September 15th

News:
 
Pres. Abbas will ask Pres. Hollande for official recognition of Palestine in an upcoming meeting this week. (Ma’an/Times of Israel)
 
Palestinian children in Gaza return to school. (AP/Reuters/AFP)
 
Israeli authorities deny Palestinian Minister of Education al-Shakhshir entry to Gaza. (Ma’an/PNN)
 
15 Palestinian migrants from Gaza die after a boat they were riding in capsized in the Mediterranean sea. (Ma’an)
 
A high ranking Kuwaiti official visits Ramallah for the first time since 1967. (Ma’an/PNN/Ha’aretz)
 
Israeli occupation forces detain 4 Palestinian teenagers in East Jerusalem. (Ma’an/Ha’aretz)
 
The New York Times profiles some Palestinians who lived in the high-rise apartment building in Gaza that was destroyed by Israel. (New York Times)
 
An Israeli official warns that Hezbollah could advance into Israel in a future war. (Times of Israel)
 
Arab nations reportedly offer to conduct airstrikes against ISIS. (New York Times/The National)
 
ISIS releases a video purportedly showing the beheading of British aid worker David Haines. (AP/New York Times/Washington Post)
 
Hollande calls for united international action against ISIS. (Reuters)
 
Syrian government forces destroy an ISIS controlled-bridge. (Reuters)
 
Syria’s moderate rebels say they need weapons, not training. (Reuters)
 
Pres. Masoum asks the international community to pursue ISIS in Syria. (New York Times)
 
Turkey is seeking a behind-the-scenes role in the NATO coalition against ISIS. (AP/Washington Post)
 
Iran rejects the global strategy against ISIS extremists. (AP/Reuters/The National)
 
Austria plans to introduce a law banning symbols of ISIS and other extremist groups. (AP)
 
Egypt will hunt down exiled Muslim Brotherhood leaders and seek their arrest after Qatar ordered them to leave its territory. (AP/New York Times)
 
One of Egypt’s most prominent dissident activists, Alaa Abdel-Fattah, will be released. (AP/Reuters)
 
Egypt says it will boost security at tourist locations. (AP)
 
Commentary:
 
Hussein Ibish says Arab states can’t afford to be tepid in their response to ISIS. (The National)
 
Ron Kampeas explains why Qatar supports Hamas. (JTA)
 
Amir Hass asks 18 questions to Hamas. (Ha’aretz)
 
Lorenzo Kamel looks at the facts and fiction of Israel’s settlement enterprise. (The National)
 
Daniel Ben Simon looks at how much money goes to Israel’s settlements every year. (Al Monitor)
 
Uri Savir says Europe is dismayed by Israel’s West Bank policies. (Al-Monitor)
 
Tariq Alhomayed says there is nothing wrong with negotiating with Israel. (Asharq al-Awsat)
 
Amer Al Sabaileh says the anti-ISIS coalition needs the cooperation and coordination of old and new allies in the region. (Jordan Times)
 
Rami Khouri says the US-led anti-ISIS coalition leaves “lingering doubts.” (Daily Star)
 
Thomas Friedman says Obama’s strategy for fighting ISIS depends on Arab reform. (New York Times)
 
Raghida Dergham says the anti-ISIS coalition is Obama’s last chance to regain his credibility. (Al Arabiya)
 
The New York Times says Obama’s plan to arm Syrian rebels is “full of hope and fraught with obstacles.” (New York Times)
 
The National says the announcement by leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood that they intend to leave Qatar is an encouraging development. (The National)
 
The National says Libya has to be helped to avoid becoming a failed state. (The National)

September 9th

News:

Arab FMs say they will back Pres. Abbas efforts to lobby the UN to set a deadline for Israel to end its occupation. (Ha’aretz/The National)

A Palestinian official says Abbas wants the UN to replace the US as the leading peace broker between Israel and the Palestinians. (Jerusalem Post)

Fatah and Hamas are trading accusations after the Gaza war. (AFP)

Israeli sources say Hamas leader Meshaal may not have agreed to an August ceasefire that Hamas supposedly broke. (Times of Israel)

The Israeli navy arrests four Palestinian fishermen off the coast of Gaza. (AP/Ma’an)

Norway’s FM Brende says a conference for Gaza reconstruction will be held in Cairo on Oct. 12. (Ma’an)

Palestinian-Belgians have begun consulting lawyers and human rights groups about filing war-crime complaints against Israeli officials and officers. (Ma’an)

A report from the Adva Center finds that settlements get significantly more government money than other Israeli communities. (Ynet)

Palestinian prisoner dies in an Israeli hospital. (Ma’an)

Saudi Arabia will host a meeting on Thursday to discuss terrorism with the US and other Middle Eastern countries. (AP/Reuters)

Iraq’s parliament officially names al-Abadi as the country’s new prime minister. (AP/Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post/The National)

Iraqi lawmakers urge PM al-Abadi to quickly fill the critical posts of defense and interior minister. (AP)

Sec. Kerry says the new Iraqi government is key to ISIS’ defeat. (AP)

Pres. Obama phones al-Abadi to discuss Washington's commitment to fight ISIS extremists. (Reuters)

Iraqi Kurdish and Shi’ite militias may be using US airstrikes on ISIS to further their own agendas. (Reuters)

The US wants Turkey to help in the fight against ISIS. (New York Times)

An article on the Al Jazeera arabic website mocks and doubts ISIS’ murder of two American journalists. (Al Arabiya)

The UN Envoy in Libya Leon urges militias to cease fire and work on a political settlement. (AP)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish joins Feisal Istrabadi and Frederic Wehrey on the PBS NewsHour to discuss the international coalition against ISIS. (Video and Transcript: PBS)

Hussein Ibish reviews the first comprehensive history of Gaza in any language. (Book Forum)

The Daily Star says Palestinian politicians are unable to put aside differences for the greater national good. (Daily Star)

Jack Khoury says, despite the Arab League backing, Palestinians understand the war on ISIS comes first. (Ha’aretz)

Asmaa al-Ghoul says relief aid in Gaza is failing to reach the most desperate. (Al-Monitor)

Efraim Halevy asks who really won the Gaza war. (Ynet)

Akiva Eldar says Israel’s expropriation of West Bank land reveals PM Netanyahu’s strategy. (Al-Monitor)

Miriam Awadallah says Obama's “strategy of no strategy” on ISIS is intentional, and is part of a more responsible policy. (Annahar)

The New York Times says Obama will have to explain clearly his ISIS strategy. (New York Times)

David Ignatius says the US priority is to help Arabs fight ISIS. (Daily Star)

The CSM says Arabs need a hopeful model of progress if they are to rally behind the US in “destroying” ISIS. (Christian Science Monitor)

Jamal Khashoggi says Saudi Arabia is facing tough choices when it comes to defeating ISIS. (Al Arabiya)

The National says the UK needs to follow the Danish example in dealing with extremists. (The National)

September 8th

News:

Pres. Abbas threatens to dissolve the PA “unity” government if Hamas maintains a “shadow government” in Gaza.

Hamas says Abbas is trying to destroy the unity agreement.

Palestinian unity is tested after the Gaza war.

Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli police in occupied East Jerusalem, following the death of a Palestinian teenager.

Former Pres. Peres and Abbas call for peace at the World Economic Forum in Jordan.

UNRWA says Israel should be held accountable for violations against Palestinian civilians.

FM Lieberman says he doubts the current Gaza ceasefire will last.

An Israeli official says Hamas has begun rebuilding its military capabilities.

The PA says it will not pay the salaries of Hamas-hired civil servants in Gaza, but may providefinancial assistance.

Hamas calls on PM Hamdallah to visit Gaza and take charge of local governance.

Israel reportedly wants European monitors to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza.

45 Palestinian children from Gaza, who were severely injured in Israel’s offensive, will be treated in Germany.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry declines to share a joint ambassador from New Zealand with the PA.

The Arab League says its members states have agreed to combat ISIS.

The US launches airstrikes around the Haditha Dam in western Iraq.

Iraqi government forces claim to have secured the Haditha Dam.

US officials say “destroying” ISIS may take three years.

Syrian air strikes on ISIS positions kill 60 civilians.

The West is reportedly widening contacts with Kurds in Syria.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights al-Hussein says the international community should end the conflicts in Syria and Iraq.

The head of Egypt’s Al Azhar says ISIS extremists are “criminals.”

Qatar’s support of Islamists is alienating its allies.

The New York Times looks at foreign funding of US think tanks, especially by Qatar, the UAE and Norway.

Human Rights Watch accuses militias in Libya of committing war crimes.

Commentary:

Roger Cohen says the war in Gaza was not in Israel’s strategic interests.

The National says Israel’s blockade of Gaza is “choking” a possible Palestinian state.

Rory Miller and Mattia Toaldo say violence between Israel and Hamas will continue until the status quo is broken.

Shai Feldman gives a preliminary assessment of the recent Israel-Hamas war.

Uri Savir says implementing the Arab Peace Initiative will take time.

Ravit Hecht says PM Netanyahu’s comment on regional diplomacy should not be taken seriously.

Hussein Ibish says the Muslim Brotherhood is part of a continuum, not a corrective to, more extreme groups like ISIS.

Nawaf Obaid and Saud Al-Sarhan say Saudi Arabia can defeat ISIS.

Michael Singh looks at ISIS’s “triple threat.”

Donna Brazile says Pres. Obama is developing an ISIS strategy.

The Daily Star says Arab League dysfunctionality is a “symptom of bureaucracy and hypocrisy.”
 

September 5th

News:

Israel issues tenders for 283 new homes in a West Bank settlement. (AFP/Times of Israel)

The Obama administration is considering taking further action regarding Israel’s expropriation of 1,000 acres of West Bank land. (Ha’aretz)

Sec. Kerry speaks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders about peace prospects in the region. (JTA)

A Fatah official says a draft of ICC indictment against Israel is ready for submission. (Ha’aretz)

The reconstruction of Gaza will cost an estimated $7.8 billion. (Ma’an)

The PA is working to implement a three-stage plan to solve the water crisis in Gaza. (Ma’an)

An Egyptian official says an Israeli delegation will arrive in Cairo within a week to continue indirect talks with the Palestinians. (Ma’an)

Hamas leader Haniyeh says the group will not be disarmed as a condition for ending the blockade of Gaza. (AP/Ma’an)

Hamas leader Meshaal reportedly agreed to accept a Palestinian state within the 1967 bordersduring a recent meeting with Pres. Abbas. (Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

The murder of the three Israeli teenagers was reportedly set in motion by Hamas operatives from a local Palestinian clan. (New York Times/Ma'an)

The EU paid €15.5 million toward to the early payment of PA salaries and pensions in August. (PNN)

Palestinian citizens of Israel fear rising discrimination after Gaza war. (JTA)

David Makovsky, a member of the State Department’s Middle East peace team, is returning to his think tank position. (JTA)

Kerry and Def. Sec. Hagel urge a broad international coalition against IS. (AP/Reuters/New York Times)

IS extremists kidnap 50 Iraqi men. (AP/New York Times)

The UN says discrepancies and questions still surround Syria's chemical weapons declaration. (Reuters/New York Times)

The Al-Nusra Front tells Lebanese Sunnis they must support its cause or pay the price. (Reuters)

Some Lebanese Christians are beginning to arm as Middle East tensions mount. (AP/Times of Israel)

Prominent Arab Spring activists in Egypt and Bahrain turn to hunger strikes in prisons. (New York Times)

Commentary:

ATFP’s Tala Haikal says Iraqi Kurds will need more than weapons to protect their relative prosperity and an independent future. (Daily Star)

Hussein Ibish, Bessma Momani, Eric Margolis and Janice Stein discuss the rise of The Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. (Video: TVO's The Agenda with Steve Paikin)

Amir Taheri says it is useless to debate who won the war in Gaza. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Ben Caspit says ignoring the Arab Peace Initiative will be costly for PM Netanyahu. (Al-Monitor)

Hana Salah says young Palestinians from Gaza are willing to risk the dangers of illegally immigrating to Europe. (Al-Monitor)

The Daily Star says as long as Israel maintains its position toward the peace process, nothing is going to change. (Daily Star)

Yoel Marcus compares Netanyahu to Pres. Putin. (Ha’aretz)

Aaron David Miller says IS could kill the two-state solution. (Foreign Policy)

David Ignatius looks at Pres. Obama’s IS strategy. (Washington Post)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says eradicating ISIS cannot be accomplished simply with air strikes. (Al Arabiya)

Alan Philps says Britain is trying to avert a wave of militants volunteering for jihad in Syria and Iraq. (The National)

H.A. Hellyer says the west’s analysis of the Middle East is far too simplistic. (The National)

Ahmad Majdoubeh says Arab states must meet people’s demands. (Jordan Times)

September 4th

News:

Pres. Abbas says Israel must clarify what its borders are, and blasts Hamas for maintaining a "parallel" government in Gaza. (Ma’an/Jerusalem Post)

Hamas leader Meshaal says Hamas will go back to war against Israel if the upcoming long-term ceasefire talks fail. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

The US is reportedly planning to present a comprehensive proposal for the demilitarization of Gaza to the UNSC. (Times of Israel)

Palestinians in Gaza are slowly returning to their normal routines. (Ma’an/The Guardian)

Palestinian fishermen in Gaza say they are already seeing the benefits of an extended fishing zone. (Ma’an)

Many children in Gaza are left orphaned by the conflict. (Ma’an)

Israel’s attacks on Gaza caused $40.4 million worth of damage just to religious sites and cemeteries. (Ma’an)

The new school year in Gaza will start on September 14th. (Ma’an)

Islamic Jihad says 121 of its fighters were killed in Gaza. (Times of Israel)

Many Israelis used an app to track the Gaza conflict during the latest round of hostilities. (New York Times) 

Israel approves plans to build another Yeshiva in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)

Israeli police say they have found the body of a 23-year-old American student who went missing inJerusalem. (Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post/JTA)

PM Netanyahu meets with members of Congress. (JTA)

A poll indicates that Americans sympathize with Israel more than with the Palestinians. (Ha’aretz)

An armed group detains 43 UN peacekeepers, and another 81 are trapped, during fighting in Syria. (AP/Reuters)

Pres. Obama downplays the prospect of imminent US military action in Syria. (AP) 

The UN says the war in Syria has driven a record 3 million people out of the country. (AP/Reuters/New York Times)

video shows IS fighters executing Syrian soldiers. (Reuters/New York Times/The National)

The Wall Street Journal looks at IS’ extensive criminal finances and racketeering. (Wall Street Journals)

A captured IS laptop includes lessons for making bubonic plague bombs and missives on using weapons of mass destruction. (Foreign Policy)

The US has delivered a shipment of weapons to Lebanon. (AP)

A powerful Islamist militia in Tripoli says it agrees with a UN call for a Libyan ceasefire. (AP)

FM Zarif expresses optimism on nuclear talks. (Reuters)

Commentary:

Asmaa Al Ghoul says Israel gained the upper hand in the final days of the Gaza war. (Al-Monitor)

Naomi Shihab Nye desrcibes growing up in Ferguson and Palestine. (Washington Post)

Peter Millett says UNRWA will have to rebuild “shattered lives” in Gaza. (Al Arabiya)

The CSM says Israel should seek a lasting peace with the Palestinians, not merely prolonged quiet. (Christian Science Monitor)

Lara Friedman says Israeli settlement activity would greatly strengthen Hamas. (Jewish Daily Forward)

Neri Zilber says Hamas did not win the Gaza war. (Politico)

Zvi Bar’el says the Gaza war was a distraction from the main issue in the Middle East today: IS. (Ha’aretz)

Peter Beinart says Palestinians are invisible to many Jewish Americans. (Ha’aretz)

David Ignatius asks if Saudi Arabia can help fight IS. (Washington Post)

Steven CookJacob Stokes and Alexander Brock say Obama's attempt to disengage from Middle East’s conflict has intensified regional rivalries. (Foreign Policy)

Winston Harris asks if Kurds can achieve independence. (Small Wars Journal)

The National says Gulf states must not forget Pres. Assad’s brutality. (The National)

The Daily Star says world leaders must take “meaningful action” against the Syrian regime. (Daily Star)

Abdallah Schleifer says Egypt is preparing for a worst-case scenario in Libya. (Al Arabiya)

News:

Israel seizes 1,000 acres of West Bank land for a Jewish settlement bloc near Bethlehem. (NewYork Times/PNN/The National)

The US urges Israel to reverse its latest land expropriation. (AFP/JTA)

UNSG Ban is alarmed by Israel’s decision to seize the land. (New York Times/Xinhua/PNN)

FM Lieberman says Israel stands behind its decision to appropriate the land. (Ha’aretz)

Finance Minister Lapid warns Israel is eroding its international support through such expropriations. (AFP/Ha’aretz/Ynet)

Pres. Abbas will present a plan to the Arab League for determining borders with Israel and ending the occupation of the West Bank within three years. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post/The National)

poll suggests a significant rise in the popularity of Hamas among Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. (Reuters/AP/Times of Israel)

A high-level Egyptian delegation arrives in Ramallah to address Fatah-Hamas tensions. (Times of Israel)

Egypt says it will open the Rafah crossing only if PA troops guard it. (Ha’aretz)

Israeli warships open fire at Palestinian fishermen off the coast of Rafah. (Ma’an/PNN)

Palestinians schools educate students to avoid Israeli products. (The Media Line)

Israeli children return to school after the Gaza war. (AP)

The murder of the Palestinian teenager Mohamed Abu Khdeir shakes his school’s faith in coexistence. (Ha’aretz)

bombing in Sinai kills 11 police officers. (AP)

The World Food Program says 4.1 million people in Syria received food rations in August. (Reuters/AP )

The Al-Nusra Front issue a set of demands for the release of 45 UN peacekeepers. (AP/JTA/The National)

The US carries out airstrikes against IS fighters near the formerly besieged Shi’ite town of Amerli. (Reuters)

Iranians play a key role in breaking the IS seige of Amerli. (Reuters/Washington Post)

Chancellor Merkel says arming the Kurds in Iraq is in Germany’s interest. (AP)

The New York Times looks at why Kurdish fighters failed initially against IS militants. (New York Times) 

Former PM Maliki pledges to turn Iraq into “a big grave” for IS militants. (AP)

IS extremists are reportedly using cluster bombs. (New York Times)

The UN Human Rights Council will send a team to Iraq to investigate possible war crimes by IS extremists. (New York Times)

Amnesty International accuses IS extremists of committing war crimes in Iraq. (AP)

HH Prince Zeid assumes his position as UN Human Rights Commissioner. (Jordan Times) 

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish says Palestinians should redefine the concept of martyrdom to promote effective non-violent resistance to occupation. (The National)

The National says Israel should be “held accountable for its land grab.” (The National)

The Daily Star says Israel’s latest land expropriation is a “war crime.” (Daily Star)

Ha’aretz says Netanyahu’s government is not serious about peace with the Palestinians.  (Ha’aretz)

Nabila Ramdani says Israel’s actions in Gaza must not be forgotten. (The National)

Khairallah Khairallah says Hamas has perfected the art of celebrating defeat. (Al Arabiya)

Akiva Eldar says Netanyahu will accept a major PA role in Gaza only if the unity government is dissolved. (Al-Monitor)

Uri Savir says an economic federation between Israel, Palestine and Jordan might facilitate the establishment of a Palestinian state. (Al-Monitor)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed asks if Gulf countries are coming together out of fear of ISIS. (Al Arabiya)

Hassan Barari says PM-designate Abadi’s task of forming an inclusive government is far from easy. (Jordan Times)

Diana Moukalled says everyone should feel sympathy for ordinary Syrian soldiers who are the victims of ISIS. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Andrew Hammond says the UAE’s airstrikes in Libya represent a new and dangerous phase in its struggle with Qatar. (Foreign Policy)

News:

The US and the EU call on Israel to reverse its appropriation of West Bank land. (JTA)

Sec. Kerry calls PM Netanyahu to protest land appropriation. (Ha’aretz/Ynet)

Peace Now says Israel’s land appropriation is intended to consolidate control over the occupied West Bank. (Ha’aretz)

Kerry willl meet with Palestinian negotiators. (AFP)

delegation from the Arab League will visit Gaza. (Ma’an)

An Egyptian official says no date has been set for renewed Gaza ceasefire talks. (Ma’an)

Palestinians are considering new international initiatives. (New York Times)

Pres. Abbas reportedly accused Hamas leader Meshaal of scheming to overthrow him in a meeting in Qatar. (Ha’aretz)

The New York Times looks at the significance of the Erez crossing. (New York Times)

Palestinians in Gaza demand the right of passage to the West Bank. (Ha’aretz)

The Israeli navy detains two Palestinian fishermen off the coast of Gaza. (Ma’an)

Israeli occupation forces demolish a house and a water well in Hebron. (Ma’an)

The Washington Post looks at what happened this summer to the Abu Khdeir’s  Palestinian-American family. (Washington Post)

John Edwin Mroz, an American official negotiating with the PLO, dies at 66. (New York Times)

Israel signs a 15-year natural gas deal with Jordan. (Ha’aretz)

Pres. Obama has ordered an increase of 350 troops in Baghdad to protect the US embassy. (Reuters/AP)

Australian PM Abbott does not rule out sending combat troops in Iraq. (Reuters)

Human Right Watch says IS militants killed 770 Iraqi troops in June. (AP)

Yazidi girl tells the story of her escape from IS kidnappers. (Reuters)

Pope Francis tells Iraqi Christians that they are the "heart" of the church. (AP)

IS extremists release a video purportedly showing the beheading of a second American journalist,Steven Sotloff. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/The National)

Syrian government forces escalate their assault on a rebel-held district in Damascus. (Reuters/The National)

Commentary:

Rami Khouri looks at Abbas’ new international initiative. (Daily Star)

Osama Al Sharif says Hamas and Abbas are already fighting. (Jordan Times)

Shlomi Eldar says Abbas needs Hamas. (Al-Monitor)

Ron Kampeas says the Obama administration is retreating from Middle East peace endeavors. (JTA)

David Horovitz says there are no “quick fixes” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Times of Israel)

Eric Yoffie says Israel’s land appropriation is “foolish, ill-timed and self-destructive.” (Ha’aretz)

Hussein Ibish says IS is trying to raise a loyal generation of citizens of its “caliphate” through endoctrination and brainwashing. (Now)

Thomas Friedman says to defeat ISIS you have to address the context out of which it emerged. (New York Times)

Shane Harris and Kate Brannen say Sotloff’s murder proves that IS isn’t interested in negotiating. (Foreign Policy)

Amos Yadlin says IS is not an existential threat to Israel. (Ynet)

Mshari Al-Zaydi says Egypt is now free to play its natural role as the leading Arab country once more. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Mohammed Fahad al-Harthi says the government priorities of the Arab world should shift toward a development-based agenda. (Al Arabiya)

News:
Palestinian Chief Negotiator Erekat submits a proposal to end the Israeli occupation to Sec. Kerry. (AFP)
Israel plans to build 2200 new housing units in occupied East Jerusalem. (PNN/Times of Israel)
Israel has agreed to dismantle a bridge at a Jerusalem holy site. (AP/Xinhua/JTA/Ha’aretz)
Pres. Abbas reportedly rejected an Egyptian proposal to resettle Palestinian refugees in Sinai. (Times of Israel)
King Abdullah of Jordan calls for the resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. (Jordan Times)
The US is open to a new UN resolution on Gaza but only if it contributes to sustaining the Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire. (AP)
More than 200,000 Palestinian laborers in Gaza are unemployed. (Ma’an)
Palestinians in Gaza await the reopening of the airport. (The National)
Israeli occupation forces detain nine Palestinians across the West Bank. (Ma’an)
UNRWA will begin the evaluation and assessment of damages to the homes of the displaced across Gaza. (Ma’an)
The alleged “mastermind” behind the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers is indicted. (Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)
The Israeli military attacks a Syrian army position after a mortar strikes Israel. (JTA/Ha’aretz)
Pres. Obama and PM Cameron call on NATO to confront IS. (New York Times)
An Iraqi soldier describes his capture by IS extremists. (New York Times)
In northeast Syria IS is building a government. (Reuters)
The UAE calls for a unified effort to root out radical militancy in the Middle East. (Reuters/Xinhua) 
Iran and the US meet in Geneva for bilateral talks. (Reuters)
The UN says 250,000 people have fled militia fighting in Libya. (AP)
 
Commentary:
Ali Jarbawi looks at the lessons Israel should learn from the latest Gaza war. (New York Times)
Asmaa al-Ghoul says Palestinians in Gaza are haunted by war. (Al-Monitor)
Gregg Carlstrom says PM Netanyahu is now facing a war within his own government. (Foreign Policy)
Chemi Shalev asks if Abbas’ peace talks deadline is the last chance for the two-state solution. (Ha’aretz)
Gideon Levy says Israel’s “settlement disease” is terminal. (Ha’aretz)
Michael Young says Obama’s “foreign policy failures” will haunt the Middle East for years. (The National)
Hassan Hassan says in Syria, both the regime and the opposition view IS as a serious threat. (The National)
The Daily Star says the US has no Syria plan. (Daily Star)
Dennis Ross says if IS is a “cancer,” as Obama has correctly called it, the US cannot avoid attacking its presence in Syria. (Politico)
Joyce Karam says IS murdered American journalist Stephen Sotloff because it is bruised and desperate for American targets. (Al Arabiya)
The Los Angeles Times asks if there is a mismatch between Obama’s words and deeds on IS. (Los Angeles Times)
Michael Young says the Sunni moderates have much work to do in Lebanon. (Daily Star)

August 28th

News:
The PLO may pursue diplomatic efforts at the UNSC in a bid to end Israel's occupation. (Ma’an/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)
Pres. Hollande says Europe has to play a bigger role to help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Reuters)
Palestinian workers begin clearing rubble and repairing damage from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. (New York Times/Washington Post)
Aid convoys arrive in Gaza. (AFP/Ha’aretz)
Many Israelis are skeptical of PM Netanyahu’s claims of victory. (AP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
Hamas leader Haniyeh also “claims victory.” (Ma’an)
Some reports claim Pres. Abbas and Netanyahu met secretly in Amman days before the Gaza ceasefire. (Ma’an/JTA/Times of Israel)
The PA calls on foreign governments whose citizens serve in the Israeli military to investigate them for war crimes in Gaza. (JTA)
A poll indicates a majority of Palestinians in Gaza see Egypt as the country that “best backed the Palestinian resistance.” (Ynet)
Israeli occupation forces declare a village in Nablus a “closed military zone.” (Ma’an)
Israeli families living in the south are worried about the future of life near Gaza. (New York Times)
Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis says it has beheaded four Egyptians accused of collaborating with Israel. (Reuters)
AP profiles IS extremists in Syria. (AP)
IS extremists reportedly execute dozens of members of the Syrian army. (Reuters)
The New York Times analyses the success of IS and its tactics. (New York Times)
American officials say US airstrikes on Syria would entail significant risks. (Reuters/AP)
Pres. Assad forms a new government with slight changes. (Xinhua)
Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti urges young people to reject calls to jihad. (Reuters)
Pres. Erdogan is sworn in as the Republic of Turkey’s 12th president. (Reuters/AP)
Attention is focused on the diplomatic quarrel between Qatar and other GCC members, in the context of a high level Saudi delegation to Doha. (Gulf News/Al Arabiya)
Commentary:
The Jordan Times says the end of fighting in Gaza is a triumph for ordinary Palestinians and Israelis. (Jordan Times)
The National says Israel wants to keep Gaza “weak, poor and hungry.” (The National)
The Daily Star says Palestinian unity is imperative. (Daily Star)
Orlando Crowcroft says the aftermath of the Gaza war will probably center on the Palestinian unity agreement. (The National) 
Mark Perry claims Israel’s bombardment of the Shujaiha neighborhood in Gaza left US officials “stunned.” (Al Jazeera)
Nahum Barnea says the Gaza ceasefire was “too little, too late.”(Ynet)
Ha’aretz says Israel must help Gaza realize its economic potential. (Ha’aretz)
Shlomi Eldar says Hamas leaders Zahar and Hanniyeh pressured Meshaal into a ceasefire. (Al-Monitor)
FM Lieberman says Hamas remains the biggest obstacle to peace. (Foreign Policy)
Fred Hof says Assad is using IS as an ambush for Pres. Obama. (New Republic)
The New York Times says the US must have a comprehensive strategy if it is to take military action in Syria. (New York Times)
Joyce Karam looks at Obama’s evolving Syria strategy. (Al Arabiya)
Michael Young says the battle against IS throws Assad a “lifeline.” (The National)
Alan Philps says the solution to IS lies in Iraq and not embracing the Assad regime. (The National)
Amr Adly looks at the Sisi government's efforts to win over Egypt's civil servants. (Carnegie)
Ian Black says Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Jordan understand the dangers of IS but are driven by caution. (The Guardian)
Jeffrey White looks at the military implications of the Syrian regimes’ defeat in Raqqa. (Washington Institute) 
Nicholas Burns says Europeans states should stop paying hostage ransoms to terrorists. (The Boston Globe)
Eyad Abu Shakra says the Middle East faces an existential challenge but does not fully realize it. (Asharq al-Awsat)
The International Crisis Group evaluates P5+1 nuclear negotiations with Iran. (The International Crisis Group)

August 27th

News:


Israel and the Palestinians agree to an Egyptian-brokered plan to end the fighting in Gaza. (Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post/AFP/JTA)

Hamas urges Palestinians in Gaza to "celebrate victory and the fulfillment of the Palestinian people's demands." (Ma’an/Ha’aretz/The National)

Hamas leader Abu Marzouq says Israel has agreed to open Gaza crossings to allow the flow of humanitarian aid and construction material. (Ma’an)

PM Netanyahu is facing strong criticism in Israel. (Reuters/Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)

Sec. Kerry calls on Israel and the Palestinians to “fully and completely” comply with the terms of the cease-fire. (JTA)

Ynet looks at the numbers behind “Operation Protective Edge.” (Ynet)

Palestinians in Jerusalem are experiencing the largest upsurge in detentions since the second Intifada. (Ma’an)

Hamas arrests another 15 suspected collaborators with Israel. (Ha’aretz)

The Israeli military fires at a Syrian army position after an officer is wounded from a mortar fire. (Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)

The US has begun to mobilize a broad coalition of allies behind potential American military action inSyria. (New York Times)

IS militants execute Syrian army soldiers and are holding a group hostage after capturing an air base in northeast Syria. (Reuters)

The UN says IS and Syrian government are committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. (Reuters/AP/New York Times)

Syrian rebels capture a border crossing with Israel in the Golan Heights. (AP)

An American militant was killed in Syria while allegedly fighting for IS. (AP/New York Times)

Saudi Arabia arrests eight suspects for inciting youth to fight abroad. (The National)

Libyan ministers resign over militia fighting. (AP)


Commentary:


The National says if Israel truly seeks “quiet for quiet”, it needs to give Gaza and the West Bank self determination and freedom. (The National)

The Los Angeles Times asks what’s next for Gaza. (Los Angeles Times)

David Rothkopf interviews former Middle East Special Envoy Indyk. (Foreign Policy)

Avi Issacharoff says Hamas has been “humiliatingly defeated.” (Times of Israel)

Gideon Levy says the war in Gaza should teach Netanyahu that Israel can no longer “live by the sword.” (Ha’aretz)

Ben Caspit says there are no winners in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. (Al-Monitor)

David Horovitz says Hamas’ victory celebrations should not be dismissed. (Times of Israel)

Yossi Mekelberg says one of the outcomes of “Operation Protection Edge” is likely to be a genuine challenge to replace Netanyahu. (Al Arabiya)

Linda Gradstein says Egypt hopes to regain its regional role through mediating the Gaza ceasefire. (The Media Line)

Yael Aronoff looks at the political psychology of Netanyahu. (Foreign Policy)

Faisal Al Yafai says IS was born from a warped theory of war. (The National)

Clint Hinote looks at the risk of targeting the head of IS. (Washington Post)

Mohammed Fahad al-Harthi writes an open letter to Iraq’s PM-designate Al-Abadi. (Al Arabiya)

The Daily Star says, like Iraq and Syria, events inside Libya will affect not just its neighbors but countries across the region. (Daily Star)


American Task Force on Palestine - 1634 Eye St. NW, Suite 725, Washington DC 20006 - Telephone: 202-262-0017