March 13th

News:

Hundreds of Palestinians injured during last summer’s war protest in Gaza against official inaction regarding disabled Palestinians. (Ma’an)

Sec. Kerry will meet Pres. Abbas and King Abdullah on the sidelines of the Egypt investment conference. (AFP)

Israeli and Qatari officials reportedly met this week to discuss the reconstruction of Gaza. (Ynet)

Israeli forces open fire at Palestinians across the Gaza border. (Ma’an/PNN)

200 Palestinians from Gaza head to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem to pray. (Ma’an/PNN)

An Israeli official says the IDF is preparing for ISIS threats from Sinai. (Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

The Israeli army recommends a fence be built on the Jordanian border to ward off any jihadi infiltrators. (Ha’aretz)

Economy minister Bennett visits the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron under strict security. (Ma’an)

Israel’s center-left opposition is poised for potential victory in the elections next week, with the last opinion polls giving it a solid lead over PM Netanyahu's party. (Reuters/JTA/Times of Israel)

Likud officials blame Netanyahu for poor poll results. (Ha’aretz)

Polls indicate that the party headed by FM Lieberman will also fare poorly in the upcoming election. (Washington Post)

Former Israeli generals target Netanyahu’s “security image.” (JTA)

ISIS is still on the attack, despite internal strife and heavy losses. (New York Times)

UNICEF says countries should negotiate with ISIS to persuade it to let the agency into areas the militants control. (Reuters)

Local groups outside the formal aid sector are helping to fill gaps in the humanitarian response in Syria, reaching communities big agencies cannot access. (Reuters)

Turkey says the spy suspected of helping the three British school girls is a Syrian national working for a country in the US-led coalition against ISIS. (Reuters)

Indonesian officials says 32 people have been held or missing in Turkey, suspected of trying to join ISIS. (Reuters)

The Iraqi offensive to retake Tikrit from ISIS appears to stall. (Reuters)

ISIS tightens its grip on Mosul residents. (AP)

AP looks at Egypt’s economic indicators ahead of the investment conference. (AP)

Sec. Kerry promotes US investment in Egypt but no new military assistance as urged by Pres. Sisi. (AP)

Pres. Sisi’s reputation is bound up in the high stakes economic summit. (The National)

An attack on a checkpoint wounds one army officer and two other soldiers in the Egyptian city of al-Arish in Sinai. (Reuters)

Egypt arrests 75 in connection with a series of attacks on businesses and utilities over the past several months. (New York Times)

Saudi nuclear deal with South Korea raises stakes for the Iran talks. (Wall Street Journal)

Commentary:

Avi Issacharoff says Hamas and Fatah have clear, opposite interests in Israel’s election outcome. (Times of Israel)

Grant Rumley says Abbas and the PA are less interested in who wins the Israeli elections than how they’ll take Israel to court. (Foreign Policy)

Craig Charney asks what’s behind the surge in violence in Jerusalem and the West Bank -- and where will it lead. (Foreign Policy)

Adnan Abu Amer says Hamas is expanding its international outreach. (Al-Monitor)

Eran Rolnik says Israel needs a left that views Jewish-Arab coexistence and the two-state solution as the key to the country’s continued existence as a democracy. (Ha’aretz)

David Horovitz interviews Netanyahu. (Times of Israel)

Salman Masalha explains why he is voting for Meretz and not for the joint Arab list. (Ha’aretz)

Anshel Pfeffer says Israelis are tired of Netanyahu. (Ha’aretz)

Ha’aretz says there is a chance to end Netanyahu’s rule and put Israel back on the track of political moderation and social integration. (Ha’aretz)

Lally Weymouth interviews Sisi. (Washington Post)

The National says this weekend marks an important moment in the post-revolution history of Egypt. (The National)

The Daily Star says the situation in Syria is another Arab catastrophe. (Daily Star)

Raed Omari says ISIS is the enemy of civilization. (Al Arabiya)

James Stavridis asks if ISIS could target Italy. (Washington Post)

Roger Cohen imagines a letter to Americans by Iranian lawmakers. (New York Times)

Michael Gerson says the letter from Republican lawmakers to Iran undermines negotiations. (Washington Post)

Amir Taheri looks at the three main arguments used by the “pro-Mullah lobby” in the West. (Asharq al-Awsat) 

Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian and Yochi Dreazen look at the “real war” on Christianity in the Middle East. (Foreign Policy)

March 12th

News:

Israel resumes imports of fruits and vegetables from Gaza. (Reuters/Ma’an)

Hamas leader Abu Marzouq says Israeli army commanders told Palestinian businessmen that theywould allow a seaport and airport in Gaza in return for a long-term ceasefire. (Ma’an/Ha’aretz)

Hamas leader Meshaal meets with Iranian Parliament Speaker Larijani during the latter’s visit to Qatar. (Times of Israel)

At least 59 Palestinian migrants were on board a boat which capsized off the coast of Sicily on March 4, killing an estimated 50. (Ma’an/PNN)

Palestinian activists burn Israeli products near Nablus. (Ma’an)

Two Palestinians from the occupied West Bank receive rare entry permits to Israel that include Eilat. (Ha’aretz)

PM Netanyahu launches a last-minute media blitz to counter what appears to be a rising tide of support for opposition leader Herzog. (Reuters)

Former Pres. Peres endorses Herzog as prime minister. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Pro-Iraqi government forces exchange fire sporadically with ISIS fighters in Tikrit.(Reuters/Washington Post/New York Times)

Gen. Dempsey says the US is worried about Iran-backed militias in Iraq. (AP)

AP and New York Times look at key events in Syria since March 2011. (AP/New York Times)

Four years of war in Syria leaves families uprooted and separated. (AP)

coalition of aid agencies says the UNSC has failed to enforce its own hard-fought resolutions on Syria. (New York Times/The National)

UNICEF says 14 million children are suffering as a result of war in Syria and Iraq. (New York Times)

Physicians for Human Rights says more than 600 medical workers have been killed in Syria's civil war. (AP)

ISIS claims responsibility for a bomb attack on a police station in the Libyan capital. (Reuters)

Jordan and Morocco are set to increase cooperation. (Jordan Times)

The Emir of Qatar meets with Pres. Erdogan for talks in Ankara. (AFP)

Sec. Kerry says Congress will not be able to change the terms of any nuclear agreement with Iran. (AP/New York Times)

Ayatollah Khamenei condemns the letter from Republican lawmakers saying he is worried because the US is known for "backstabbing." (Reuters)

Former Sec. Clinton says letter from Republican lawmakers to Iran undermines American leadership. (AP)

Commentary:

Raphael Ahren looks at what Israel’s parties say about the Palestinians. (Times of Israel)

Akiva Eldar asks who will stop the Jewish settlers. (Ha’aretz)

Gideon Levy says in Israel, a “good Arab is an invisible Arab.” (Ha’aretz)

Barak Ravid says Israel needs a prime minister who can clean up the country’s “diplomatic mess.” (Ha’aretz)

Haviv Rettig-Gur asks if Netanyahu is about to lose the election. (Times of Israel)

Omer Benjakob says Herzog and the center-left might actually win Israel’s upcoming election. (Ynet)

Ari Shavit says Herzog and Livni may not be perfect, but they and their party are returning Israel to itself and  to what it’s supposed to be. (Ha’aretz)

Ben Sales explains why Israelis will vote on the economy and not on security. (JTA)

Avi Issacharoff says an angry Egypt feels the squeeze from jihadis, the US and Hamas. (Times of Israel)

H.A. Hellyer says Europe lacks a proper ‘Plan B’ in the Middle East. (The National)

Amal Kandeel says with the help of the international community, Egypt's economy is heading in the right direction. (The National)

Aziz Abu Sarah says in order to dictate the future, ISIS is destroying the past. (Ha’aretz)

The New York Times says in rejecting diplomacy, the Republicans make an Iranian bomb and military conflict more likely. (New York Times)

David Rothkopf says there are real questions both Democrats and Republicans should be asking about our Iran policy. (Foreign Policy)

Michael Young says the greatest potential victims of an Iranian-inspired overhaul of Lebanon’s political system could be Christians in general and specifically Maronites. (Daily Star)

Joyce Karam says Washington’s hands are tied politically and militarily in countering Iranian influence in Iraq. (Al Arabiya)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says hostility toward Washington is a basic pillar of the Iranian revolution and of the country’s foreign activities. (Al Arabiya)

The Daily Star says it is incumbent on Arab countries to produce a viable, united strategy to confront Iran’s designs in the region.  (Daily Star)

Tariq Alhomayed looks at why media campaigns are calling for the return of a Saudi–Turkish alliance. (Asharq al-Awsat)

March 11th

News:

Palestinian poll indicates support for the PA’s decision to join the ICC and its boycott of Israeli products, and dwindling support for Hamas. (Times of Israel)

Vegetables harvested in Gaza will be exported to Israel for the first time in eight years. (Ma’an)

Israeli authorities have decided to allow white Portland cement into Gaza for the first time in several years. (Ma’an)

Egypt shuts down the Rafah border crossing. (Ma’an/PNN)

Qatar starts a project to rebuild 1,000 homes that were damaged or destroyed during last summer’s war in Gaza. (New York Times)

The EU denounces the move by Israeli authorities to demolish an EU-funded shelter in occupied East Jerusalem. (AFP)

The Palestinian power firm cancels a deal to buy $1.2 billion of natural gas from Israel. (Reuters/Times of Israel)

A group of Palestinian gunmen shut down the main road near Balata refugee camp east of Nablus. (Ma’an)

Israeli soldiers wound seven Palestinian university students as clashes break out near the Ofer detention center in Ramallah. (Ha’aretz/Ma’an)

The Obama administration will wait for Israel’s elections before commenting on conflicting reports of PM Netanyahu’s retreat from a two-state solution. (JTA)

FM Lieberman brushes off Palestinian threats to prosecute him for proposing to behead Arab citizens disloyal to the state. (AFP/Times of Israel)

AP profiles Gaza novelist Atef Abu Saif. (AP)

King Abdullah of Jordan says an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal is essential to combating Islamic extremists.  (AFP/The National/Jordan Times)

UNRWA Chief Krahenbuhl accompanies the first aid convoy in three months to enter the besieged Yarmouk camp in Damascus. (AFP)

Palestinian Deputy PM Mustafa says Israeli voters ignore the West Bank at their peril. (The National)

As Israel’s election nears, peace with the Palestinians earns barely a mention. (Reuters)

Iraqi security forces capture part of Tikrit's northern Qadisiya district. (Reuters/New York Times)

Iraqi FM al-Jaafari dismisses Saudi concerns that Iran is taking control of his country and says Baghdad has good relations with both regional powers. (Reuters)

A video posted online by ISIS purportedly shows the killing of teenager Muhammad Musallam, anIsraeli Arab accused by the group of being an Israeli spy. (Reuters/Washington Post/AFP/JTA/Times of Israel/The National)

A small number of Americans have offered to take up arms against ISIS, working with local militias in Iraq and Syria. (New York Times)

A Jordanian city votes to avoid the “ISIS aesthetic.” (New York Times)

Saudi Arabia recalls its ambassador from Sweden after a human rights spat. (Reuters/AFP)

King Salman vows that low oil prices will not halt progress in his country, and promises to defend Arab and Muslim causes around the world. (AP/The National/Al Arabiya)

Egypt’s investment conference aimed at drawing investors from around the world starts on Friday. (AP)

Commentary:

Ilan Goldenberg and Nicholas Heras ask if Israel can survive without the PA. (Foreign Policy)

Yossi Mekelberg says Israel and the PA are playing a potentially “dangerous high stakes game of chicken” in which neither wants to be the first to blink. (Al Arabiya)

Hana Salah says young Palestinian women in Gaza are now turning to business incubators to find funding and support to build their own businesses. (Al-Monitor)

Peter Beinart says if Israelis reelect Netanyahu, they will risk losing the US. (Ha’aretz)

Alex Fishman says Pres. Obama is making clear to Israel that he is about to become much more aggressive regarding the Palestinian issue. (Ynet)

The Daily Star says any new Israeli government will probably seek a continuation of the status quo. (Daily Star)

Zvi Bar’el asks which of the” two Jewish nations”  Israeli voters will choose. (Ha’aretz)

J.J. Goldberg looks at the electoral and psychological landscape of Israel. (The Forward)

Akiva Eldar asks if opposition leader Herzog will compromise party values to join the government. (Al-Monitor)

Yossi Verter says Netanyahu's Likud party is showing signs of distress. (Ha’aretz)

Thomas Friedman says the influence of Sheldon Adelson is being felt in both the US and Israel. (New York Times)

“Abdel” recounts his experiences as a surgeon in Aleppo.  (New York Times)

Tom Fletcher says the international community has tolerated the intolerable in Syria. (Al Arabiya)

Michael Young says worrying Israel and Arab countries alike, America is pivoting away from the region. (The National)

Jamal Khashoggi explains how the Middle East should handle the Muslim Brotherhood. (Al Arabiya)

David Ignatius says a letter from Republican lawmakers to Iran is dangerous and irresponsible. (Washington Post)

Tyler Cullis says Senate efforts to undermine the president's attempts to reach a nuclear accord with Tehran are on the wrong side of history. (New York Times)

Hussein Ibish says the unfolding battle in Tikrit will reveal much about the future of Iraq and the battle against ISIS. (NOW)

March 10th

News:

UN expert panel tasked with investigating possible war crimes in Gaza last year has asked for more time to complete its report. (AP/New York Times/JTA)

The PA is holding 50 Islamic militants, fearing a terror attack would ensure a Likud victory in Israel’s upcoming election. (Ha’aretz)

The State Department says it expects the next Israeli government to be committed to the two-state solution. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Former Amb. Oren says Israel must restrict settlement building and create a “two-state reality.” (Ynet)

UN Middle East Envoy Serry proposes a three-to-five year truce in Gaza in order to enable reconstruction. (Ha’aretz)

Women in Gaza protest in front of the UNRWA headquarters to demand that the international community accelerate the reconstruction of Gaza. (Ma’an)

Hamas denies it is interested in a long-term ceasefire agreement with Israel in Gaza. (Ma’an)

The municipality of Jerusalem is blacklisting Palestinian residents suspected of security offenses. (Ha’aretz)

Israeli occupation forces level vast areas of land in the East Jerusalem town of al-Esawiya. (Ma’an) 

Israel’s Amb. to Sweden protests the pulling off the air of a cooking show because its presenter called Jerusalem the Jewish state’s “heart.” (JTA)

PM Netanyahu says there is a “worldwide effort” to topple him. (Reuters)

The Washington Post looks at Israel’s united Arab party. (Washington Post)

persistent Israeli ethnic divide may split the vote for Netanyahu in the upcoming election. (Reuters)

Israeli opposition leader Herzog is emerging as a credible challenger to Netanyahu. (New York Times)

95 captives, including some Kurdish fighters, escape from an ISIS-run prison in northern Syria. (Reuters)

Iraqi forces retake a town next to the militant-held city of Tikrit as they press their offensive against ISIS militants. (AP)

Pres. Assad seems more likely to survive the Syrian crisis than at any point since it began four years ago. (Reuters)

King Abdullah of Jordan likens ISIS to Nazism -- "an expansionist ideology based on hatred." (Jerusalem Post/Jordan Times)

suicide bomber kills a civilian and wounds 30 policemen in northern Sinai. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Ma’an/The National)

Democrats accuse GOP senators of undermining Pres. Obama in international talks to curb Iran's nuclear program. (AP/New York Times/Washington Post)

FM Zarif says a letter to Iranian leader by Republican lawmakers suggests that the US is “not trustworthy.” (AP/Times of Israel)

Commentary:

Anshel Pfeffer says to beat Netanyahu, Herzog needs to “lift Labor's old curse.” (Ha’aretz)

David Horovitz gives some insights on what to expect in the next Israeli election. (Times of Israel)

Steven Klein gives five reasons why Netanyahu will not be replaced in the upcoming election. (Ha’aretz)

Michael Weiss and Hassan Hassan look at the metamorphosis of an ISIS warrior. (Foreign Policy)

Hassan Barari says the key to Iran’s strategy of becoming a regional superpower is the development of its nuclear program. (Jordan Times)

Salman Aldossary says a P5+1 deal with Iran essentially benefits only Tehran and would come at the expense of everyone else. (Asharq al-Awsat)

The National says its time for an Arab NATO. (The National)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says the Arab world has a long history of ignorance regarding the importance and preservation of monuments and historic treasures. (Al Arabiya)

March 9th

News:

PM Netanyahu says Israel will not cede any territory to the Palestinians due to the current climate in the Middle East. (AP/New York Times/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Ynet)

Palestinian Chief Negotiator Erekat says Netanyahu never believed in the two-state solution, always choosing settlements over peace. (Jerusalem Post)

Egypt opens the Rafah crossing with Gaza for two days. (Ma’an)

Hamas accuses the PA security services of arresting dozens of its supporters across the West Bank. (Ma’an/Times of Israel/Ynet)

EU diplomats tell the PA that it is not doing enough to rebuild Gaza. (Ha’aretz)

Hamas reportedly sent a series of messages to Israel indicating an interest in a long-term ceasefire in exchange for an end to the blockade of Gaza. (Times of Israel)

Israeli occupation forces uproot 300 olive trees on private Palestinian land near Nablus. (Ma’an)

PNN publishes statistics regarding the conditions of Palestinian women. (PNN)

The White House names Robert Malley, former US peace negotiator, to lead the Middle East desk at the NSC. (JTA)

Israelis will vote in a parliamentary election on March 17, choosing among party lists of candidates to serve in the 120-seat Knesset. (Reuters)

The United Arab party is a surprise new force in the upcoming Israeli election. (Reuters)

Reuters profiles the leading candidates in Israel's parliamentary election, their main policies and where they stand on participation in a governing coalition. (Reuters)

Reports of tensions and aggressive recruitment tactics suggest that ISIS militants are struggling to keep supporters amid battlefield losses. (Washington Post)

Gen. Dempsey says some Iraqi troops set for US-led training to fight ISIS are showing up ill-prepared. (AP)

Iraqi DM al-Obeidi says his government is comfortable asking for and receiving help from Iran. (AP)

US-led coalition airstrike in Syria hits an oil refinery run by ISIS militants near the border with Turkey, killing 30 people. (AP)

Archaeologists and preservationists lament, that in areas held by ISIS, there is little they can do but document the destruction. (New York Times)

Saudi Arabia blocked a plan for Sweden's FM Wallstrom to address the Arab League. (Reuters)

Gen. Haftar is sworn in as army commander for the internationally recognized government in Libya. (Reuters)

Iran and IAEA officials hold talks in Tehran. (Reuters)

Pres. Obama says the US would "walk away" from nuclear talks with Iran if there's no acceptable deal. (AP/New York Times)

47 Republican senators warn that any agreement with Iran may be short-lived unless Congressapproves the deal. (AP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish says Israelis think they can completely ignore the reality of the Palestinian people and get away with it. (The National)

Barak Ravid says Netanyahu has shown his rightist colors with the latest policy flip-flop towards the Palestinians. (Ha’aretz)

Nahum Barnea says it's legitimate to reveal the gap between Netanyahu's rhetoric and the major concessions he offered the Palestinians. (Ynet)

J.J. Goldberg looks at why Netanyahu nixed the two-state solution. (The Forward)

Rami Khouri says the recommendation by the PCC to suspend security coordination with Israel illustrates the broken relationship between Palestinians and Israelis.  (Daily Star)

Adnan Abu Amer says Hamas is discussing steps it could take if Egypt decides to attack Gaza, as hinted by the Egyptian army. (Al-Monitor)

Amira Hass looks at the Palestinian boycotts of Israeli products and the broader impact. (Ha’aretz)

Gideon Levy says Israel’s Jews must vote for the Arab list. (Ha’aretz)

Zeev Sternhell says if he wants to win, opposition leader Herzog must convince Israelis that peace and prosperity are intertwined. (Ha’aretz)

David Horovitz interviews former finance minister Lapid. (Times of Israel)

Niv Gilboa looks at how upscale Palestinian cuisine is flourishing in Israel. (Al-Monitor)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says if Saudi Arabia accepts a solution by which Pres. Assad stays in power, it will have handed over Iraq, Syria and Lebanon to Iran. (Al Arabiya)

Peter Salisbury asks if Yemen is becoming the next Syria. (Foreign Policy)

Faisal Al Yafai says the language and ideas of political Islam have sidelined liberalism and secularism in the Middle East. (The National)

Amal Mousa looks at how Islamism and political Islam have damaged Islam. (Asharq al-Awsat)

March 6th

News:

The Palestinian Central Council (PCCrecommends halting security coordination with Israel. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Ma’an/PNN/Ha’aretz/The Media Line)

Israel says ties with the PLO remain unchanged. (Times of Israel)

A Palestinian motorist injures at least seven Israelis in a car attack near a Jerusalem tram stop. (Reuters/AP/Ma’an/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Some Palestinian factions praise the Jerusalem car attack. (Ma’an)

PM Netanyahu reportedly considered an agreement with the Palestinians that would have uprooted West Bank settlements and recognized Palestinian claims to Jerusalem. (JTA/Times of Israel/Ynet)

An American official says Pres. Obama wants to make a renewed effort to achieve progress in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

The only power plant in Gaza is set to resume operations after a fuel delivery today. (Ma’an)

Israeli forces open fire on Palestinians in southern Gaza. (Ma’an) 

Israel will resume imports of fruits and vegetables from Gaza for the first time since 2007. (Ha’aretz/Reuters)

Dovish Brig. Gen. (ret.) Sedaka has been appointed to liaise with Bedouins in the occupied West Bank. (Ha’aretz)

ISIS militants loot and bulldoze the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud. (Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post/The National)

Reports that ISIS's most notorious executioner “Jihadi John” was born on their soil has stirred deep unease among Kuwaitis. (Reuters) 

A study says while Twitter has suspended many users linked to ISIS, at least 46,000 accounts still publicize the group’s message. (New York Times)

The future of Syria’s Al-Nusra Front is in question after its military chief was killed in an apparent government air strike. (Reuters/AP)

The UNSC will vote on a US-drafted resolution to condemn the use of chlorine as a weapon in Syria. (Reuters/New York Times)

The EU has stepped up its sanctions against Syria in response to the crackdown by Pres. Assad's regime. (AP)

FM Zarif suggests that a 10-year moratorium on some aspects of the country's nuclear program might be acceptable to Tehran. (Reuters)

The UAE is lining up investors to try to stabilize Egypt’s damaged economy, while building military cooperation. (AP)

BP signs a $12 billion deal to develop a major gas field in Egypt. (AP/Reuters)

Commentary:

Shlomi Eldar says Hamas' focus on rebuilding its tunnels, while ignoring the plight of Gazans, points to the military wing's dominance in the organization. (Al-Monitor)

Adnan Abu Amer says the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood is accusing Hamas of establishing a secret organization within the kingdom. (Al-Monitor)

Asmaa al-Ghoul says despite Hamas restrictions, Gaza actresses are seeking stages. (Al-Monitor)

George Hishmeh hopes the upcoming Israeli elections will produce a more reasonable Israeli leadership. (Jordan Times)

Haviv Rettig-Gur says the man who will decide Israel’s election is Pres. Rivlin. (Times of Israel)

Roger Cohen says Netanyahu’s obsessive Iran demonization is based on hyperbole and selective history. (New York Times)

Fareed Zakaria says Netanyahu’s speech was “utterly divorced from reality.” (Washington Post)

Charles Krauthammer says Netanyahu offered a real alternative on Iran. (Washington Post)

Michael Gerson says the White House is conceding too much on Iran. (Washington Post)

Ha’aretz says Netanyahu’s Iran proposals deserve serious discussion after the election, even if he loses. (Ha’aretz)

David Ignatius says targeting terrorist leaders is not enough. (Washington Post)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says the battle for Tikrit is igniting a sectarian war in Iraq. (Al Arabiya)

David Kenner asks if Shiite militias in Iraq are doing more harm than good. (Foreign Policy)

Raed Omari says Iran has a colonial attitudes towards the Arab world. (Al Arabiya)

The Daily Star says its time for Arab states and the rest of the world to agree on a new approach to solving the conflict in Syria. (Daily Star)

 

 

March 5th

News:

Pres. Abbas accuses Israel of "gangsterism" over its decision to withhold Palestinian tax revenues. (Ynet)

As Israel goes to the polls, Palestinians expect little change. (The National)

Gaza’s sole power plant was shut down on Wednesday evening as Qatari-donated fuel supplies ran out. (Ma’an)

Extremist Jewish settlers torch two Palestinian cars and vandalize a building near Ramallah. (Ma’an/PNN/JTA/Times of Israel)

Unidentified assailants throw flammable material at the door of a Fatah leader's house in eastern Gaza. (Ma’an)

Israeli forces shoot and injure two Palestinian fishermen off the coast of Gaza. (Ma’an)

Three thousand women protest outside the Knesset calling for an Israeli-Palestinian peaceagreement. (JTA/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

The number of Palestinians working for Israelis on either side of the Green Line has doubled in the last 4 years. (Jerusalem Post)

Experts say PM Netanyahu may gain only a fleeting lift from his Congressional speech. (New York Times) 

FM Zarif says Iran “saved the Jews” three times and Netanyahu should “learn his history.” (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

American officials are reportedly hinting that replacing Amb. Dermer is key to mending US-Israel ties. (Ha’aretz)

A Chinese official at the P5+1 talks sees hope for a deal. (Reuters)

Sec. Kerry meets with King Salman and Gulf Arab FMs in Riyadh to reassure them on Iranian nuclear talks. (Reuters/AP/Washington Post/New York Times)

Egypt may import natural gas from Israel. (JTA/TheMarker)

Pres. Sisi reshuffles his cabinet and replaces the minister of interior. (AP)

Syrian government barrel bombs kill at least 18 in Aleppo. (AP)

The collapse of the Hazzm movement in Syria underlines the failure of efforts to unify Arab and Western support for mainstream insurgents. (Reuters)

Syria's Western-backed political opposition is trying to ally with opposition groups based in Syria to boost its legitimacy. (Reuters)

The US strategy in Iraq is increasingly relying on Iran. (New York Times)

Iraqis plan to take a leading role in driving ISIS out of Mosul. (New York Times)

Warplanes from Libya's internationally recognized government carry out air strikes on an airport in Tripoli. (Reuters)

Libya says 11 oil fields in the country are non-operational after attacks by suspected ISIS militants. (AP)

Commentary:

Rami Al-Magheiri looks at Hamas’ reaction to the Egyptian court ruling against it. (The Media Line)

Ha’aretz says right-wingers’ assault on Knesset members at a panel discussion this week was an act worthy of fascists. (Ha’aretz)

Shlomo Sand says a Jewish vote for the Arab list could be a decisive event in Israel’s short history. (Ha’aretz)

Ben Sales profiles Israeli opposition leader Herzog. (JTA)

AP interviews former Finance Minister Lapid. (AP)

Melanie Lidman looks at the group “Runners Without Borders” that brings Arab, Jewish, and Armenian girls together. (Times of Israel)

Nahum Barnea says Netanyahu’s top priority is elections, not Iran. (Ynet)

Akiva Eldar says focused on Iran, Netanyahu’s is ignoring Israel’s economic crisis. (Al-Monitor)

Alan Philps says the “grenade thrown” by Netanyahu in the US Capitol will leave lasting scars. (The National)

Aaron David Miller says its too early to say whether Netanyahu’s speech bought him votes in the Israeli election or time on the Iran deal. (Foreign Policy)

Peter Beinart says Jewish history offers no parallels for the situation Israel finds itself in today, but American history does. (Ha’aretz)

Ari Shavit says Netanyahu’s speech did not generate interest in the US because he framed the Iranian nuclear threat in Jewish and Israeli terms. (Ha’aretz)

E.J. Dionne says Netanyahu’s speech threatens US support for Israel. (Washington Post)

Michael Young says on Iran, Arabs deeply mistrust Pres. Obama. (Daily Star)

Joyce Karam says Netanyahu bruised Obama in Congress without killing the Iran deal. (Al Arabiya)

Samir Atallah says King Salman has a sound vision for Saudi Arabia. (Asharq al-Awsat)

March 4th

News:

PM Netanyahu says a potential nuclear agreement would "pave Iran's path to the bomb." (AP/New York Times/JTA/The National)

Pres. Obama says Netanyahu is offering no viable alternative to negotiations with Iran. (AP/New York Times/Ha’aretz)

Netanyahu says his speech to Congress offered a "practical alternative" to a possible Iranian nuclear deal. (AP/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

House Democratic leader Pelosi says she did not appreciate Netanyahu’s condescension and felt insulted. (AP)

Iran says Netanyahu’s speech was “boring and repetitive.” (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

The Washington Post looks at how Israel reacted to Netanyahu’s speech. (Washington Post)

Israeli opposition leader Herzog says Netanyahu’s speech will have no effect on negotiations with Iran. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

A day after Netanyahu’s warning, Iran and the P5+1 make “some progress.” (Reuters)

The US says Iran is far from achieving a working nuclear bomb, but others differ. (AP)

Sec. Kerry heads to Saudi Arabia to consult on negotiations with Iran. (AP)

Pres. Abbas says Israel has stripped his government of all authority to the point where it has "no real power over anything." (AP/Times of Israel)

Palestinian leaders begin a two-day meeting at which they could decide to suspend security coordination with Israel. (Reuters/Ynet/Jerusalem Post)

The UN Human Rights Council says Israel should investigate the killing of more than 1,500 Palestinian civilians during last summer’s war. (Ma’an/PNN/Reuters)

For the third month in the row the PA will pay its civil servants only 60 percent of their monthly wages, as a result of Israel withholding tax revenues. (Ma’an)

Israeli officials prevent 10 PLO officials from entering the occupied West Bank from Gaza. (Ma’an)

Israel says it will double the amount of water it channels annually to Palestinians in Gaza. (AFP)

Israeli authorities demolish four houses in the Bedouin village of Sawah in the Negev. (Ma’an)

British advertising watchdog bans an Israeli government tourism ad for representing the Old City of Jerusalem as being in Israel. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

The Media Line looks at the foreign policy positions of Israel’s political parties. (The Media Line)

Gen. Dempsey says Iran's direct intervention in Iraq could be "a positive thing." (AP)

former British Royal Marine is reportedly killed fighting ISIS in Syria. (Reuters/AP) 

King Abdullah says there will be no compromise or leniency when it comes to security and stability of Jordan. (Jordan Times)

Egypt’s cabinet approves a long-awaited draft law on investment. (Reuters)

Commentary:

David Ignatius looks at Netanyahu’s “zero-sum game” on Iran. (Washington Post)

Gholamali Khoshroo says the world should see through Netanyahu’s alarmist rhetoric about Iran. (New York Times)

Thomas Friedman says Netanyahu’s speech “rubbed him” the wrong way. (New York Times)

The New York Times says Netanyahu offered no new reasons to reject the agreement being negotiated by the US to constrain Iran’s nuclear program. (New York Times)

The Washington Post says Obama needs to provide real answers to Netanyahu’s arguments. (Washington Post)

The Forward says Netanyahu’s speech raises the stakes for the Obama administration. (The Forward)

The National says Netanyahu’s speech demonised Iran, but the real threat is Israel's own “apartheid strategy.” (The National)

The Daily Star says Netanyahu’s speech contained all of the predictable generalizations and sweeping statements that could have been expected. (Daily Star)

Natan Sachs says patience is Israel's best strategy against Iran. (Ha’aretz)

Lara Friedman debunks “11 lies” Netanyahu told Congress on Iran. (The Forward)

Paul Waldman says Netanyahu’s speech did not do his American allies any favors. (Washington Post)

Ha’aretz says Netanyahu’s forgot to mention the “real existential threat” to Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Raphael Ahren says amid the criticism, Netanyahu also signaled some readiness for compromise in his Congressional speech. (Times of Israel)

Yochi Dreazen says Netanyahu’s speech quietly signaled that he’d be willing to accept an Iranian deal. (Foreign Policy)

Zvi Bar’el says Netanyahu presents Congress a “warped view” of the Middle East. (Ha’aretz)

Yossi Mekelberg says Netanyahu’s speech offered no solutions, and leaves Israel internationally isolated. (Al Arabiya)

David Horovitz says Netanyahu’s speech was a “devastating and irrevocable indictment” of Obama. (Times of Israel)

Avner Cohen says an Iranian nuclear deal looks like a reasonable compromise. (Ha’aretz)

Haviv Rettig Gur looks at why Obama and Netanyahu hate each other. (Times of Israel)

Aaron Mann says the only thing Netanyahu has managed to secure as prime minister is his own political survival. (Huffington Post)

Elhanan Miller interviews the leader of the joint Arab list Ayman Odeh. (Times of Israel)

Elie Leshem profiles Palestinian activist Ali Abu Awwad who uses nonviolence to challenge the prejudices of his Arab and Jewish neighbors. (Times of Israel)

Shlomi Eldar asks if a US-Israel rift would benefit the Palestinians. (Al-Monitor)

Michael Young says urgent action is required to help Arab Christians. (The National)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed looks at Gulf-Egyptian military and economic cooperation. (Al Arabiya)

The Jordan Times says the battle for Mosul is symbolically a battle for all of Iraq. (Jordan Times)

March 3rd

News:

The PLO will reportedly lodge its first complaint against Israel for alleged war crimes at the ICC onApril 1. (AFP/JTA)

The EU is seeking to bolster the Quartet by closely involving Arab states. (Reuters)

Palestinians urging a boycott of Israeli products have begun confiscating goods in the West Bank. (AP)

Israeli occupation forces shoot and injure a young Palestinian man during clashes in the West Bank. (Ma’an)

A video shows Israeli soldiers urging dogs to attack a Palestinian child, who they claimed threw rocks at them. (Ma’an/Ha’aretz)

An Israeli student throws bottle at MK Zoabi. (Ma’an/PNN/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

PM Netanyahu will address Congress today. (Reuters/New York Times/AP/Washington Post/Times of Israel)

49 Democrat members of Congress will not attend Netanyahu’s speech today. (New York Times/JTA/Ha’aretz)

Many in Iran have been awaiting the address by Netanyahu because they hope his blunt approach will turn American public opinion against him. (New York Times)

poll indicates Netanyahu is as popular as ever in the US. (Ha’aretz)

Deputy Sec. Blinken warns tensions with Israel could last until the end of the Obama administration in 2016. (Ynet)

Iraqi forces try to seal off ISIS around Tikrit. (Reuters/The National)

An American intelligence official says Iran is involved in the fight against ISIS in Iraq. (AP)

A new study says Syria’s civil war can be linked, in part, to a record drought worsened by global warming. (AP/New York Times)

Pres. Obama says Iran must commit to a verifiable freeze of at least 10 years on sensitive nuclear activity for a deal to be reached. (Reuters)

Iran calls Obama’s 10-year nuclear demand “unacceptable.” (Reuters/Times of Israel)

NSA Rice says a bad nuclear deal with Iran is worse than no deal at all. (AP/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Commentary:

The Jordan Times says a lasting solution to radicalism and extremism in the region must begin with ending the Israeli occupation. (Jordan Times)

Adnan Abu Amer looks at women’s role in Hamas. (Al-Monitor)

Shibley Telhami says the consequences of Netanyahu’s speech for Israel in American politics may be long lasting. (Foreign Policy)

Faisal Abbas says Netanyahu gets it right when it comes to dealing with Iran. (Al Arabiya)

Anshel Pfeffer says Netanyahu is in Washington to ensure he sees the White House from the inside next time he's in town. (Ha’aretz)

Amos Harel looks at what’s missing from Netanyahu’s arguments in Washington. (Ha’aretz)

Hassan Barari looks at Netanyahu’s “showdown” with Obama. (Jordan Times)

Nahum Barnea says Netanyahu’s speech will be judged by its effect on an Iranian deal. (Ynet)

Richard Cohen says Israel’s “moral argument” is on the line. (Washington Post)

Gregg Carlstrom says Netanyahu’s Washington speech is being criticized by Israeli spies, generals, and pundits. (Foreign Policy)

Bradley Burston says Netanyahu’s Congress speech is not really about Iran. (Ha’aretz)

David Hazony says Netanyahu should speak to Congress. (The Forward)

Akiva Eldar asks if Obama has a “secret weapon” against Netanyahu. (Al-Monitor)

The New York Times says ISIS’s needs are so great that shutting down its financing is a major opportunity for the West. (New York Times)

Maajid Nawaz says Britain’s universities have been infiltrated by Islamist extremists for years. (New York Times)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed looks at how ISIS’ exploits girls and women. (Al Arabiya)

March 2nd

News:

Gaza residents fear more isolation after an Egyptian court declares Hamas a terrorist organization. (AP)

Hamas supporters rally in Gaza against the Egyptian court ruling. (Ma’an)

Hamas is reportedly trying to mend its relationship with Iran. (Times of Israel)

Gaza’s only power plant is due to shut down by the end of this week as donor funding for fuel has run out. (Ma’an)

Israel says it has busted an Israeli-Palestinian smuggling ring that funneled iron, electronic equipment and other prohibited materials to Gaza. (AP/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

A Palestinian court postpones its verdict in the graft trial of exiled former Fatah official Dahlan. (AFP) 

King Abdullah of Jordan says the absence of Middle East peace will complicate the anti-terror fight.  (Jordan Times)

Israeli occupation forces detain eight Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)

The IDF calls up 13000 reservists and holds a surprise training exercises in the occupied West Bank. (JTA)

The US and Israel show signs of seeking to defuse tensions ahead of a speech in Washington by PM Netanyahu. (Reuters/Washington Post) 

Netanyahu and top US officials are set to face off in dueling speeches on the high-stakes Iran nuclear negotiations. (AP/New York Times)

Sec. Kerry accuses the UN Human Rights Council of being obsessed by allegations of Israeli abuses. (Reuters/Washington Post/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

The Iraqi army and Shiite militias launch an offensive to retake Tikrit from ISIS. (Reuters/AP/Washington Post/New York Times/The National)

Former Sec. Powell says the failure of Iraqi government allowed ISIS to flourish. (The National)

AP looks at how “Islamic is ISIS.” (AP)

Pres. Sisi meets with King Salman in Riyadh to discuss Middle East crises. (Reuters/The National)

PM Ensour announces a cabinet reshuffle. (Reuters/Jordan Times)

Audio recordings of senior Egyptian officials suggest that when Morsi was president, the UAE gave the Egyptian Defense Ministry money for a protest campaign against him. (New York Times)

The Washington Post looks at the conditions inside a Saudi prison. (Washington Post)

FM Zarif says a nuclear deal hinges on the US will to lift sanctions. (Reuters)

Kerry warns that a public discussion of details of the ongoing P5+1 negotiations with Iran will make itmore difficult to reach a deal. (AP/New York Times/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Commentary:

Ahmad Melhem says recent clashes in the West Bank between security forces and protesters have triggered Palestinian fears that stability will be difficult to restore. (Al-Monitor)

Moshe Arens says the reason prospects of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement are hardly discussed ahead of the election is that the vast majority of Israelis don’t believe in them. (Ha’aretz)

Avi Issacharoff says Netanyahu’s electoral trip to Washington will ignore the occupied West Bank to Israel’s peril. (Times of Israel)

Nahum Barnea asks if Netanyahu’s speech is “historic or hysteric.” (Ynet)

David Rothkopf says Pres. Obama needs to refocus the discussion on the larger Mideast strategy. (Foreign Policy)

Yochi Dreazen and Colum Lynch profile Amb. Dermer. (Foreign Policy)

Rami Khouri says Netanyahu is threatening the US-Israel relationship. (Daily Star)

Don Futterman asks AIPAC delegates to stand with Israel and not with Netanyahu. (Ha’aretz)

Jackson Diehl says in appealing to Congress, Netanyahu may win votes but hurt ties. (Washington Post)

Ray Takeyh looks at Ayatollah Khamenei’s “strategic genius.” (Washington Post)

The Daily Star looks at the repercussions of an Iranian nuclear deal. (Daily Star)

Hussein Ibish says organisations that counter extremism struggle to find funding. (The National)

Robert Grenier says we should remember that the threat posed to the US by radical Islam, while real, is not an existential one. (New York Times)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says Iran is at Saudi Arabia’s frontiers. (Al Arabiya)

Hisham Melhem says an Arab world without its Christian communities will be more insular, more rigid, less hospitable and more desolate. (Al Arabiya)

Gerard Russell says it would be tragic if the Assyrians leave the region. (The National)


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