalem Post/Ynet)

Hamas and Fatah are reportedly discussing reconciliation. (Ha’aretz)

Jordan summons the Israeli Ambassador over the recent clashes at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. (Xinhua/PNN/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post/Jordan Times)

Israel says it is willing to treat Palestinian-Americans equally if it joins the US visa waiver program.
(Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

The US Supreme Court will review the identification of Jerusalem on American passports. (Ha’aretz/AP/JTA)

The Israeli army will begin “actively recruiting” Christian Palestinian citizens of Israel. (Ma’an/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)

Palestinian citizens of Israel in Umm al-Fahm protest against “price tag” attacks. (Ma’an)

A Fatah official says Yarmouk residents are planning to organize a peaceful rally against the militant groups. (Ma’an)

The US says it has indications that a toxic chemical was used in Syria in the past month. (Reuters/AP)

Syrian rebels are making their last stand in Homs against government forces. (AP)

Militants attack a balloting center in Iraq, killing 10. (AP)

Iran will start cutting gasoline subsidies this week. (Reuters/Xinhua)

US drones and Yemeni forces kill 40 al-Qaeda-linked fighters. (New York Times/The National)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish says the US Supreme Court must uphold the Constitution, international law, and established US policy in its ruling on Jerusalem. (Now)

Seth Lipsky says if the US Supreme Court decides to list “Israel” as country of birth of an American born in Jerusalem, the consequences would be “huge.” (Ha’aretz)

Ha’aretz says the recent confrontation on the Temple Mount/Al Aqsa mosque serve as a reminder that the site must be handled with “wisdom and sensitivity.” (Ha’aretz)

Peter Beinart says South Africa has important lessons for Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Jonathan Cook says Israel has no weapons to defeat a campaign of popular non-violent resistance by Palestinians. (The National)

Faisal Al Yafai says Saudi Prince Bandar did not fail in Syria. (The National)

Brooklyn Middleton says Syria will be “reelecting” a “mass murderer.” (Al Arabiya)

Mustafa Akyol says Turkey and the US should discuss new ways to end the “disastrous civil war” in Syria. (New York TImes)

Khairallah Khairallah asks if Egypt has overcome the “Muslim Brotherhood complex.” (Al Arabiya)

April 21st

News:
Pres. Abbas reportedly threatens to dissolve the PA and disband Palestinian security forces. (Times of Israel/JTA)
Economy Minister Bennett says Israel will not stop Abbas from dismantling the PA.(Ha’aretz/Ynet)
A Palestinian official says Special Envoy Indyk has not proposed new ideas to salvage the peace talks. (PNN/Jerusalem Post)
Fatah and Hamas leaders will meet in Gaza for reconciliation talks.(AP/Ma’an/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)
Hamas releases 10 Fatah-affiliated prisoners. (Ma’an)
Israeli and Palestinian minors accused of crimes in the occupied West Bank are subject to two different sets of laws. (AP/Times of Israel)
Gaza militants fire rockets at Israel.(AP/Reuters/Ma’an/Ha’aretz)
Israeli airstrikes target central Gaza, injuring two. (Ma’an/PNN/Ynet)
Many officials in the US intelligence community object to visa waivers for Israelis.(Ha’aretz)
Israeli police prevent UN Middle East Envoy Serry from celebrating the Holy Fire ceremony in Jerusalem. (Ma’an/Reuters)
A senior Palestinian cleric accuses Israel of throwing stun grenades into al-Aqsa mosque. (Reuters)
Extremist settlers uproot more than 100 olive trees in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)
Jewish “price tag” extremists vandalize a car in northern Israel. (Times of Israel)
An Israeli journalist says only Palestinian citizens of Israel are prosecuted for going to “enemy countries.” (Ha’aretz)
Syria will hold presidential elections on June 3rd. (AP/The National)
Four french journalists are freed in Syria. (New York Times)
Pres. Assad visits a Syrian Christian village recaptured from rebels. (The National)
In Homs deadly battles continue between the Assad regime and the Syrian opposition. (New York Times)
Egypt’s electoral commission says only two presidential candidates have submitted their papers. (AP/Reuters)
Many young Egyptians feel excluded by the government. (Washington Post)
A kidnaped Tunisian diplomat urges his government to negotiate with his Libyan kidnappers. (Reuters)
Commentary:
Rami Khouri says Israeli-Palestinian peace talks lack realism, reciprocity, reasonableness and respect. (Daily Star)
Monique Jaques says many women in Gaza dream of leaving the strip, to explore the world. (New York Times)
Gideon Levy says a Palestinian and an Israeli were “needlessly killed,” yet the Israeli government and media only seek justice for the latter. (Ha’aretz)
Nahum Barnea says the Palestinian threat to dissolve the PA could have “serious repercussions” for Israel. (Ynet)
Ha’aretz says the arrest of a journalist, who is a Palestinian citizen of Israel, is only because he is an Arab. (Ha’aretz)
Taylor Luck says the politics of the Zaatari refugee camp threaten Jordan’s stability. (Jordan Times)
The Daily Star says the Lebanese presidential elections alienate the public from the process and from their own political leaders. (Daily Star)
Mshari Al-Zaydi asks if Egypt can reconcile with the Muslim Brotherhood. (Asharq al-Awsat)
Brian Katulis, Mokhtar Awad and Hardin Lang say a Jordanian cleric is sending young men to fight and die in Syria’s civil war. (Foreign Policy)
Sharif Nashashibi says elections in the Arab world will not produce democracy. (Al Arabiya)
Amal Mousa says Arab constitutions are in need of fundamental revisions to bring them in line with international standards. (Asharq al-Awsat)
Andrew Bacevich says the closing of Abu Ghraib indicates the full magnitude of the US failure in Iraq. (Los Angeles Times)
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says extremist groups have “infiltrated the west” through charities. (Al Arabiya)
Hamad Al-Majid says the British government needs to work with moderates within Islamic institutions and among the Muslim community’s leaders. (Asharq al-Awsat)

April 18th

News:

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators meet in Jerusalem. (Reuters/PNN/JTA)

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators will hold separate talks today with Special Envoy Indyk. (Times of Israel)

Jewish “price tag” extremists vandalize a mosque in northern Israel. (AP/Ma’an/PNN/Ha’aretz/JTA)

A journalist, who is a Palestinian citizen of Israel, is moved to house arrest in a case involving hisrecent visit to Lebanon. (New York Times/AFP/Ha’aretz)

Newly appointed Commissioner-General of UNRWA Krähenbühl vows to help end the blockade of Gaza. (PNN)

Sec. Kerry wants to ease restrictions for visa-seeking young Israelis. (Ha’aretz/JTA/Jerusalem Post) 

Tensions in Jerusalem are reflected in ugly rivalries over the Ras Khamis neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem. (New York Times)

Hamas says Egyptian authorities have kept the Rafah crossing with Gaza closed for 81 days in 2014. (Ma’an)

Gaza’s Zayed city provides much needed housing for Palestinians. (The National)

Gaza’s population keeps on growing. (Al Monitor)

A right-wing Israeli organization is trying to block Arab Idol winner Assaf from entering Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Christians mark Good Friday in Jerusalem. (AP/Ma’an)

Gunmen kidnap a Tunisian diplomat in Libya. (Reuters)

Turkish Pres. Gul rules out exchanging government positions with PM Ergodan. (Reuters)

Pursuant to a report by the IAEA, the US releases $450 million of frozen Iranian funds. (Reuters/Jerusalem Post)

Commentary:

ATFP Pres. Ziad Asali says Arab men have to play a major role in the battle for women’s rights. (Huffington Post)

Ha’aretz says the frustration over the absence of progress in peace talks could lead Pres. Abbas to dismantle the PA. (Ha’aretz)

Ahmad Majdoubeh says if FM Lieberman wants to build good relations with “moderate Arab countries” then he should make peace with the Palestinians first. (Jordan Times)

Bakir Oweida says Israeli politicians must overcome the “fear of peace.” (Asharq al-Awsat)

Ben Caspit says Middle East turmoil has prompted an “Israeli military revolution.” (Al Monitor)

Avichai Stollar says a recently approved settlement in Hebron will exact an “unimaginable toll” on Palestinians living in the city. (Ha’aretz)

Zvi Gabbay says Israelis must wait for Palestinian unity to achieve peace. (Ha’aretz)

Aaron David Miller says the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is delaying a “day of reckoning.” (Foreign Policy)

Zeev Sternhell says Israel’s road to becoming like apartheid-era South Africa “has been paved.” (Ha’aretz)

The National says Pres. Assad must acknowledge that his regime survived because of Iran. (The National)

Raed Omari says Jordan is becoming increasingly impatient with Syria. (Al Arabiya)

The National says its time for young Algerians to form political parties and cultivate grass roots support. (The National)

The New York Times says Twitter should not comply with Erdogan’s demands. (New York Times)

Robert Zaretsky says the Algerian presidential election will maintain the country’s status quo. (Los Angeles Times)
 

April 17th

News:
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators will hold a meeting about peace talks with Special Envoy Indyk. (AFP/Jerusalem Post)
Pres. Abbas says he is willing to extend peace talks, but the first three months of them should focus on borders. (Ha’aretz/Ynet/Times of Israel)
The PA says communications with Israeli officials is at an all time low. (Ma’an)
The PLO says 800,000 Palestinians have been detained by the Israeli military since the 1967. (Ma’an/PNN)
Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza rally for prisoners. (Ynet/AFP)
A blast in Gaza kills three Hamas militants. (New York Times/DPA)
Activists in Gaza are pushing for a two-state solution. (New York Times)
An overland aid convoy is due to arrive in Gaza next week. (Ha’aretz)
Israel arrests a journalist, who is a Palestinian citizen of Israel for travelling to Lebanon. (AP/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)
Hamas is attempting to rebuild its regional alliances. (Al Monitor)
Israelis curious about Palestine are increasingly visiting Ramallah. (AP/Times of Israel)
The Committee to Protect Journalists says there is a rise in the assassination of journalists in Syria. (AP)
The Syrian opposition accuses the Assad regime of yet another poison gas attack. (Reuters)
The Syrian war is taking a heavy toll on Syrian culture, archeology and history. (New York Times)
Omani FM bin Alawi says the Gulf rift has been resolved. (Al Arabiya/Gulf News)
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/04/17/Report-Oman-FM-says-Gulf-rift-has-ended.htmlTerrorism in Egypt is spreading from Sinai to Cairo. (Al Monitor)
Arab bankers blame regional unrest for economic deterioration. (Jordan Times)
The IAEA says Iran has begun to cut its most highly-enriched nuclear stockpile. (Reuters/AP)
Commentary:
David Landau says the late Pres. Arafat showed how religious Jews can, like him, accept a two-state solution. (Ha’aretz)
Akiva Eldar examines Israel’s latest move to secure control over key areas in the occupied territories. (Al-Monitor)
Ha’aretz says Israelis must make the effort to learn Arabic. (Ha’aretz)
Joyce Karam says as Hezbollah is widening its mission in Syria, its softening its positions in  Lebanon. (Al Arabiya)
Eyad Abu Shakra says Arabs typiclally do not read history, and even those who do fail to adequately comprehend it. (Asharq al Awsat)
The Jordan Times says Jordan will do all it can to free its ambassador from a Libyan militia. (Jordan Times)
Charlotte Keenan says governments must start treating education as a security asset in combating extremism. (Jordan Times)
Alaa Al Aswany says soccer in Egypt is a mirror reflecting the “fierce struggle” between the old ways of the “ancien regime” and those who dream of a better future. (New York Times)

April 16th

News:
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators will meet on Thursday to try to extend peace talks. (Reuters/PNN/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)
The State Department reiterates its support for the peace talks. (JTA)
Israeli police and Palestinians clash at a holy site in Jerusalem. (AP/Reuters/Ma’an)
PM Netanyahu blames Palestinian leaders for a Hebron killing. (AFP/Ynet)
Hamas praises a shooting that killed an Israeli in the occupied West Bank. (AP)
An Israeli plane bearing the Vatican logo will bring Pope Francis back to Rome after his May visit. (Ha’aretz)
Members of the UN Security Council view graphic photos taken in Syria. (Reuters/New York Times)
Some online videos show Syrian rebels using their first US-made rockets. (Reuters)
As the war in Syria rages, Pres. Assad prepares for presidential elections. (New York Times)
Saudi intelligence chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan resigns. (Reuters/Xinhua/The National)
Iraq shuts down the Abu Ghraib prison. (New York Times/AFP)
The Lebanese parliament will elect a President on April 23. (AP/The Daily Star)
An Egyptian court bans Muslim Brotherhood members from running in Egypt’s upcoming elections. (The National)
Commentary:
Hussein Ibish says drawing comparisons between Palestinians and Israelis is considered heresy on both sides. (Now)
Thomas Friedman says, since the 1967 war, Israel has changed dramatically, in ways it does not wish to acknowledge. (New York Times)
Michael Singh says the US should not neglect the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Foreign Policy)
The Jordan Times says the recent statement by Israel’s mayor in Jerusalem shows Israel’s “true colors.” (Jordan Times)
Yossi Mekelberg says the international community wants a state called Palestine.  (Al Arabiya)
Ruth Marcus says the Camp David agreement demonstrates that history is “unknowable and malleable.” (Washington Post)
Ha’aretz says Israel’s new land grab in the West Bank “shatters hopes” for resolving the conflict with the Palestinians. (Ha’aretz)
Ahmed al-Muslemany writes a letter to Hamas leader Meshaal. (Al Arabiya)
Michael Young says Hezbollah has “aided and abetted” the worst crimes of the Syrian regime.  (The National)
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says its too early to declare an Assad victory in the Syrian conflict. (Al Arabiya)
Ali Ibrahim says Syrian children are most psychologically affected by the war because of their formative stage. (Asharq al-Awsat)
The National says Libya needs a comprehensive agreement that disarm militias in return for political participation. (The National)
Osama Al Sharif says in the Arab world elections and democracy are too different things.  (Jordan Times)

April 15th

News:

An Israeli man is killed in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Ma’an/Ha’aretz)

Palestinian woman in Bethlehem is reportedly killed by Israeli tear gas. (Times of Israel)

Israeli forces injure Palestinian youth in Gaza. (Ma’an)

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs accuses DM Ya’alon of destabilizing the peace process. (PNN)

The World Bank will provide $13 million in grant money for environmental projects in Gaza. (Ma’an)

Saudi Arabia denies FM Lieberman’s claim of “secret diplomacy.” (Ha’aretz/Ynet)

The Syrian opposition calls on the US to give an “appropriate response” to recent attacks in Aleppo. (Reuters)

The UN condemns the use of torture by Syrian authorities. (New York Times)

The OPCW says Syria has completed another shipment of chemical arms. (New York Times)

Jordan’s Ambassador to Libya is kidnapped after gunmen attack his car. (Reuters/AP/Jordan Times)

Gen Sisi formally submits signatures for his presidential bid. (AP/The National)

bomb explosion in Cairo wounds two policemen. (AP) 

Commentary:

The New York Times says Pres. Obama and Sec. Kerry should abandon the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and focus on Ukraine. (New York Times)

Hassan Barari says the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are often held hostage to the imperatives of Israel’s domestic politics. (Jordan Times)

Peter Beinart says seder’s demonstrate how American Jews are divided over Israel.  (Ha’aretz)

Yitzhak Laor says Israel’s freedom means the “imprisonment of others.” (Ha’aretz)

Carolina Landsmann says by maintaining the status quo, PM Netanyahu is turning Israel into an “apartheid state.” (Ha’aretz)

Faisal Al Yafai says the late Patrick Seale misinterpreted the origins of the Syrian civil war. (The National)

Maria Golia say Egypt’s power cuts shed light on the country’s many problems. (The National)

Raed Omari says Jordan’s Islamists are being “unreasonable.” (Al Arabiya)

Manal Tibi and Karima El-Hefnawi debate whether the Arab Spring has improved the status of women in Egypt. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Benjamin Weinthal says Germany may start to crackdown on Hezbollah. (Foreign Policy)

Octavia Nasr says Lebanon failed to learn from its civil war. (Al Arabiya)

April 14th

News:

Israel will stop transferring Palestinian tax revenues to the PA. (AP/Reuters/New York Times/AFP)

An Israeli peace activist Ron Pundak dies. (AP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Economy Minister Bennett threatens to quit over peace talks. (Reuters/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

Israeli officials say there is progress in talks on resuming peace negotiations. (Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

Chief Palestinian negotiator Erekat says reports on progress in talks “are false.” (Times of Israel)

Switzerland says Palestine can join the Geneva Conventions. (AP/AFP)

Arab League Chief Nabil Elaraby backs the peace talks. (AP/Ha’aretz)

The wife of ex-Fatah official Dahlan says her husband intends to run for president in any future election. (Al-Monitor)

Hamas is using laser e-bullets for training, due to its economic crisis. (AP/Times of Israel)

Islamic Jihad ia gaining support in Gaza at the expense of Hamas. (Al Monitor)

Bethlehem hosts its second annual marathon. (Ma’an)

Jewish religious extremists prepare priests for what they hope will be Jerusalem’s “third temple.” (Al Monitor)

Jordan continues to assist rebels in the Syrian war. (New York Times)

Iranian leaders see their positions on Syria gaining traction. (Al Monitor)

Jordan and the World Bank sign a $250 million loan agreement. (Jordan Times)

Egyptian workers defy the government with strikes. (Washington Post)

Iraq’s deputy PM al-Mutlaq escapes an assassination attempt. (AP)

Iraqi insurgents use water as a weapon after seizing control of a dam. (Reuters)

Commentary:

Zbigniew Brzezinski, Frank Carlucci, Lee Hamilton, Carla Hills, Thomas Pickering and Henry Siegman insist on a more dynamic, proactive US role on Middle East peace. (Politico)

Jeffrey Goldberg says Kerry is not wrong for pushing the peace talks. (Bloomberg)

Alan Philps says Kerry risks “threefold failure” in the Middle East. (The National)

George Hishmeh says Kerry took an unprecedented step by blaming Israel for the failure of the peace talks. (Jordan Times)

The Jerusalem Post says both Israelis and Palestinians should not engage in the “blame game.” (Jerusalem Post)

Yossi Sarid says Israel is the only country that is treated with “kid gloves.” (Ha’aretz)

Chaims Gans says the demand that Palestinians recognize Israel as a “Jewish state” adds yet another humiliation. (Ha’aretz)

Bakir Oweida says Palestinian women face the oppression of Israeli occupation as well as injustice within Palestinian society. (Asharq al Awsat)

H.A. Hellyer says the Europeans keep missing opportunities in the Arab world. (The National)

The Daily Star says the Syrian opposition needs to listen to the many Syrians who are demanding a “change of course.”(Daily Star)

David Kenner asks if the world is still paying attention to Pres. Assad’s conduct. (Foreign Policy)

Aaron Magid says Egypt’s relationship with Israel is complex and paradoxical. (Daily Star)

Abdel Monem Said says Egypt needs electricity to move forward. (Al Arabiya)

Diana Moukalled says coexistence between different parts of Iraqi society has been weakened. (Al Arabiya)

David Petraeus and Vance Serchuk say if the US strikes a nuclear deal with Iran it needs to prepare for all the consequences. (Washington Post)

News:

three-hour meeting between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators ends without clear sign ofprogress. (Ma’an/Jerusalem Post/JTA/Times of Israel)

FM Lieberman says the package deal being discussed is not the same as it was two weeks ago.  (Jerusalem Post/Ynet)

Israel appropriates Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank by recognizing another settlement outpost. (Reuters/PNN/Ha’aretz/The National)

A Fatah official says the Israeli government is committed to colonization. (PNN)

Israeli chief negotiator Livni says Economy Minister Bennett is stoking settler violence.(Ha’aretz/Ynet/Times of Israel)

Senior Israeli officials say they have transferred all the PA revenues they collected in March.  (Ha’aretz)

British Party Labor leader Miliband criticizes expansion of Israeli settlements. (BBC)

A PLO committee will travel to Gaza for reconciliation talks. (Ma’an/Xinhua)

Israelis accuse Pres. Abbas of “terrorism.” (Ma’an)

Palestinian citizens of Israel protest in Nazareth against national service. (Ha’aretz)

Israel’s drive to export its new-found natural gas could help rebuild some strained relations.(Reuters)

Hamas will launch a satellite channel in Gaza. (Ma’an)

trip to Auschwitz by Palestinian university students causes an uproar. (Washington Post)

Israel says Sec. Kerry’s remarks on Iran’s nuclear threshold is “not acceptable.” (Reuters/Jerusalem Post)

Syrian government forces seize two villages near the Lebanese border. (AP/Reuters)

Hezbollah is developing new tactics in the Syrian civil war. (AP)

American officials say they are looking into reports of another Syrian government chemical weapons attack. (AP/Washington Post)

Libya’s Interim PM al-Thani will step down after he was attacked by militias. (AP)

Deputy Secretary of State William Burns will retire in October. (AP)

series of bombings kills more than 20 across Iraq. (New York Times)

Iraqi secularists are reportedly under attack ahead of the elections. (Al Monitor)

Iran lodges a complaint against the US over the denial of visa for its UN Ambassador.(Reuters/Xinhua/The National)

Iranians see “little relief” as sanctions are eased. (New York Times)

Dubai seeks to become an “Islamic” economic hub. (New York Times)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish says Professor Mohammed Dajani should be praised, not blamed, for teaching Palestinian students about the Holocaust.  (The National)

The Jordan Times says the PA was right to join international treaties. (Jordan Times)

Jackson Diehl says over the past 25 years Israelis and Palestinians have made slow but enormous progress toward coexistence. (Washington Post)

Khaled Elgindy says the latest round of peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians never had a chance to succeed. (Foreign Policy)

Nathan Jeffay asks why the recent Israeli land grab in the occupied West Bank is different than any other. (Jewish Daily Forward)

Ben Caspit says PM Netanyahu needs Pres. Obama more than ever if peace talks fail. (Al Monitor)

Ha’aretz says Israel should stop “shutting its eyes’ to what is going in the occupied West Bank. (Ha’aretz)

Moshe Arens says extremist settlers in the occupied West Bank are a fringe group that hates Arabs and has no respect for the State of Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Gideon Levy says Ron Pundak wanted peace for peace’s sake, without pathos or guilt. (Ha’aretz)

Oudeh Basharat says the struggle by Palestinian citizens of Israel against religious extremism is part of a wider Arab struggle. (Ha’aretz)

Amer Al Sabaileh says recent developments in Syria shows only a political solution is possible. (Jordan Times)

Yezid Sayigh says the Syrian conflict is drifting in favor of the government. (Carnegie)

Afraa Al-Hariri and Om El-Ezz El-Farissi debate whether women were at the forefront of the Arab Spring.(Asharq al-Awsat)

Rami Khouri says Lebanon finds itself a mirror of the Middle East. (Daily Star)

Hamza Mustafa says Iraqi militia are playing a key role in Syria. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says Arabs must unite before seeking a permanent seat at the UN. (Al Arabiya)

H.A. Hellyer says Egypt’s “war on terror” is doing more harm than good. (Al Arabiya)


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