News:

Israel invites bids to construct 77 new homes in two settlements in occupied East Jerusalem, drawing a swift Palestinian condemnation. (Reuters/AFP/PNN/Jerusalem Post/The National)

The US says it will be hard to back Israel at the UN if it steps back from the two-state solution. (Ha’aretz)

Israeli police officers kill two Palestinian men in the occupied territories. (New York Times/Ma’an)

Palestinian Chief Negotiator Erekat expresses skepticism about peace prospects with the next Israeli government. (Ynet)

Hamas leader Ahmad Yousef says there are "chats" taking place between the group and Israelunder European mediation. (Ma’an/Jerusalem Post)

A report indicates the amount of construction material that enters Gaza for its reconstruction amounts to only 10 percent. (Ma’an)

The National looks at the water crisis in Gaza. (The National)

Israel agrees to armed PA patrols in towns close to Jerusalem. (Times of Israel)

150 Jewish high school students will board the light rail in Jerusalem and converse in Arabic in a show of solidarity. (Times of Israel)

Israel says it launched an airstrike on its border with Syria after spotting militants carrying a bomb in the Golan Heights. (AP/New York Times/Washington Post/JTA/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

DM Ya’alon says Iran continues to arm Hezbollah. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

The Saudi-led coalition targets Houthis and rebel army units in central Yemen and the capital Sanaa. (Reuters/New York Times/The National)

Yemen is struggling to import food as the Saudi-led coalition navies hold up more ships. (Reuters)

A coalition of Islamist rebels capture an army base in Syria’s Idlib province. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/The National)

Pres. Assad’s hold on power looks shakier than ever as rebels advance in Syria. (Washington Post)

Hundreds of Syrian rebels are approaching the start of US training to fight against ISIS. (Reuters) 

Sec. Kerry and FM Zarif will meet at the opening of a UN conference on the global anti-nuclear weapons treaty. (Reuters/AP)

Former Pres. George W. Bush argues against the lifting of Iran sanctions. (New York Times/Jerusalem Post)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish says attempts by the US congress to stop the BDS movement will further damage the peace process.  (The National)

Elliott Abrams and Uri Sadot look at the major implications for settlement expansion with a new Netanyahu government. (Foreign Affairs)

Uri Savir looks at how Netanyahu uses settlements to block a Palestinian state. (Al-Monitor)

Asmaa al-Ghoul says tensions are continuing to worsen within the Palestinian unity government over the issue of the Gaza employees. (Al-Monitor)

Rami Khouri says the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is stalemated, and the existing policy responses by both sides have been exhausted. (Daily Star)

Talia Sasson says Israel’s High Court is denying justice to Palestinian property owners. (Ha’aretz)

Alex Fishman looks at Israel’s “secret cooperation” with Hamas. (Ynet)

Felice Friedson looks at how Palestinian restrictions are eased with new Israeli permissions. (The Media Line)

Amos Harel says Israel's north is “heating up” and Hezbollah leader Nasrallah will have the “final word.” (Ha’aretz)

Avi Issacharoff says Hezbollah doesn’t want a large-scale conflict with Israel, but does want to deter the IDF from “crossing red lines.” (Times of Israel)

Theodore Karasik looks at the challenges facing “Operation Restoring Hope” in Yemen. (The National)

Mohammed Fahad al-Harthi asks if the US-GCC summit will strengthen ties. (Al Arabiya)

David Rothkopf says the Middle East is “pivoting” to Asia. (Foreign Policy)

Jackson Diehl says the US needs to support Middle East democracy. (Washington Post)

Elliott Abrams says comparing Pres. Sisi to Chilean dictator Pinochet is wrong. (Washington Post)

John Kerry and Ernest Moniz explain how to make sure Iran is a nuclear non-proliferator. (Foreign Policy)

Mohammad Ali Shabani says the West must expand upon progress on nuclear issues with Iran to push for a wider dialogue on regional peace. (New York Times)

Soner Cagaptay, James Jeffrey and Medhi Khalaj say Iran has had expansionist and imperial ambitions for centuries and a nuclear deal will not change that. (New York Times)

News:

The PLO decries the continued implementation of the Absentee Property Law by Israel, condemning it as a flagrant violation of international law. (Ma’an/PNN)

A Fatah official blesses the victory of the Hamas-affiliated student list in Birzeit University elections. (Ma’an/AP)

Wikileaks shows Sony executives were reportedly concerned by IDF's use of its cameras in Gaza bombings. (JTA)

The Armenian community of Jerusalem marks the 100th anniversary since the genocide in their ancestral homeland in Eastern Anatolia. (Ma’an/Times of Israel)

The White House is seeking to publicly mend fences with PM Netanyahu, but issues remain. (New York Times)

Pres. Obama says Netanyahu is not invited to the White House until after the Iran talks. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

Russia says supplying Iran with S-300 missile defense systems is not a matter of the nearest future. (Jerusalem Post)

Warplanes from the Saudi-led coalition strike Houthi targets in and around the Yemeni cities of Aden and Ibb. (Reuters/AP/Washington Post) 

Saudi’s Amb. to the US al-Jubeir says Yemen's war will turn against the rebels even as his government scales back its air offensive. (AP)

Def. Sec. Carter says the US is concerned a group of Iranian cargo ships may be carrying advanced weapons to Yemen. (Reuters/AP)

Police personnel and residents return to the Iraqi city of Ramadi as panic subsides. (Washington Post)

Houthis demand a complete end to Saudi-led attacks.(The National)

The group controlling Libya's coastal capital Tripoli says it would "confront" any unilateral EU movesto attack sites used by people-traffickers. (Reuters)

Chinese Pres. Xi says he backs a “fair and balanced” nuclear agreement with Iran. (Reuters)

Under Sec. Sherman and Iran's Deputy FM Araqchi will resume talks about curbing Iran's nuclear program today. (Reuters)

Commentary:

Hazem Balousha says the social divide is widening between the West Bank and Gaza. (Al-Monitor)

Akiva Eldar asks if Israeli national symbols sideline Palestinian citizens of Israel. (Al-Monitor)

David Horovitz says the current US administration has proved a vital ally to Israel but ties could and should have been closer. (Times of Israel)

Joyce Karam says the unraveling of the Yemeni state giving rise to Al Qaeda and proxy wars in Sanaa is a horror scenario for the Obama administration. (Al Arabiya)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed looks at how Saudi Arabia is defending itself from the Houthi threat. (Al Arabiya)

The National says the battle for Yemen is far from over. (The National)

The Daily Star says Houthis and their backers must now take the opportunity for peace, and take part in genuine dialogue involving all sides. (Daily Star)

Tariq Alhomayed says the Saudi-led “Operation Decisive Storm” strikes a decisive blow against Iran and its regional followers. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Michael Young says border wars will determine Pres. Assad’s fate.(Daily Star)

H.A. Hellyer says Libya demands a new solution for its problems. (The National)

Aaron David Miller gives five reasons a final agreement on Iran’s nuclear program is coming soon. (Foreign Policy)

News:

Members of the Join List decline an invitation by the Arab League for a meeting at the headquarters in Cairo. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

UN Humanitarian Coordinator Rawley says the UN is not facilitating any truce negotiations between Israel and Hamas. (Ha’aretz)

Hamas says ministers of the unity government do not have the authority to sign employees agreement. (Ma’an/AP)

Hamas imposes a new import tax on commodities entering Gaza, angering local merchants. (Times of Israel)

Bethlehem's local municipality is seeking protection for 12 known artworks by British graffiti artist Banksy across the city. (Ma’an)

Extremist Jewish settlers uproot 450 olive trees in Salfit. (PNN)

Mohammed Abu Khdeir, the Palestinian teenager who was kidnapped and burned alive by Jews in a revenge killing, is recognized as a terror victim. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Pres. Rivlin and PM Netanyahu decline requests for meetings with former Pres. Carter. (New York Times/Ha’aretz/JTA) 

Iran’s Deputy FM says he is optimistic that a ceasefire in Yemen would be announced later today. (Reuters)

The World Health Organization says health services in Yemen are on the brink of collapse. (Reuters)

A Houthi leader says the movement of more US warships into waters off Yemen escalates Washington's role and aims at tightening a "siege" on the country. (Reuters/AP/New York Times)

The New York Times looks at what civilians in Sanaa are documenting on Twitter. (New York Times)

ISIS is exploiting Libya's lawlessness but tribal and political loyalties mean it is unlikely to grow as rapidly there as in Iraq or Syria. (Reuters)

ISIS leader al-Baghdadi has been seriously wounded in an air strike in western Iraq. (The Guardian/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

Iraqi security forces recapture areas lost earlier to ISIS in and around the battleground city of Ramadi. (AP)

An Egyptian court sentences former Pres. Morsi to 20 years in jail. (Reuters/Washington Post/The National)

Washington Post reporter, Jason Rezaian, who is detained in Iran for nearly nine months facescharges of espionage and three other crimes. (AP/New York Times/Times of Israel/The National)

Commentary:

Ahmad Melhem says the Jordan Valley has been taken over by Jewish settlers who have barred Palestinians from using the land. (Al-Monitor)

Oudeh Basharat says opposition leader Herzog must form an alliance with Kahlon. (Ha’aretz)

Efraim Halevy says Israel's most important strategic interest still lies with the US. (Ynet)

Pervez Hoodbhoy says Saudi Arabia has reason to fear that Pakistan might no longer simply follow its diktats. (New York Times)

Faisal Al Yafai says Ali Abdullah Saleh is wrong to claim no-one has asked him to leave his country – millions of Yemenis did so in 2011. (The National)

Laura Kasinof asks why the world missed Yemen’s downward spiral. (Foreign Policy)

Jamal Khashoggi says Saudi Arabia rejects the tyranny of the Houthis because the latter is a front for Iranian expansion. (Al Arabiya)

The New York Times says Cairo gets $1.3 billion a year in US military aid despite its “abysmal human rights record.” (New York Times)

Diana Moukalled says the international community must reevaluate its outlook toward the tragedy in Syria, for which Assad’s regime must bear the largest weight of responsibility. (Al Arabiya)

Raed Omari says Hezbollah is on the verge of collapse. (Al Arabiya)

Salman Aldossary says Hezbollah leader Nasrallah’s extremist views damage the security of Lebanon. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Ilan Goldenberg and Ely Ratner say China is walking a fine line between Saudi Arabia and Iran. (Foreign Policy)

Tony Karon says by attaining breakout capability to build nuclear weapons, Iran has won itself “a seat at the grown-up table.” (The National)

Eyad Abu Shakra says Arab Shiites are Iran’s first victims. (Asharq al-Awsat)

News:

Israel and the PA reach an agreement to resolve a months long dispute over the transfer of Palestinian tax revenues. (New York Times/JTA/Ha’aretz)

Ten months after taking office, Palestinian Cabinet ministers make a rare visit to Gaza. (AP/AFP)

Pres. Abbas says Joint List leader Odeh will meet with the Arab League in Cairo and Doha. (JTA)

An Israeli man stabs a Palestinian worker on a construction site near Tel Aviv.(Ma’an/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Ynet)

Israeli forces open fire at Palestinian fishermen and farmers in Gaza. (Ma’an)

A Palestinian court dismisses a high-profile corruption case against exiled Gaza strongman Dahlan. (AFP)

Saudi Arabian authorities reportedly arrest a Hamas leader Maher Salah. (Times of Israel)

Israel’s Court of Justice is to hear petitions by Palestinians seeking the return of land they own near the Jordanian border. (Ha’aretz)

PM Netanyahu will have two more weeks to form a new government. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/AFP/Ha’aretz)

An air strike on a missile base in Sanaa, kills at least seven. (Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post) 

Oxfam condemns a Saudi Arabian air strike in Yemen that it said hit one of its stores containing humanitarian supplies. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia has put security forces on alert for a possible militant attack on a shopping mall or energy installation. (Reuters)

An Iraqi Shiite militia group says it conducted DNA tests to prove the death of Ezzat al-Douri. (Reuters)

A roadside bomb hits an armored vehicle in northern Sinai, killing three soldiers. (AP)

CIA Director Brennan holds talks with Pres. Sisi during an unannounced visit to Cairo. (AFP)

The first shipment of French weapons and military equipment arrive in Lebanon under a Saudi-funded deal. (Reuters/The National)

Jordan launches a competition among elite anti-terrorism squads from 18 countries. (AP)

UAE’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed will meet with Pres. Obama at the White House today. (The National)

Commentary:

Uri Savir says Palestinians are adapting their strategy to the Iranian deal, proposing to use the same P5+1 model for negotiations on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Al-Monitor)

Adnan Abu Amer looks at the tension between ISIS and Hamas in Gaza. (Al-Monitor)

Jay Michaelson says Jewish American should have a new goal- recognize the State of Palestine. (The Forward)

Lara Friedman says by effectively equating Israel proper with the occupied territories, Israel's High Court has made life harder for pro-Israel, pro-peace activists. (Ha’aretz)

Ha’aretz says opposition leader Herzog must keep his word and stay out of Netanyahu's coalition. (Ha’aretz)

Elhanan Miller profiles Lucy Aharish. (Times of Israel)

Hussein Ibish says the Yemen solution cannot be pursued in a manner that ends up strengthening al-Qaeda. (The National)

Salman Aldossary looks at PM al-Abadi’s recent visit to Washington. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Robert Pape says a political deal between Baghdad and the Sunni tribes is key to future military success against ISIS. (New York Times)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says ISIS is not as Baathist as it’s been made out to be, instead its a developed version of al-Qaeda. (Al Arabiya)

Sharif Nashashibi says ISIS’ seizure of Yarmouk benefits Pres. Assad. (Al Arabiya)

Fred Hiatt looks at the defense of inaction in Syria. (Washington Post)

David Kenner interviews an eyewitness to a chemical attack by Assad’s forces. (Foreign Policy)

Randa Slim asks if Iran is overstretched in Syria. (Foreign Policy)

Mohammad Zarif says Iran is ready to talk about ISIS, Syria and Yemen and not just about its nuclear program. (New York Times)

Rami Khouri looks at the perils of the “hopeless Arab youth.” (Daily Star)

News:

The PLO says the evacuation of civilians from Yarmouk is “virtually complete.” (Ha’aretz)

The PLO marks Palestinian Prisoner's Day by demanding that Israel end its "captivity" of the Palestinian people under occupation. (Ma’an

A Hamas leader al-Haya calls for the abduction of Israelis. (Ma’an/AFP)

20 Palestinian journalists are currently being held in Israeli jails. (Ma’an)

Israel will deploy a revolutionary new tunnel detection system along the Gaza border. (Times of Israel)

The Israeli army closes off a village in the occupied West Bank after stone-throwing incidents. (Ha’aretz)

Gaza temporarily stops exporting tomatoes to Israel. (Ma’an)

The Washington Post looks at the future of the Joint List. (Washington Post)

Pres. Assad says Turkish military and logistical support was the main factor that helped insurgents seize Idlib from government control last month. (Reuters)

The UN calls on Western nations to shelter Syrian refugees. (New York Times)

The UNSC sees video evidence of a chemical attack in Syria. (New York Times/Times of Israel)

ISIS militants clash with Iraqi security forces inside the Baiji refinery. (Reuters) 

Gen. Dempsey says the US is focusing airstrikes to protect Baiji. (AP)

Yemen’s newly appointed VP Bahah says he hopes to avert a Saudi-led invasion to restore unity to the country. (Reuters)

UNSG Ban calls for an immediate halt to the fighting in Yemen. (Reuters/AP/The National)

The war in Yemen is allowing an al-Qaeda group to expand. (New York Times)

The UN launches an appeal for $275 million to aid the people in Yemen. (Reuters)

Australian FM Bishop will head to Tehran on Saturday. (Times of Israel)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish says everyone who cares about peace should boycott settlements. (NOW)

Ron Kampeas asks if the Obama administration is “making nice” with Israel.(JTA)

Israel Harel calls on opposition leader Herzog to join a unity government. (Ha’aretz)

Bob Corker says bipartisan legislation will aid transparency on the Iran deal.  (Washington Post)

David Rothkopf says the current deal is a massive payment to temporarily put Iran’s nuclear program on hold. (Foreign Policy)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed looks at the problems with the current Iran deal. (Al Arabiya)

Amir Taheri asks if the Obama administration has made an agreement with Iran more difficult. (Asharq al Awsat)

H.A. Hellyer says the region must look beyond the Iran framework deal before it's too late. (The National)

The National says Yemen’s problems, like those in Iraq, extend far beyond the country’s porous borders. (The National)

Manal Omar and Sarhang Hamasaeed say the plan for Iraq's future needs to go deeper than defeating ISIS. (Foreign Policy)

News:

Israeli occupation forces arrest 29 Palestinians suspected of links to Hamas in an overnight raid in the West Bank. (AP/Ma’an/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Hamas says the unity government should commit to previously agreed-to understandings regarding salaries of civil servants. (Ma’an)

A Palestinian activist says local fighters in Yarmouk have advanced in clashes with ISIS. (AP)

Vandals attack a Christian graveyard in a village near Israel’s northern border with Lebanon. (AFP)

The UN says Gaza's Deir al-Balah refugee camp is to receive $40 million in funding. (Ma’an)

The first Palestinian business conference will take place in May. (Ma’an)

PM Netanyahu and opposition leader Herzog reportedly hold a secret meeting over unity government. (JTA)

A White House entry log show Amb. Dermer is cut off from Pres. Obama’s staff. (Ha’aretz)

ISIS seizes villages in Iraq’s Anbar province. (Reuters/AP)

A bomb in north Egypt kills two military academy students. (Reuters)

Egypt and Saudi Arabia are considering whether to hold joint military exercises in the kingdom. (AP) 

The UNSC bans the sales of arms to Houthis in Yemen. (New York Times/Washington Post)

Sec. Kerry says he is confident Obama will be able to get Congress to approve a nuclear deal with Iran. (Reuters/AP)

Iran says it would only accept a deal if world powers simultaneously lifted all sanctions imposed on it. (Reuters/Washington Post)

Israeli Intelligence Minister Steinitz says he is pleased at a compromise deal on Iran achievedbetween Congress and the Obama administration. (Reuters/New York Times/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Commentary:

Charles Fromm says as long as accountability continues to elude decision-makers, Gaza’s agony will persist. (The National)

Adnan Abu Amer says Hamas is warily eyeing proposals for a long-term truce with Israel. (Al-Monitor)

The New York Times says the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has created potentially dangerous uncertainties by approving a bill that would require Congress to vote on any final nuclear deal with Iran. (New York Times)

Gordon Adams says strikingly, Obama’s foreign-policy priorities have been both similar and consistent to those of former Pres. Bush. (Foreign Policy)

Vali Nasr says Saudi Arabia should welcome the Iran deal. (New York Times)

Aaron David Miller says the Arab world is a mess and its leaders don’t appear ready to assume much responsibility for fixing it. (Foreign Policy)

Rami Khouri looks at PM al-Abadi’s recent visit to Washington. (Daily Star)

News:

Israel will allow Palestinian vehicles to enter Jerusalem for the first time in 15 years. (Ma'an)

Israeli occupation forces detain 18 Palestinians across the West Bank. (Ma'an)

The Shin Bet says a Hamas cell allegedly planned a terrorist attack on Purim. (Ha'aretz/Times of Israel)

Western-backed fighters in southwestern Syria speak out against al-Qaeda. (Reuters)

Pres. Obama and PM al-Abadi will discuss the fight against ISIS today at a White House meeting. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/The National)

American soldiers back in Iraq find security forces in disrepair. (New York Times) 

The Pentagon says ISIS is losing ground in Iraq and is gaining in Syria. (AP)

FM Zarif lays out a four-point Yemen peace plan including dialogue and humanitarian aid. (Reuters)

Russia paves the way for missile system deliveries to Iran and starts an oil-for-goods swap.(Reuters/AP/Washington Post/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

DM Ya'alon says the Russia-Iran missile deal is a direct result of the Lausanne talks. (Ha'aretz)

The White House steps up Iran pitch to Jewish leaders and donors. (JTA/Ha'aretz/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

Commentary:

Bel Trew says in the rubble of Gaza, the militias are once again arming up and preparing for the inevitable war with Israel. (Foreign Policy)

Raed Omari says the problem in Yarmouk will remain humanitarian and never political or military despite ISIS’s presence there. (Al Arabiya)

Mohammed Othman looks at how women in Gaza can divorce. (Al-Monitor)

Ha'aretz says the Zionist Union must resist temptation of joining PM Netanyahu's government. (Ha'aretz)

Ben Caspit asks how Netanyahu will meddle in the next American presidential race. (Al-Monitor)

Faisal J. Abbas says Pakistan should realize it is not immune to the Iranian threat. (Al Arabiya)

The New York Times says as American and Iraqi leaders take stock this week of the fight against ISIS, they must come up with a feasible plan for the road ahead. (New York Times)

AP interviews deputy chief of Hezbollah Sheikh Naim Kassem. (AP)

Thanassis Cambanis says Iran is winning the war for dominance of the Middle East. (Foreign Policy)

Amos Harel says for Israel, Iran missile deal is an obstacle - but not insurmountable. (Ha'aretz)

The Washington Post looks at Iran's absurd persecution of American journalist Jason Rezaian. (Washington Post)