February 13th, 2015

News:

An IDF security assessment says the PA could collapse at any moment. (Jerusalem Post)

Pres. Abbas is visiting Belgium to rally support for Palestinian statehood. (Jerusalem Post)

Israel releases 14-year old Palestinian schoolgirl Malak al-Khatib after a two month prison term. (Ma’an/Times of Israel)

Israeli forces open fire at Palestinian homes and farmers in southern Gaza. (Ma’an/PNN)

Jordan’s Amb. to Israel Obeidat visits the al-Aqsa Mosque. (Ma’an)

DM Ya’alon is pushing for a water hookup in order to open the new Palestinian city of Rawabi. (Jerusalem Post)

Israel’s Supreme Court upholds a lower court decision in the civil case of US peace activist Rachel Corrie. (Ha’aretz/AFP)

ISIS says it is holding a Palestinian citizen of Israel it claimsis an Israeli spy. (JTA/Times of Israel/Ynet)

A bomb blast hits a Turkish checkpoint near the Syrian border, injuring three people. (Reuters/AP)

UN Envoy de Mistura says Pres. Assad must be part of the solution for easing violence in Syria. (Reuters)

ISIS extremists take control of large parts of the Iraqi town of al-Baghdadi, threatening an air base where US Marines are training Iraqi troops. (Reuters)

Italy and Germany announce the temporary closure of their embassies in Yemen. (AP)

An American official says US intelligence was surprised by the collapse of the US-backed government in Yemen. (AP)

Pres. Hollande says Egypt will order 24 Rafale fighter jets, a naval frigate and related military equipment. (Reuters/AP)

Pres. Erdogan criticizes Pres. Obama for his silence over Chapel Hill shooting. (AP)

Two Saudi women are freed after 73 days in jail for driving. (New York Times/The National)

Commentary:

Aaron David Miller says Obama is pursuing regime change in Israel. (Foreign Policy)

Avi Issacharoff look at the "inside story" of the negotiations between former Pres. Peres and Abbas that almost led to a framework agreement in 2011. (Times of Israel)

Yuli Tamir says FM Lieberman's peace plan is a subversive and dangerous scheme. (Ha’aretz)

Hazem Balousha says Hamas and former Palestinian official Dahlan share enmity toward Abbas. (Al-Monitor)

Eva Illouz says PM Netanyahu has made fear blatantly define his political discourse. (Ha’aretz)

George Hishmeh says Netanyahu’s recent actions are likely to cripple his attempt to regain his country’s premiership. (Jordan Times)

Ben Caspit says Lieberman and Economy Minister Bennett are battling for the defense portfolio. (Al-Monitor) 

Steven Klein says Hezbollah gave Israel a text-book lesson in retaliation without escalation.(Ha’aretz)

Majid Rafizadeh says Ayatollah Khamenei and Obama are in agreement. (Al Arabiya)

February 12th

News:

The UN warns of another potential conflict in Gaza, urging Israel to lift its blockade and Palestinian political parties to end in-fighting. (AFP)

Palestinian Finance Minister Bishara says Israel's freeze on Palestinian tax revenues is costing the PA 70 percent of its budget. (Ma’an)

Pres. Abbas and former Pres. Peres reportedly were on the verge of signing a peace agreement in 2011. (Ma’an/Times of Israel)

14-year-old Palestinian schoolgirl jailed by Israel will be released from prison custody on Friday. (Ma’an)

A Fatah official says a PLO delegation will head to Gaza soon in order to work on the reconstruction crisis. (Ma’an)

An EU official denies there will be new sanctions against Israel. (JTA)

Israel’s Interior Ministry unlawfully transferred $16 million to settlements. (Ha’aretz) 

Israel says it has intercepted a boat carrying weapons-making materials en route to Gaza from Sinai. (AP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

The former head of the Gaza inquiry, William Schabas, says he faced pressure and threats. (New York Times)

Israel disqualifies controversial Arab MK Hanin Zoabi from running in upcoming election. (AP/PNN/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

A poll indicates Americans disapprove of PM Netanyahu’s invitation, but want Pres. Obama to meet with him anyway. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Former Sec. Albright accuses Netanyahu of interfering in American internal affairs. (Ha’aretz)

An Egyptian court orders the release of two Al Jazeera journalists. (AP/Reuters/New York Times/The National)

An Egyptian prosecutor imposes a media gag order on the case of the death of a female protester killed during a peaceful demonstration. (AP)

An ISIS magazine claims to interview Hayat Boumediene who was involved in the Paris attacks. (Washington Post)

The US-led anti-ISIS coalition has 60 minutes to save a pilot behind enemy lines. (The National/Jordan Times)

Al-Qaeda-linked fighters seize an army base in Yemen after the UN warns that the country is on the brink of civil war. (Reuters/AP/New York Times)

King Salman is changing and shaping Saudi Arabia’s contours of power. (Reuters)

The EU is expected to reimpose sanctions on an Iranian oil tanker firm. (Reuters)

Commentary:

Gershon Baskin says Israeli candidates must present their parties vision regarding the future of relations with the Palestinians. (Jerusalem Post)

Ari Shavit says with Obama and Netanyahu “lost,” opposition leader Herzog must lead. (Ha’aretz)

Akiva Eldar asks what it means to be a modern Zionist. (Al-Monitor)

Haviv Rettig Gur profiles former Amb. Oren. (Times of Israel)

Brian Schaefer says Jon Stewart made it okay to be ambivalent about Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Joyce Karam says militias are “winning the Arab Spring.” (Al Arabiya)

Michael Young says Arab countries have made the campaign against ISIS a priority, undermining the primacy of the struggle against the Syrian dicatorship. (Daily Star)

Hussein Shobokshi compares Pres. Assad to Saddam Hussein. (Asharq al-Awsat)

David Ignatius says the Kurds need weapons now because the fight in northern Iraq is not finished. (Washington Post)

The New York Times says Obama’s war authorization should trigger debate about the goals and scope of the military intervention against ISIS. (New York Times)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed asks if Assad would still commit the crime of assassinating former Lebanese PM Hariri if he were to go back in time. (Al Arabiya)

Alan Philps says Russia is forging new alliances in the Middle East in order to diversify its foreign policy. (The National)

Roger Cohen warns not to expect more from a nuclear deal with Iran than is reasonable. (New York Times)

 

February 11th

News:

Pres. Abbas says he will work to revive peace talks with Israel. (AP)

Abbas inaugurates the new Palestinian embassy in Sweden. (Ma’an/Times of Israel/Reuters)

The upcoming Israeli election is not demonstrating much interest in the Palestinian issue. (AP)

The EU is reportedly preparing new sanctions against settlements which are to be enacted following the Israeli election. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Israel earmarks 500 acres of private Palestinian land for annexation in Hebron. (Ma’an)

Egypt has reportedly killed a Hamas commander in Sinai. (Times of Israel)

Israeli forces raid the Abu Dis protest camp for the fifth time. (Ma’an/PNN)

PA security forces are continuing to arrest wanted fugitives currently hiding in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus. (Ma’an)

PM Netanyahu says it is his duty to give his upcoming speech to Congress. (New York Times/Times of Israel)

Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy and Congressional Black Caucus members will skip Netanyahu’s speech. (AFP/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

poll indicates Israelis are seeing a deterioration in ties with the US under Netanyahu. (Ha’aretz)

An Israeli film gives voice to soldiers’ self-doubts after the 1967 war. (Reuters)

An American official says the number of foreign fighters traveling to join ISIS or rival militant groups in Syria is continuing to grow. (Reuters/The National)

ISIS, which had held Kayla Mueller captive since August 2013, sends her parents at least three photographs of her corpse as proof of death. (New York Times)

Thousands of Yemenis protest against the Houthi takeover after the US, Britain and France close their embassies over security fears. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/The National)

Reuters looks at how the Houthis were able to drive Yemen into a political vacuum. (Reuters)

The Washington Post profiles a key player in Yemen’s political crisis, former Pres. Saleh. (Washington Post)

A group of Al-Qaeda supporters in Yemen pledge allegiance to ISIS. (Reuters)

Pres. Putin says Russia will help Egypt build its first nuclear power plant. (AP)

Commentary:

Yossi Mekelberg says by now Palestinians in Gaza have little trust in anyone, not even UNWRA. (Al Arabiya)

Danny Yatom says the Arab and Israeli peace initiatives are the only way forward. (Ynet)

Peter Beinart says Netanyahu’s is destroying the traditional American Jewish establishment and building a new one in its place. (Ha’aretz)

Ben Sales looks at V15’s “ground game” to unseat Netanyahu in the next election. (JTA)

Salman Masalha says Israel’s Palestinian citizens and liberals are not great leftists. (Ha’aretz)

Osama Al Sharif says King Abdullah’s call for an Arab-Muslim coalition to fight extremism must be acknowledged by leaders, clerics and academics. (Jordan Times)

Rami Khouri says the collapse of Yemen is an example of the structural weaknesses that plague many countries in the Arab world. (Daily Star)

Michael Young asks if a P5+1 deal would lead to America’s acceptance of a dominant role for Iran in the Middle East. (The National)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says poor education is “the mother of all problems” in the region. (Al Arabiya)

 

February 10th

News:

Pres. Abbas will meet with Swedish PM Lofven today. (Reuters/AFP/Jerusalem Post)

The PA will ban the entry of products by six major Israeli companies. (Ma’an/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz)

Pres. Rivlin launches a project to help integrate Palestinian citizens of Israel into the workforce. (JTA)

Five Fatah members from occupied East Jerusalem are indicted on terrorism charges. (JTA/Times of Israel)

Israeli forces demolish the home of a Palestinian family in Lod. (Ma’an)

Israeli occupation forces demolish a home in occupied East Jerusalem, displacing 14 Palestinians. (Ma’an)

Suicide rates are on the rise in Gaza. (Al-Monitor)

Two smugglers are killed in a exchange of fire on the Israeli-Egyptian border. (Ha’aretz/Ma’an/Times of Israel)

Israeli officials are reportedly considering changing the format of PM Netanyahu’s speech before Congress. (Reuters/Ha’aretz)

Pres. Obama and Netanyahu clash from afar over the Congressional speech. (New York Times/PNN)

Obama will send his new ISIS war powers request to Congress. (AP)

The UAE resumes airstrikes against ISIS. (New York Times/Washington Post/The National)

Pres. Assad says third parties, including Iraq, are conveying information to Damascus about the US-led campaign against ISIS. (Reuters/The National)

The EU launches a program to disrupt networks of “jihadis” going to the Middle East. (AP)

Pres. Putin meets with Pres. Sisi as Russia seeks to boost its ties with Egypt. (AFP)

Islamist militants set off five bombs in Alexandria following which 15 suspected extremists are killed by air raids in Sinai. (Reuters)

Egypt suspends its major soccer league following the recent stadium tragedy. (Reuters/New York Times)

Sisi calls Arab Gulf leaders to assure them that audio recordings that purportedly show him and a top aide mocking them are fake. (AP)

Jordan and Bahrain agree to cooperate in air defence. (Jordan Times)

Obama says its time for Iran to decide if it wants a nuclear deal with the P5+1. (Reuters/AP/JTA)

Commentary:

Amos Harel says a weak and desperate Hamas is trying to rebuild itself. (Ha’aretz)

Neri Zilber says Gaza reconstruction is stalled because of the Fatah-Hamas deadlock. (WINEP)

Nadav Tamir says Europe is not hostile to Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Shmuel Rosner says Netanyahu should abandon his speech before Congress. (New York Times)

Hassan Hassan says as long as the foreign intervention in Syria lacks focus, the fight against ISIS will continue to be futile. (The National)

Zvi Bar’el says the US-led coalition is fighting ISIS with no clear goal. (Ha’aretz)

Tariq Alhomayed says Arabs boots on the ground are needed to defeat ISIS. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Diana Moukalled urges a boycott of ISIS videos. (Asharq al-Awsat)

James Traub says the US can do very little to alter the course of events in the Middle East right now. (Foreign Policy)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says Egypt’s stability is vital to the security of the entire Arab world. (Al Arabiya)

Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor says the GCC was slow to realize how dangerous the situation in Yemen has become. (Al Arabiya)

Ryan Crocker, Robert Ford, James Jeffrey and Ronald Neumann say the US needs to keep its ambassador in Yemen. (The Hill)

David Ignatius says the US must proceed with caution on Iranian diplomacy. (Washington Post)

The Washington Post says Jason Rezaian is being used as a human pawn by the Iranian regime. (Washington Post)

February 9th

News:

Pres. Abbas orders the formation of a committee to oversee initiatives aimed at the ICC. (AFP)

The Middle East Quartet calls for the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. (JTA/Ynet) 

Pres. Putin says both Israel and the Palestinians need to make concessions to each other. (Jerusalem Post)

Fatah official al-Ahmed will meet with Hamas official Abu Marzouq in Cairo. (Ma’an)

The PA will pay civil servants a portion of January’s salary. (Ma’an)

The Israeli military completes the demolition of a Gaza tunnel discovered duringlast summer’s war. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Ynet)

Israel is preparing major expansions in four West Bank settlements. (Ha’aretz)

Israel publishes tenders for 580 new hotel rooms in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)

Israeli forces open fire on a march east of Gaza City to protest delays of reconstruction. (Ma’an) 

The inability to travel freely between Gaza and the occupied West Bank affects thousands of Palestinians. (New York Times)

An extremist Jewish settler is sentenced to three years in prison for a “price tag” attack. (JTA/Times of Israel)

PM Netanyahu says he will go to Congress like he went to Paris and “speak for all Jews.” (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Israeli parties are seeking to obtain the ethnic-Russian vote in the upcoming elections. (Reuters)

Netanyahu accuses the publisher of the influential newspaper Yediot Ahronot of carrying out a smear campaign against him. (AP)

Jordan says its airstrikes are targeting ISIS leadership in Syria. (Washington Post/Jordan Times)

A squadron of UAE airforce F-16 fighter jets arrive in Jordan. (Jordan Times)

Gen. Allen says Iraqi troops will launch an extensive ground offensive against ISIS  “in the weeks ahead.” (The National/ABC News)

Sec. Kerry says the US-led coalition is “on the road” to defeat ISIS. (Politico)

An Iraqi commander, Hadi al-Amiri, defends Shi'ite paramilitary groups from accusations of mass executions and burning homes. (Reuters)

The end of Baghdad’s curfew brings hope and fear to its residents. (New York Times)

25 people are killed outside an Egyptian soccer stadium when security forces triedto block fans. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/The National)

Egypt sets a retrial date for two jailed Al Jazeera journalists. (Reuters/New York Times)

An Egyptian tycoon and former Mubarak ally Ahmed Ezz is seeking to run again for parliament. (New York Times)

Ayatollah Khamenei says he could accept a compromise in nuclear talks. (Reuters)

FM Zarif says he hopes charges against Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaianwill be cleared. (Washington Post)

Commentary:

Felice Friedson interviews Palestinian professor Mohammed Dajani. (The Media Line)

Ha’aretz says Netanyahu must call off his speech to Congress. (Ha’aretz)

Ben-Dror Yemeni says Netanyahu must not go to Washington. (Ynet) 

David Horovitz asks who to believe on Iran: Pres. Obama or Netanyahu. (Times of Israel)

Amos Harel says the ISIS threat is bringing Jordan and Egypt closer to Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Elise Labott and Jeremy Diamond say the crucial security relationship between Jordan and Israel is gaining new meaning after the brutal execution of a Jordanian pilot. (CNN)

Eyad Abu Shakra says Israeli occupation and the Iranian expansion in the region have played a major role in increasing religious and sectarian extremism. (Al Arabiya)

Hisham Melhem says moderate Muslims in the Arab world are “intellectually homeless.” (Al Arabiya)

Rami Khouri says Jordan’s public opinion, political leadership and regional and international dynamics today offer insights into the current condition of the Arab world. (Daily Star)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says ISIS sees Jordan as the best candidate for its next target. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Amer Al Sabaileh says Jordan must address the ideas, tools and the environment that allows ideologies such as that of ISIS to grow. (Jordan Times)

Faisal Al Yafai says, while the West is consumed by ISIS, Pres. Assad continues to slaughter Syrians. (The National)

Jamie Dettmer says ISIS extremists are facing their own internal “reign of terror.” (Daily Beast)

Tariq Alhomayed says extremists are targeting Egypt to create the impression of complete chaos. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Hussein Ibish says Yemen faces a perfect trifecta of fatal maladies – civil war, terrorism and secession - and faces national disintegration. (The National)

David Rothkopf says Obama’s new national security strategy is many things but a strategy isn’t one of them. (Foreign Policy)

The Daily Star says Iran is making tiny concessions on its nuclear program while reaping huge benefits elsewhere. (Daily Star)

Peter Manseau says Islam is an indelible part of America’s culture. (New York Times)

February 6th

News:

A Palestinian official says $12 million in aid donations will be distributed to Palestinians displaced by last summer’s Gaza war. (Ma’an)

The UAE is funneling funds to Gaza through former Palestinian official Dahlan. (Times of Israel)

UN Middle East Envoy Serry warns Israel is on a dangerous path to a one-state reality. (Ynet) 

Pres. Rivlin calls for the building of a new city to accommodate Israel’s growing Arab minority. (JTA)

An EU official defends its funding for “unlicensed” construction of hundreds of buildings for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. (JTA/Jerusalem Post)

Israeli occupation forces shoot and injure a Palestinian man in Hebron after he attempted to grab a soldier’s gun. (Ma’an)

Hamas says the PA was responsible for pointing Israel toward nearly a third of its Gaza targets in the conflict last summer. (Times of Israel)

A joint Arab list hopes to win 15 seats in the upcoming Israeli election. (The Media Line)

An Israeli official suggests that PM Netanyahu had been misled into thinking an invitation to address Congress was fully supported by the Democrats. (Reuters/Jerusalem Post)

A Jewish American leader Malcom Hoenlein says American funding should be kept out of Israeli elections. (JTA)

Thousands of Jordanians rally in Amman, urging King Abdullah to step up airstrikesagainst ISIS. (Reuters/Jordan Times)

prominent Jihadi preacher criticizes ISIS after being released from more than three months in detention in Jordan. (AP/New York Times/The National)

Syrian Kurds celebrate after pushing ISIS out of Kobani. (Reuters)

Syrian air force strikes kill 82 in an opposition-held district outside of Damascus. (Reuters)

Recent ISIS setbacks in Syria suggest the group is under strain but far from collapse in the Syrian part of its self-declared caliphate. (Reuters)

ISIS extremists publish a manifesto for women living under their rule, including marriage for girls at age nine. (The Telegraph)

A report says the EU must agree on intercepting Skype conversations to help stop the flow of European citizens returning from Syria. (Reuters)

The Houthis say they will release a “constitutional declaration” in Yemen. (AP)

Commentary:

Adnan Abu Amer says Hamas is reaching out to the new Saudi leadership in an effort to reestablish ties. (Al-Monitor)

Amos Harel says Israel must ensure tension with Hezbollah and Hamas doesn't escalate. (Ha’aretz)

Raphael Ahren asks if Netanyahu should cancel his speech to Congress. (Times of Israel)

The New York Times says the video of the murder of the Jordanian pilot has succeeded in fostering rage and revulsion against ISIS throughout the Arab world. (New York Times)

Abdallah Schleifer says the father of the murdered pilot and thousands of other Jordanians are powerfully demanding that Jordan “annihilate ISIS.” (Al Arabiya)

The Jordan Times defends the decision to execute the two terrorists. (Jordan Times)

Fareed Zakaria says the international community must deny ISIS the overreaction it wants. (Washington Post)

Charles Krauthammer says ISIS is seeking to destabilize Jordan by drawing it deeply into the conflict. (Washington Post)

Salman Aldossary says the story of ISIS is one of a group that has shown limitless immorality, sadism and brutality in its dealings with everybody. (Asharq al-Awsat)

The Washington Post says the emerging Iranian nuclear deal raises major concerns. (Washington Post)

Eric Yoffie says the Republicans will be no tougher on Iran than Pres. Obama. (Ha’aretz)

February 5th

News:

Israel withholds tax revenues from the PA for the second month in a row. (JTA/The Media Line/Jerusalem Post)

The PA urges the EU to pressure  Israel to release withheld tax revenues. (Times of Israel)

An unnamed international diplomat says Pres. Abbas may halt security cooperation with Israel unless the state of Palestine is established. (Jerusalem Post)

Nikolay Mladenov, currently UN Iraq envoy, will replace Robert Serry as UN Mideast envoy. (Ha’aretz)

Three Palestinian security officers are injured in armed clashes with gunmen in Balata refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an/Times of Israel)

Hamas leader Zahhar says there will be no new prisoner swap with Israel until all prisoners from the Shalit deal are released. (Ma’an/Jerusalem Post)

Israeli occupation forces raid a Palestinian high school in the West Bank. (Ma’an)

PM Netanyahu rejects the criticism over his upcoming Congress speech and says his duty is to warn about Iran. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Israeli officials fail to calm a furor created by Netanyahu’s planned speech to Congress and quell a “Democratic revolt” that has dozens threatening a boycott. (Politico/Times of Israel/JTA/Ha’aretz)

bipartisan group of American lawmakers demands that the UN enforce all Security Council resolutions. (JTA)

The UN will appoint a panel to investigate the killing of one of its peacekeepers by Israeli troops near the Israel-Lebanon border. (New York Times/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

Hundreds of Palestinians rally in solidarity with Jordan against ISIS. (Ma’an)

Jordanian fighter jets carry out new airstrikes in Syria, after King Abdullah vows to wage a “harsh war” against ISIS. (AP/Reuters/The National/Jordan Times)

The UN says ISIS is systematically killing, torturing and raping children and families of minority groups in Iraq. (AP)

ISIS has executed three Chinese militants who tried to flee. (Reuters)

Foreign fighters reportedly keep joining ISIS in large numbers despite the American-led bombing campaign. (Daily Beast)

Fox News website posts the unedited ISIS execution video of a Jordanian pilot. (New York Times)

PM al-Abadi says Baghdad’s decade-old curfew will end on Saturday. (Reuters/AP)

Peter Greste, an Al-Jazeera journalist who was detained in Egypt, arrives home in Australia. (Reuters/AP)

One person is killed in an attack on a restaurant north of Cairo. (Reuters)

Al-Qaeda in Yemen says a senior cleric was among four people killed in a recent US drone strike in the country's south. (AP)

American officials have praised the Saudi government for cracking down on terrorism, but suspicions of a past, tacit alliance with Al Qaeda have resurfaced again. (New York Times)

Houthi leaders and former Pres. Saleh reportedly strike a power-sharing deal in Yemen. (Asharq al-Awsat) 

Sec. Kerry will meet FM Zarif in Germany on Saturday. (AP)

Pres. Rouhani accuses the West of distorting Iran’s nuclear policies. (New York Times)

Commentary:

Ha’aretz says Israel is obliged to investigate military conduct during last summer’s Gaza war. (Ha’aretz)

Gideon Levy says getting the head of the UN panel fired won't change the outcome of its probe into possible war crimes committed in Gaza. (Ha’aretz)

Roger Cohen says Israel’s future is on the line in the March 17 elections. (New York Times)

Barnett Rubin says Netanyahu and Speaker Boehner are wrong to think they know what Iran wants. (Washington Post)

The Jordan Times says Jordanians are once again brought together as one by a tragic act of savagery. (Jordan Times)

David Kenner profiles the men who support ISIS in Jordan. (Foreign Policy)

Benjamin Fishman says Jordan can play a leading role in coordinating a more aggressive strategy to counter ISIS’ messages and appeal. (Al Arabiya)

Michael Young says ISIS has a reached a decisive turning point with the murder of the Jordanian pilot. (Daily Star)

Joyce Karam says, by murdering the Jordanian pilot, ISIS has effectively hastened its own demise. (Al Arabiya)

Alan Philps says the horrific burning of a Jordanian pilot by ISIS is testing the cohesion of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. (The National)

Matthew Levitt looks at the search for the late Hezbollah military commander Imad Mughniyeh. (The Hill)

The New York Times asks if anyone will be held accountable for abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison. (New  York Times)

Michael Young says the US should be careful not to emulate traditional British policies in the Middle East. (The National)

Jamal Khashoggi says the Middle East needs Saudi-American-Turkish cooperation. (Al Arabiya)

February 4th

News:

The UN names American judge Mary McGowan Davis to lead an investigation into the 2014 Gaza conflict. (New York Times/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

The Israeli army is reportedly planning to indict several soldiers who fought in Gaza last summer on charges of looting. (Ha’aretz)

14-year-old Palestinian schoolgirl jailed by Israel has become a symbol of Palestinian anger over the arresting of children. (AFP)

Israeli occupation forces detain 11 Palestinian teenagers in the occupied territories. (Ma’an/PNN)

Fatah official Rajoub compares PM Netanyahu to Hitler. (Times of Israel)

Israeli occupation forces raid protest tents set up near Abu Dis in East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)

An annual campaign to plant one million trees on land facing possible annexation in the occupied West Bank kicks off in Hebron. (Ma’an)

The White House’s top Middle East official, Phil Gordon, will speak in Israel later this month at a conference on security. JTA)

Many Democrats are considering skipping Netanyahu’s address to Congress. (Ynet/Jerusalem Post)

Jordan executes two Iraqi terrorists in response to an ISIS video showing captured Jordanian pilot Mouath al-Kasaesbeh being burnt alive. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Washington Post/The National/Jordan Times) 

Pres. Obama and King Abdullah vow not to let up in the fight against ISIS. (AP/AFP) 

The father of the murdered pilot says Jordanians must stand united behind their leadership in the fight against terrorism. (Jordan Times)

Political leaders and Muslim clerics in the Middle East denounce the burning alive of al-Kasaesbeh as “un-Islamic.” (Reuters/AP)

The UNSC says the world should help Jordan in fighting terrorism. (Jordan Times)

The EU criticizes Jordan’s decision to execute two terrorists. (Ha’aretz)

Many in Congress support increased military assistance to Jordan. (AP/JTA)

American officials hope the murder of al-Kasaesbeh will toughen Jordan's resolve in the fight against ISIS. (Reuters)

The UAE, a key-US ally in the fight against ISIS, reportedly suspended airstrikes in December after al-Kasaesbeh was captured. (New York Times/AFP)

video showing ISIS extremists burning alive al-Kasasbeh raises the question of which images news outlets should use. (New York Times)

Reuters looks at Egypt’s fight against extremists in Sinai. (Reuters)

Saudi oil is seen as a lever to lure Russia away from Pres. Assad. (New York Times)

Commentary:

Asmaa al-Ghoul says in light of physical assaults and abuses in Gaza and the West Bank, some Palestinian journalists engage in self-censorship. (Al-Monitor)

Ali Ibrahim says Hamas is not only a security risk but its existence and actions are a serious impediment to the Palestinian cause. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Ben Caspit says Israel has accepted Hamas rule in Gaza. (Al-Monitor)

Zvi Bar’el asks who is going to save Gaza. (Ha’aretz)

Anders Persson says EU member states have the power to create an international consensus for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Ha’aretz)

Thomas Friedman says Netanyahu’s forthcoming speech before Congress is a “bad mistake.” (New York Times)

Peter Beinart critiques Israel’s “arrogant” Amb. to the US Dermer. (Ha’aretz)

The Jordan Times says Jordan, along with its allies, will wipe out ISIS and its ideology.(Jordan Times)

The National says the brutal killing of the Jordanian pilot must only increase the world’s resolve against ISIS. (The National)

Theodore Karasik says Jordan’s military and special operation forces are likely to be unleashed to track down and eliminate ISIS on Syrian territory. (Al Arabiya)

Sean Naylor and Lara Jakes ask if ISIS’ last hostages can be saved. (Foreign Policy)

Kenneth Pollack says for real peace in Iraq, the US must insist that Shiites and Sunnis share power. (New York Times)

Aki Peritz says the Iraqi government is unwittingly subsidizing ISIS. (New York Times)

David Ignatius looks at King Salman’s decisive leadership changes in Saudi Arabia. (Washington Post)

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum says governments must innovate or become irrelevant. (Asharq al-Awsat)

February 3rd

News:

A UN inquiry into possible war crimes in last summer’s Gaza war will produce its report on time next month despite the resignation of its chairman. (Reuters/New York Times/AFP/PNN/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

PM Netanyahu calls for scrapping the UN commission on Gaza. (AP/Ha’aretz)

Hamas accuses Israel of “exerting pressure” on the head of the commission. (Ma’an)

The PA will reportedly ask the ICC to look into Israel’s settlement construction. (Jerusalem Post)

Saudi Arabia allocates $13.5 million to UNRWA. (Ma’an)

Palestinians protest Pres. Rivlin’s visit to Hebron. (AFP/JTA/Ynet)

Pres. Abbas orders an investigation into the official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadidah for publishing a caricature depicting the Prophet Mohammed. (Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

The mayor of Bethlehem Vera Baboun hopes Pope Francis will help her prevent Israel from extending its security barrier near the city. (Ha’aretz)

At least eight women are killed and 50 injured in a collision involving a bus who was carrying Bedouin women who had visited the Al-Aqsa mosque and a tractor in the Negev. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Ynet/Jerusalem Post)

A poll forecasts Netanyahu’s Likud party may win 25 of parliament's 120 seats in the upcoming election. (Reuters)

An Israeli satirical TV show returns on air just in time for the elections. (Washington Post)

Iraq’s Cabinet approves a draft law creating a national guard. (Reuters)

AP says the cost for fighters leaving ISIS is death or jail. (AP) 

The Pentagon says ISIS extremists are expanding their “international footprint” in ungoverned areas of the Mideast and North Africa.  (Bloomberg)

Iraqi DM al-Obeidi claims ISIS can be defeated “within months.” (CCTV)

Pres. Obama requests $8.8 billion to fund the fight against ISIS in the 2016 budget. (AFP)

Canada’s FM Baird says the release of Al-Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy is "imminent." (AP/The National)

By sacking two reformist ministers and authorizing bonuses for employees of large companies, King Salman is already making his mark. (Reuters/The National)

The new Saudi channel Al Arab suspends broadcasting in Bahrain, supposedly for technical reasons, after giving opposition leaders airtime. (New York Times)

King Abdullah of Jordan will be meeting with senior US administration officials in Washington. (Jordan Times)

Commentary:

The Washington Post says all parties, especially Hamas, deserve  blame for Gaza’s “tragic cycle.” (Washington Post)

Khaled Diab says Mizrahi Jews and Palestinian citizens of Israel could form a formidable voting bloc. (Ha’aretz)

Niva Lanir says Netanyahu is playing “dangerous games” in Israel’s back yard. (Ha’aretz)

David Horovitz interviews Israel’s youngest female Labor politician Stav Shaffir. (Times of Israel)

Alise Mofrej describes conditions inside Syria’s jails. (New York Times)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed wonders if Jordan will still release Iraqi terrorist Sajida Rishawi after the execution of the two Japanese hostages. (Al Arabiya)

Michael Weiss and Michael Pregent say Iran is making it impossible for the US-led coalition to beat ISIS. (Daily Beast)

Hassan Barari looks at Egypt’s Sinai challenge. (Jordan Times)

Bel Trew says no one will save Al Jazeera’s Egyptian journalist Baher Mohamed. (Foreign Policy)

Fethullah Gulen complains that Turkey’s democracy is eroding. (New York Times)

February 2nd

News:

Jewish settler shoots and injures a Palestinian teenager in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)

The UN says Israel has demolished the homes of 1,177 Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in 2014. (Ha’aretz)

PM Hamdallah says a portion of public employee salaries will be paid "soon." (Ma’an)

Hamas leader Abu Marzouq strongly denounces the Egyptian government. (Ma’an)

Palestinian security forces raid the building of the former general intelligence chief Jamal Tirawi. (Ma’an)

Israel has dropped all charges against Palestinian-American teenager Tariq Abu Khdeir who was filmed while being beaten by Israel police last summer. (JTA)

Israeli occupation forces demolish two farms near Nablus. (Ma’an)

Israeli navy opens fire at fisherman off the coast of Gaza. (Ma’an)

Serbia grants citizenship to Palestinian leader Dahlan. (AP)

Jordan will return its ambassador to Israel. (JTA/Times of Israel/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

PM Netanyahu says UNIFIL is failing to report weapons smuggling into Lebanon. (Times of Israel/Reuters)

Hezbollah leader Nasrallah warns that the group is “ready for war” with Israel, although it does not want one. (Washington Post)

Analysts say ISIS’ tactics have backfired, particularly in Jordan. (New York Times)

The fate of the Jordanian pilot held by ISIS has raised public pressure on King Abdullah. (Reuters/AP)

In a new video ISIS claims to have beheaded Japanese hostage Kenji Goto. (New York Times/Jordan Times) 

Syrian warplanes carry out several raids on a rebel-held village in the south, killing 12. (AP)

Hackers are using old tactics on the internet to support Pres. Assad’s regime. (New York Times)

Egypt releases Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste after 400 days in prison. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Washington Post)

An Egyptian court sentences 183 Muslim Brotherhood supporters to death. (Reuters/AP)

Three women are killed in clashes between militants and security forces in Sinai. (Reuters)

Pres. Sisi laments the recent shooting death of a female protester, calling her a "martyr." (AP/The National)

Houthi rebels are reportedly attempting to control Yemen’s Bab El-Mandeb strait. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Commentary:

Amira Hass says some Palestinians are yearning for the days before the establishment of the PA. (Ha’aretz)

Kobi Niv says without its Palestinian citizens, there would be no democracy in Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Aaron David Miller says the “US-Israel relationship is too big to fail.” (Politico)

Hussein Ibish says another full-scale conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is still possible, even if neither side wants one right now. (The National)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says the disputes over the size of the Free Syrian Army highlights just how vague the situation in Syria is. (Al Arabiya)

Amer Al Sabaileh looks at the conflict between ISIS and Jordan. (Jordan Times)

Peter Bergen and Emily Schneider ask if the US-led coalition is winning against ISIS. (CNN)

AP interviews former PM Maliki. (AP)

Faisal Al Yafai says Yemen’s Houthis are holding the former president and the entire country hostage. (The National)

Khaled Almaeena says new Saudi ministers should innovate and be role models. (Al Arabiya)

Michael Singh says the first step toward a nuclear deal with Iran is for the P5+1 to make no more concessions. (Washington Post)

Michael Doran argues Pres. Obama’s “secret strategy” is a fixation on rapprochement with Iran. (Mosaic)


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