Date

News:

Israel’s decision to withhold Palestinian tax revenues is strangling the economy and leaving the banking system dangerously exposed. (Reuters)

PM Hamdallah urges reconciliation in his second official visit to Gaza. (Ma’an)

Hamas and Hamdallah agree to form a committee to resolve Gaza issues. (Ma’an)

The UN says the Palestinian death toll in 2014 was the highest since 1967. (AFP)

A report by Amnesty International cites evidence of war crimes by Hamas during last summer’s Gaza conflict. (New York Times/JTA/Ha’aretz)

A French firm decides not to take part in a cable car project linking West Jerusalem to occupied East Jerusalem. (AFP/Ha’aretz)

Pres. Rivlin chides PM Netanyahu for his comments about Palestinian voters in Israel. (JTA)

An Israeli lawmaker calls on Netanyahu to fire Amb. Dermer. (JTA/Times of Israel)

Saudi Arabia leads airstrikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Washington Post/Times of Israel/Foreign Policy/The National)

In a GCC statement Gulf countries say they responded to developments in Yemen. (The National)

Jordan confirms its participation in the Yemen airstrikes, which it calls “legitimate and necessary.” (AP/Jordan Times)

Egypt sends warships to secure the Gulf of Aden. (Ynet/Reuters)

FM Shoukri says Cairo is willing to send ground forces to Yemen if needed. (Al Arabiya)

Egypt and Kuwait say intervention in Yemen was necessary. (AFP)

Sec. Kerry commends the work of the coalition taking military action against the Houthis. (AFP)

The Arab League pledges full support for the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen. (Reuters)

Pres. Abbas says he supports the Saudi-led military invasion in Yemen. (Ma’an)

Iran condemns Saudi airstrikes in Yemen saying it was “a dangerous step.” (AFP/Al Arabiya)

Iraq’s FM al-Jaafari opposes the Saudi-led air strikes on Shiite rebels in Yemen. (AFP)

EU Foreign Policy Chief Mogherini says military action is not a solution to the crisis in Yemen. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia also hit forces loyal to a key figure who many Yemenis believe has orchestrated the present crisis from the shadows: former Pres. Saleh. (Reuters)

Coalition and Iraqi warplanes target ISIS militants in the presidential compound in Tikrit.(Reuters/AP/New York Times/Washington Post)

Tunisia says the Bardo museum attack was launched by a cell of 23 militants, with overlapping allegiances to a number of hardline islamist groups. (Reuters)

The US and Iran resume talks on a preliminary nuclear deal as deadline nears. (Reuters/AP/Ha’aretz)

An American official says an Iranian nuclear deal may be completed next week. (New York Times)

Netanyahu has begun to signal that Israel could resign itself to an Iranian nuclear deal that would leave its enemy with some uranium enrichment capability. (Reuters)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish says Netanyahu has called the American bluff on a two-state solution and the US faces a crucial decision. (NOW)

Aaron David Miller says when it comes to Palestinian statehood the US and Israel are just “playing games.” (Foreign Policy)

Akiva Eldar says Europeans are warning that Israel is deepening its control in occupied East Jerusalem. (Al-Monitor)

Shlomi Eldar says Palestinian citizens of Israel will look to Netanyahu’s actions, not his words. (Al-Monitor)

Nizar Farzakh congratulates Israel on its democracy and says now they should fight for their future (Ha’aretz)

Jonathan Capehart says Netanyahu is to blame for his “sour relationship” with Pres. Obama. (Washington Post)

Ha’aretz says Israel’s new Finance Minister Kahlon will face difficult challenges. (Ha’aretz)

Sara Elizabeth Williams says Iran is coming closer to the Israeli borders. (Foreign Policy)

Avi Issacharoff says Israel’s concerns regarding the Houthi takeover of Yemen are nothing compared to Arab countries. (Times of Israel)

Faisal Abbas explains why “Operation: Decisive Storm” was needed in Yemen. (Al Arabiya)

Joyce Karam says the Yemen intervention is a statement of a GCC more confident in its defenses and political vision. (Al Arabiya)

The National says Yemen airstrikes are an important first step. (The National)

H.A. Hellyer says an Arab army is an “improbable necessity.”

Michael Young says the growing rift between the US and France on the solution to the Syria crisis should end. (The National)

John Bolton says that because Iran can’t be trusted on a nuclear deal, force is the only option. (New York Times)


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