NEWS:
Planned Israeli settlement construction in occupied East Jerusalem will complicate prospects for peace. (New York Times)

PM Netanyahu forms a new government with a key ally, who is noted for being cautious on Iran, as new defense minister. (AP/Reuters)

Netanyahu reportedly orders a quiet freeze on all settlement construction during Pres. Obama's upcoming visit. (Daily Beast)

Israel's new housing minister pledges more settlement building soon, as the settler movement is seen as seizing control of Israel's housing policies. (Reuters/Ha'aretz)

Settlers say they are pleased with the new government. (YNet)

Palestinians are increasingly frustrated with Obama's inaction on settlements. (Xinhua)

The new Israeli coalition agreement calls for a controversial Basic Law bill that would make the Israel's democratic character subservient to its Jewish character. (Ha'aretz)

Obama's Middle East trip is said to be intended to contain tensions rather than present new solutions. (AP/Los Angeles Times)

Palestinians say they are trying to keep their expectations for Obama's visit realistic. (Xinhua) Israelis intensify their efforts to press Obama for the release of convicted spy Jonathan Pollard. (New York Times)

Pres. Abbas reiterates that Palestinians should not engage in armed struggle. (Jerusalem Post)

14 Palestinians and one Jordanian die in a traffic accident, and the bodies of the victims are returned to the West Bank. (Xinhua/Ma'an)

A Hamas activist nicknamed "the mother of martyrs" passes away. (AP)

Former FM Lieberman says Israeli occupation forces should open fire on stone-throwing Palestinian protesters. (Jerusalem Post)

Israeli occupation forces arrest 17 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank on Saturday. (Ma'an)

Egypt deports seven Palestinians back to Gaza "for security reasons." (AP)

A hunger striking Palestinian prisoner cuts a deal with Israeli authorities, ends his fast, and is released to Gaza. (AP)

Hamas leader Hanniyeh claims relations with Egypt are "strong." (Ma'an)

Israel may cut funding for Jewish-Arab dialogue initiatives. (Ha'aretz)

Palestinians complaining to Israeli occupation authorities about alleged "price tag" arson attacks find themselves arrested on charges of fabricating the event. (YNet)

A new poll suggests a large majority of Americans don't want their country to take the lead on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. (Jerusalem Post)


COMMENTARY:
Hussein Ibish explains why Israeli settlement activity is strictly prohibited by international law. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Ben Ehrenreich looks at tensions in the village of Nabi Saleh in the occupied West Bank as a possible flashpoint for a third intifada. (New York Times)

Aaron David Miller suggests how to fix the Obama-Netanyahu relationship. (Washington Post)

Ben Caspit imagines what the Obama-Netanyahu conversation would sound like if they told each other the truth. (Al Monitor)

J.J. Goldberg says Obama and Netanyahu need each other. (The Forward)

Jonathan Freedland says Obama should not be a tourist and must take a message to Israel. (The Guardian)

Daniel Levy says Obama should take the opportunity to try to understand Israel's complex politics. (Ha'aretz)

Barbara Opall-Rome says the "Free Pollard" campaign is "a disgrace to American Zionists." (Ha'aretz)

Tamar Hermann notes that Israelis are oddly indifferent to Obama's visit. (YNet)

Uzi Benziman says the public has the right to know who is paying for the settlements, and by how much. (Ha'aretz)

Maskit Bendel says that Palestinian-only bus lines are just a symptom of total segregation in the occupied West Bank. (YNet)

Aluf Benn says if Israeli leftists want to be effective, they need to connect with Israel's mainstream. (Ha'aretz)

The Forward says efforts to make Israel even more of a special case in US foreign relations, this time with regard to aid and sequesters, can backfire. (The Forward)

Musa Keilani says Jordan will have to scrutinize the new Israeli coalition and its policies very closely. (Jordan Times)