Date

News:

Extremist Jewish settlers torch a Palestinian mosque in the occupied West Bank. (AP/Ma’an/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

A poll indicates a slight majority of Americans favor the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. (JTA)

Israel Electric will cut the power flow to the West Bank cities of Nablus and Jenin for about 30 minutes for the second time in two days. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

After being forced out from Damascus, Hamas is establishing itself in Turkey. (Ynet)

An autopsy shows a Palestinian teenager killed by Israeli occupation forces was shot at a close range. (Ma’an)

Palestinian girl is injured after being run over by a settler vehicle in the Silwan neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ma’an/PNN)

The new Palestinian city Rawabi has condos, a mall and a sports club — but no water. (Washington Post)

The Artist, a new magazine published in Gaza aims to introduce Palestinian artists to the public. (The Media Line)

NSA Rice says PM Netanyahu's decision to address Congress next week is "destructive" to US-Israel relations. (AP/New York Times/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Netanyahu turns down an invitation to meet privately with Senate Democrats next week during his visit to Washington. (AP)

Amb. Dermer has reportedly unsuccessfully lobbied the envoys of at least two Arab countries to attend Netanyahu’s speech to Congress. (JTA/Times of Israel/Ynet/The Atlantic)

Netanyahu’s office denies American reports that Israeli NSA Cohen objected to the premier's decision to address Congress next week. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

wave of bomb attacks around Baghdad kill 37 people. (Reuters/AP)

ISIS extremists abduct at least 150 people from Assyrian Christian villages in Syria. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Washington Post)

Kurdish militia press a big offensive against ISIS in Syria, cutting one of its supply lines from Iraq. (Reuters)

Human Rights Watch says the Syrian government has dropped so-called barrel bombs on hundreds of sites in the past year. (New York Times)

Pres. Obama meets with Qatar’s Emir al-Thani. (AP/The National) 

Retired Libyan Gen. Haftar will reportedly meet with Israeli officials in Amman. (Jerusalem Post)

Yemen’s Houthis take over a US special forces army base in Sanaa. (Reuters)

UN experts say Yemen’s former Pres. Saleh is suspected of corruptly amassing as much as $60 billion. (Reuters)

King Abdullah of Jordan will meet with King Salman today in Riyadh. (Jordan Times)

Sec. Kerry defends P5+1 negotiations with Iran before Congress. (AP/New York Times/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Commentary:

Zvi Bar’el says by controlling water, electricity and taxes Israel is showing the PA who’s the boss. (Ha’aretz)

Ha’aretz says the PA and parts of occupied East Jerusalem are totally dependent on Israeli power, and cutting off a city means directly harming essential services. (Ha’aretz)

Elhanan Miller says despite a putative ban, Israeli products still abound on Ramallah store shelves. (Times of Israel)

The New York Times debates what the recent ruling of the US court means for the future of the PA. (New York Times)

Hazar Masri-Hussein says Israeli politicians are avoiding dealing with the issues of racism and Jewish-Arab relations. (Ynet)

Yossi Mekelberg says the unity of Palestinian citizens of Israel in the upcoming election must benefit the Arab constituency and the entire country. (Al Arabiya)

Shai Franklin says Obama should send a high level representative to the upcoming AIPAC conference. (JTA)

Thomas Friedman says ISIS is a product of decades of failed governance in the Arab world.  (New York Times)

David Kenner says former PM Maliki is quietly plotting a return to power. (Foreign Policy)

The National says a new army post that consolidates two of Libya’s many fighting factions offers hope. (The National)

Michael Young says Lebanon was expected to be the least resistant to the sectarian anarchy sweeping the region but has managed to stay afloat. (The National)

The Jordan Times says Jordan and Kuwait are a model of sound pan-Arab relations. (Jordan Times)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says Turkey would have had a greater regional role if it abandons petty alliances and avoids poking its nose in Arab domestic affairs. (Al Arabiya)

David Ignatius says an Iran deal would be good for the region. (Washington Post)

The New York Times says recent talks offer hope that the protracted nuclear threat from Iran can be resolved peacefully. (New York Times)


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