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)