March 19th, 2015

News:

PM Netanyahu is poised to lead a heavily right-leaning coalition government with control of 67 of Knesset’s 120 seats. (Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post/JTA)

Pres. Rivlin will meet with representatives of each of the parties elected to serve in the 20th Knesset. (JTA)

Zionist Union leader Herzog says he will not join Netanyahu's government. (AP/JTA)

The world reacts to Netanyahu’s “no Palestinian state” pledge. (Reuters/AFP/Ha’aretz)

Palestinians see validation of their international initiatives with the re-election of Netanyahu. (New York Times)

Pres. Abbas says a two-state solution would be impossible to achieve with an Israeli government led by Netanyahu. (Ha’aretz/Ynet/Jerusalem Post/AFP)

A White House official says the US could back a UN resolution on Palestine. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

The Obama administration is “deeply concerned” about Likud Party rhetoric marginalizing Palestinian citizens of Israel during the recent elections. (JTA/Times of Israel)

Four Israeli bulldozers and a military vehicle enter Palestinian areas near Rafah in southern Gaza. (Ma’an)

Palestinian youths clash with Israeli forces in occupied East Jerusalem following the takeover of a building by Jewish settlers. (Ma’an)

Extremist Jewish settlers uproot over 60 olive trees in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)

Israeli occupation forces detain 15 Palestinians throughout the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)

The UN says the ICC should prosecute ISIS for genocide and war crimes in Iraq. (Reuters/AP/The National)

The death toll in the attack on Tunisia's National Bardo Museum rises to 23. (AP/New York Times/Washington Post)

A European negotiator says P5+1 are unlikely to reach a framework agreement on Iran's nuclear program in the coming days. (Reuters)

Reuters looks at Egypt’s project to build a new capital. (Reuters)

The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia will remain closed for consular services due to security concerns. (AP/The National)

UAE recalls its ambassador to Sweden in wake of comments the country’s foreign minister made about Saudi Arabia. (The National)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish says Netanyahu's victory seems a devastating blow to hopes for peace. (NOW)

John Hudson and Colum Lynch say with Netanyahu holding on, the administration is weighing a turn to the UN to help force an Israeli-Palestinian deal. (Foreign Policy)

Thomas Friedman asks how the rest of the world is going to react to an Israeli government that rejects a two-state solution and employs anti-Arab dog whistles to get elected. (New York Times)

Natan Sachs looks at how Netanyahu rallied the right wing to secure a surprisingly solid victory. (Foreign Policy)

Michael Young says Netanyahu’s victory in Israel’s elections means that any hope of serious negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians is now virtually nil. (Daily Star)

Alan Philps says Netanyahu's disavowal of Palestinian statehood has merely torn away a mask that had become transparent. (The National)

Joyce Karam says Netanyahu’s win seals the fate of the peace process, rendering it completely hopeless. (Al Arabiya)

The Daily Star says its time for the international community to stand up to Netanyahu. (Daily Star)

The Jordan Times says now that the international community knows where Israel stands, it should seriously take it to task and force it to abide by UN resolutions. (Jordan Times)

E.J. Dionne looks at the “high cost” of Netanyahu’s comeback. (Washington Post)

Harold Meyerson says Netanyahu’s scorched earth tactics could make Israel’s problems worse. (Washington Post)

The Washington Post asks who loses as Netanyahu wins. (Washington Post)

Ron Kampeas asks if Netanyahu’s campaign rhetoric will cause further estrangement with Washington. (JTA)

Rebecca Shimoni Stoil says the coming weeks are critical as US waits to hear if Netanyahu will dial down his anti-two-state and anti-Arab rhetoric. (Times of Israel)

Aluf Benn says it was Netanyahu’s last-minute return to his anti-Arab, pro-settlement roots that boosted him back into power. (Ha’aretz)

Jonathan Schanzer explains why the media always gets Israeli elections wrong. (Politico)

Dov Zakheim looks at why pundits got the Israeli election so wrong. (Foreign Policy)

Peter Beinart says with Netanyahu's reelection, the peace process is over and the “pressure process” must begin. (Ha’aretz)

Akiva Eldar says Israel’s diplomatic future is in Kahlon’s hands. (Al-Monitor)

Jay Michaelson says Netanyahu finally revealed his “true face.” (The Forward)

Ha’aretz says the struggle to preserve Israel's democracy is just beginning. (Ha’aretz)

Ravit Hecht says Israel is galloping toward an anti-democratic binational future saturated with hatred and racism. (Ha’aretz)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed looks at “Iran’s seizure” of Iraq. (Al Arabiya)

March 18th

News:

PM Netanyahu wins a come-from-behind victory in Israel's election after tacking hard to the right in the final days of campaigning. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Washington Post/JTA/Times of Israel/The National)

Zionist Union leader Herzog calls Netanyahu and concedes defeat in Israel’s national elections. (JTA/Ynet)

The new kingmaker of Israeli politics may be Moshe Kahlon. (AP)

The United Arab List receives a historic 14 seats in Israel’s next Parliament. (New York Times/AFP/Ha’aretz)

Embarrassed at failing to predict Netanyahu's victory, Israeli pollsters say they were blindsided. (Reuters)

Palestinian Chief Negotiator Erekat says the election result means that the Palestinians in turn willpush forward with efforts at the ICC. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

PLO official Yasser Abed Rabbo slams the Israeli public for voting for Netanyahu, saying they had chosen "occupation and settlement building" over peace talks. (AFP)

The international media say Netanyahu wins big, but is leading Israel to isolation. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

The EU says it is committed to working with the new Israeli government on relaunching a peace process with the Palestinians. (Reuters)

AP says Netanyahu’s reelection puts Israel on a course toward ever deeper confrontation with the world.  (AP)

Netanyahu retains power, but his sharp-edged campaign raises questions about Israel’s future. (New York Times)

An Arab Gulf official says Netanyahu owes his election win to Israeli security fears, notably about Iran's growing regional influence. (Reuters)

Palestinian officials will meet on Thursday to discuss severing military ties with Israel. (Times of Israel)

The PA sets an emergency budget in place for 2015 due to the absence of pledged international aid and Israel withholding its tax revenues. (Reuters/Times of Israel)

Egypt demolishes 1,020 Rafah homes for a buffer zone in Gaza. (Ma’an).

Israeli forces open fire on farmers in Gaza. (Ma’an)

Coalition Head John Allen says the US still wants a negotiated political settlement in Syria that excludes Pres. Assad. (Reuters)

The Syrian army takes control of the strategic village of Handarat, north of Aleppo. (Reuters)

The US loses one of its Predator drone aircraft over northwest Syria. (Reuters/AP)

DM al-Obeidi says Iraq's Sunni province of Anbar is key to launching the long-awaited operation to retake the city of Mosul from ISIS. (AP)

Gunmen wearing military uniforms attack the Bardo National Museum in downtown Tunis, killing at least seven foreign visitors and one Tunisian and taking hostages. (New York Times/AP/The National/Al Arabiya)

Commentary:

The New York Times says in his desperation to win, Netanyahu resorted to fear-mongering and anti-Arab attacks. (New York Times)

Oudeh Basharat says it turns out that Palestinian citizens of Israel are indeed a threat; they threaten the hegemony of a government that divides the two peoples. (Ha’aretz)

Roger Cohen says a national unity government may be the least bad outcome for Israel. (New York Times)

Gideon Levy says Netanyahu and the Israeli people deserve each other.  (Ha’aretz)

The National says Arab unity and Israeli racism are the election winners, paving the way for international pressure. (The National)

Bradley Burston says he is ashamed that PM Netanyahu is such a racist. (Ha’aretz)

Allison Kaplan Sommer looks at the “six big surprises” of the 2015 Israeli election. (Ha’aretz)

Uriel Heilman looks at five takeaways from the Israeli election. (JTA)

David Horovitz says the question now is how Netanyahu will use his power. (Times of Israel)

Haviv Rettig-Gur asks what is the future for the Israeli left. (Times of Israel)

Ha’aretz says Kahlon must thwart the establishment of an extreme right-wing government. (Ha’aretz)

Nathan Guttman says there is little hope for repairing ties between the US and Israel. (The Forward)

Thomas Friedman says in looking at Israel, Iran and ISIS, it seem as though the US has only bad choices, and nothing ever works. (New York Times)

March 17th

News:

Israelis go to the polls today to elect a new government. (Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post/AFP/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

PM Netanyahu’s political survival in on the line. (AP)

Netanyahu says the right-wing is in danger because “Arabs are voting in droves.” (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

Netanyahu says if he was returned to office he would never allow the establishment of a Palestinian state. (New York Times/Washington Post/AFP/Times of Israel/The National)

Palestinian Chief Negotiator Erekat says Netanyahu has done everything possible to bury the two-state solution. (PNN)

Tzipi Livni says she will forgo the opportunity to take the prime minister position in two years should Zionist Union win. (JTA/Jerusalem Post)

Fatah leader Hatem Abdul Qader urges Palestinian citizens of Israel to vote for the United Arab List. (JTA/Times of Israel)

Israel closes the Kerem Shalom and Erez crossings for the elections. (Ma’an) 

The EU appoints Italian negotiator Fernando Gentilini as its next envoy for the Middle East peaceprocess. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

A French prosecutor says the late Palestinian leader Arafat did not die of poisoning. (JTA/AFP)

Sec. Kerry’s comments on Assad talks create uproar in the Middle East. (Washington Post)

UN investigators say they are ready to share the names of, and details about, of Syria war crimessuspects. (Reuters)

A group monitoring the Syrian civil war says government forces carried out a poison gas attack that killed six people in the northwest. (Reuters/AP)

The White House is consulting former CIA Director Petraeus about the fight against ISIS. (AP)

The US says Iran has sent arms to Iraq to fight ISIS. (New York Times)

An American official says the P5+1 and Iran have been making headway in identifying technical options for a deal, but difficult issues remain. (Reuters)

Iranians are reportedly optimistic about clinching a nuclear agreement with the P5+1. (AP)

The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia remains closed to the public for a third day because of “security concerns.” (The National)

Commentary:

Munib al-Masri says Palestinians find themselves on the dark side of the slogan that's dominated these Israeli elections: “it's us or them.” (Ha’aretz)

Sayed Kashua says Ayman Odeh is the only one inspiring hope that there's still a chance of ending the occupation. (Ha’aretz)

Avi Issacharoff says Palestinians are fixated on the Israeli election but are divided on the preferable outcome.. (Times of Israel)

Gideon Levy says Israel is the only country that denies millions of subjects the right to vote but still calls itself a democracy. (Ha’aretz)

Gregg Carlstrom looks at “the last days of King Bibi.” (Foreign Policy)

Ha’aretz urges Israelis to vote out Netanyahu. (Ha’aretz)

Aaron David Miller looks at what an Israeli government will look like if Netanyahu loses the election to Herzog-- and what it could accomplish. (Foreign Policy)

John Hudson asks if Herzog can repair the US-Israel relationship. (Foreign Policy)

Ari Shavit says Israel's 2015 election is a referendum on hope. (Ha’aretz)

Amnon Reshef says Netanyahu’s failures have caused significant damage to Israel on security, Iran, peace talks and the economy. (Ynet)

Akiva Eldar says Israel’s election focuses on the politics of fear. (Al-Monitor)

Yossi Mekelberg asks if the election will create real change in Israel. (Al Arabiya)

The Daily Star says Kerry’s remarks regarding Assad have prompted concern and surprise in the Arab world and beyond. (Daily Star)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed harshly criticizes Kerry’s stance on Syria. (Al Arabiya)

 

 

March 16th

News:

AP and the Washington Post look at key campaign issues and main players in Israel’s upcoming parliamentary election. (AP/Washington Post)

The United Arab List rises as a major force in the upcoming Israeli election. (New York Times)

Business leaders see a “peace dividend” if PM Netanyahu loses the upcoming Israeli election. (Reuters)

Netanyahu visits occupied East Jerusalem in final day of campaign. (AP)

Tony Blair is reportedly preparing to resign as Middle East Peace Quartet Envoy. (Ha’aretz/JTA)

Hamas says it has rebuilt a number of military bases near the Israeli border in Gaza. (Ma’an) 

Israel eases entry criteria for Palestinians from the occupied West Bank. (Times of Israel)

The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms says 2014 saw 465 violations of media freedoms in the occupied territories. (Ma’an)

Israeli forces prepare to evict a Palestinian family in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)

FM Lieberman visits the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron, prompting outrage. (Ma’an)

Israeli occupation forces detain 23 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)

Former Amb. Oren says Israel must repair ties with the US. (Ha’aretz)

Iraq says it has put its Tikrit offensive on hold and senior officials call for more air strikes to dislodge ISIS militants. (Reuters/New York Times)

Pres. Assad dismisses remarks made by Sec. Kerry that he should be included in negotiations to reach a political transition. (Reuters/AP)

US Gulf allies appear alarmed by Kerry’s comment regarding Assad. (Reuters)

France stresses it will not negotiate with Assad. (AFP)

Turkey slams Kerry over his Assad remarks. (AFP)

The US will decide soon on restoring military aid to Egypt. (New York Times)

The split within Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood is a blow to the broader regional group. (AP/Times of Israel/The National)

The EU says the P5+1 talks with Iran are entering a critical stage. (Reuters)

Prince Turki al-Faisal says an Iran deal could risk nuclear proliferation. (Reuters/Ynet)

An Iranian court sentences the son of former Pres. Rafsanjani to 15 years in prison. (New York Times)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish says that Israel’s election results are unlikely to alter the status quo. (The National)

Ron Kampeas looks at why Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations were like “bitter divorce proceedings.” (JTA)

Asmaa al-Ghoul says Palestinian women are discussing the possibility of increasing the female quota system with PLO factions. (Al-Monitor)

Anshel Pfeffer looks at seven post-election scenarios for Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Shmuel Rosner says Israelis need to “grow up” and vote for one of two main camps. (New York Times)

Carlo Strenger says Netanyahu seems to have lost touch with the ground rules of democracy and has become a danger to the state. (Ha’aretz)

Ha’aretz says Lieberman has abandoned all restraint and morality. (Ha’aretz)

J.J. Goldberg looks at how the Zionist Union could build a ruling coalition. (The Forward)

Anshel Pfeffer asks if opposition leader Herzog is “the ultimate anti-Netanyahu.” (Ha’aretz)

Raphael Ahren says a new Israeli government will almost certainly bring a more diplomatic foreign minister, but there will be not much change on the Palestinian or Iranian fronts. (Times of Israel)

Haviv Rettig-Gur looks at the “enigmatic and unpredictable” Israeli voter. (Times of Israel)

Paul Krugman looks at Israel’s extreme social inequality. (New York Times)

Faisal Al Yafai says the flip flopping in Washington over Kerry's remarks on Assad reflect a broader flip flopping in US policy towards Syria. (The National)

The Daily Star says the American “appeasement” of Iran in Syria adds up to collusion with Assad. (Daily Star)

Rami Khouri says Syria’s woes reflect wider Arab troubles. (Daily Star)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says the Egyptian people have been confronted with two choices: to build the future or destroy the present. (Al Arabiya)

Salman Aldossary says Egypt is now back on track and moving forward with unstoppable momentum. (Asharq al-Awsat)

FM Philip Hammond explains how Britain is contributing to build Egypt’s economy. (Asharq al-Awsat)

The Jordan Times says a strong Egypt is good for the region. (Jordan Times)

The National says a new Cairo must lead to a new Egypt. (The National)

Scott Atran and Douglas Stone say Kurds deserve more international support for their “heroic” stand against ISIS. (New York Times)

Jackson Diehl says the P5+1 negotiations are about more than Iran’s nuclear capabilities. (Washington Post)

Colum Lynch and Jamila Trindle say a historic nuclear deal with Iran is in sight, but unraveling the web of financial embargoes, asset freezes, and restricted oil sales will not be easy. (Foreign Policy)



March 13th

News:

Hundreds of Palestinians injured during last summer’s war protest in Gaza against official inaction regarding disabled Palestinians. (Ma’an)

Sec. Kerry will meet Pres. Abbas and King Abdullah on the sidelines of the Egypt investment conference. (AFP)

Israeli and Qatari officials reportedly met this week to discuss the reconstruction of Gaza. (Ynet)

Israeli forces open fire at Palestinians across the Gaza border. (Ma’an/PNN)

200 Palestinians from Gaza head to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem to pray. (Ma’an/PNN)

An Israeli official says the IDF is preparing for ISIS threats from Sinai. (Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

The Israeli army recommends a fence be built on the Jordanian border to ward off any jihadi infiltrators. (Ha’aretz)

Economy minister Bennett visits the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron under strict security. (Ma’an)

Israel’s center-left opposition is poised for potential victory in the elections next week, with the last opinion polls giving it a solid lead over PM Netanyahu's party. (Reuters/JTA/Times of Israel)

Likud officials blame Netanyahu for poor poll results. (Ha’aretz)

Polls indicate that the party headed by FM Lieberman will also fare poorly in the upcoming election. (Washington Post)

Former Israeli generals target Netanyahu’s “security image.” (JTA)

ISIS is still on the attack, despite internal strife and heavy losses. (New York Times)

UNICEF says countries should negotiate with ISIS to persuade it to let the agency into areas the militants control. (Reuters)

Local groups outside the formal aid sector are helping to fill gaps in the humanitarian response in Syria, reaching communities big agencies cannot access. (Reuters)

Turkey says the spy suspected of helping the three British school girls is a Syrian national working for a country in the US-led coalition against ISIS. (Reuters)

Indonesian officials says 32 people have been held or missing in Turkey, suspected of trying to join ISIS. (Reuters)

The Iraqi offensive to retake Tikrit from ISIS appears to stall. (Reuters)

ISIS tightens its grip on Mosul residents. (AP)

AP looks at Egypt’s economic indicators ahead of the investment conference. (AP)

Sec. Kerry promotes US investment in Egypt but no new military assistance as urged by Pres. Sisi. (AP)

Pres. Sisi’s reputation is bound up in the high stakes economic summit. (The National)

An attack on a checkpoint wounds one army officer and two other soldiers in the Egyptian city of al-Arish in Sinai. (Reuters)

Egypt arrests 75 in connection with a series of attacks on businesses and utilities over the past several months. (New York Times)

Saudi nuclear deal with South Korea raises stakes for the Iran talks. (Wall Street Journal)

Commentary:

Avi Issacharoff says Hamas and Fatah have clear, opposite interests in Israel’s election outcome. (Times of Israel)

Grant Rumley says Abbas and the PA are less interested in who wins the Israeli elections than how they’ll take Israel to court. (Foreign Policy)

Craig Charney asks what’s behind the surge in violence in Jerusalem and the West Bank -- and where will it lead. (Foreign Policy)

Adnan Abu Amer says Hamas is expanding its international outreach. (Al-Monitor)

Eran Rolnik says Israel needs a left that views Jewish-Arab coexistence and the two-state solution as the key to the country’s continued existence as a democracy. (Ha’aretz)

David Horovitz interviews Netanyahu. (Times of Israel)

Salman Masalha explains why he is voting for Meretz and not for the joint Arab list. (Ha’aretz)

Anshel Pfeffer says Israelis are tired of Netanyahu. (Ha’aretz)

Ha’aretz says there is a chance to end Netanyahu’s rule and put Israel back on the track of political moderation and social integration. (Ha’aretz)

Lally Weymouth interviews Sisi. (Washington Post)

The National says this weekend marks an important moment in the post-revolution history of Egypt. (The National)

The Daily Star says the situation in Syria is another Arab catastrophe. (Daily Star)

Raed Omari says ISIS is the enemy of civilization. (Al Arabiya)

James Stavridis asks if ISIS could target Italy. (Washington Post)

Roger Cohen imagines a letter to Americans by Iranian lawmakers. (New York Times)

Michael Gerson says the letter from Republican lawmakers to Iran undermines negotiations. (Washington Post)

Amir Taheri looks at the three main arguments used by the “pro-Mullah lobby” in the West. (Asharq al-Awsat) 

Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian and Yochi Dreazen look at the “real war” on Christianity in the Middle East. (Foreign Policy)

March 12th

News:

Israel resumes imports of fruits and vegetables from Gaza. (Reuters/Ma’an)

Hamas leader Abu Marzouq says Israeli army commanders told Palestinian businessmen that theywould allow a seaport and airport in Gaza in return for a long-term ceasefire. (Ma’an/Ha’aretz)

Hamas leader Meshaal meets with Iranian Parliament Speaker Larijani during the latter’s visit to Qatar. (Times of Israel)

At least 59 Palestinian migrants were on board a boat which capsized off the coast of Sicily on March 4, killing an estimated 50. (Ma’an/PNN)

Palestinian activists burn Israeli products near Nablus. (Ma’an)

Two Palestinians from the occupied West Bank receive rare entry permits to Israel that include Eilat. (Ha’aretz)

PM Netanyahu launches a last-minute media blitz to counter what appears to be a rising tide of support for opposition leader Herzog. (Reuters)

Former Pres. Peres endorses Herzog as prime minister. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Pro-Iraqi government forces exchange fire sporadically with ISIS fighters in Tikrit.(Reuters/Washington Post/New York Times)

Gen. Dempsey says the US is worried about Iran-backed militias in Iraq. (AP)

AP and New York Times look at key events in Syria since March 2011. (AP/New York Times)

Four years of war in Syria leaves families uprooted and separated. (AP)

coalition of aid agencies says the UNSC has failed to enforce its own hard-fought resolutions on Syria. (New York Times/The National)

UNICEF says 14 million children are suffering as a result of war in Syria and Iraq. (New York Times)

Physicians for Human Rights says more than 600 medical workers have been killed in Syria's civil war. (AP)

ISIS claims responsibility for a bomb attack on a police station in the Libyan capital. (Reuters)

Jordan and Morocco are set to increase cooperation. (Jordan Times)

The Emir of Qatar meets with Pres. Erdogan for talks in Ankara. (AFP)

Sec. Kerry says Congress will not be able to change the terms of any nuclear agreement with Iran. (AP/New York Times)

Ayatollah Khamenei condemns the letter from Republican lawmakers saying he is worried because the US is known for "backstabbing." (Reuters)

Former Sec. Clinton says letter from Republican lawmakers to Iran undermines American leadership. (AP)

Commentary:

Raphael Ahren looks at what Israel’s parties say about the Palestinians. (Times of Israel)

Akiva Eldar asks who will stop the Jewish settlers. (Ha’aretz)

Gideon Levy says in Israel, a “good Arab is an invisible Arab.” (Ha’aretz)

Barak Ravid says Israel needs a prime minister who can clean up the country’s “diplomatic mess.” (Ha’aretz)

Haviv Rettig-Gur asks if Netanyahu is about to lose the election. (Times of Israel)

Omer Benjakob says Herzog and the center-left might actually win Israel’s upcoming election. (Ynet)

Ari Shavit says Herzog and Livni may not be perfect, but they and their party are returning Israel to itself and  to what it’s supposed to be. (Ha’aretz)

Ben Sales explains why Israelis will vote on the economy and not on security. (JTA)

Avi Issacharoff says an angry Egypt feels the squeeze from jihadis, the US and Hamas. (Times of Israel)

H.A. Hellyer says Europe lacks a proper ‘Plan B’ in the Middle East. (The National)

Amal Kandeel says with the help of the international community, Egypt's economy is heading in the right direction. (The National)

Aziz Abu Sarah says in order to dictate the future, ISIS is destroying the past. (Ha’aretz)

The New York Times says in rejecting diplomacy, the Republicans make an Iranian bomb and military conflict more likely. (New York Times)

David Rothkopf says there are real questions both Democrats and Republicans should be asking about our Iran policy. (Foreign Policy)

Michael Young says the greatest potential victims of an Iranian-inspired overhaul of Lebanon’s political system could be Christians in general and specifically Maronites. (Daily Star)

Joyce Karam says Washington’s hands are tied politically and militarily in countering Iranian influence in Iraq. (Al Arabiya)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says hostility toward Washington is a basic pillar of the Iranian revolution and of the country’s foreign activities. (Al Arabiya)

The Daily Star says it is incumbent on Arab countries to produce a viable, united strategy to confront Iran’s designs in the region.  (Daily Star)

Tariq Alhomayed looks at why media campaigns are calling for the return of a Saudi–Turkish alliance. (Asharq al-Awsat)

March 11th

News:

Palestinian poll indicates support for the PA’s decision to join the ICC and its boycott of Israeli products, and dwindling support for Hamas. (Times of Israel)

Vegetables harvested in Gaza will be exported to Israel for the first time in eight years. (Ma’an)

Israeli authorities have decided to allow white Portland cement into Gaza for the first time in several years. (Ma’an)

Egypt shuts down the Rafah border crossing. (Ma’an/PNN)

Qatar starts a project to rebuild 1,000 homes that were damaged or destroyed during last summer’s war in Gaza. (New York Times)

The EU denounces the move by Israeli authorities to demolish an EU-funded shelter in occupied East Jerusalem. (AFP)

The Palestinian power firm cancels a deal to buy $1.2 billion of natural gas from Israel. (Reuters/Times of Israel)

A group of Palestinian gunmen shut down the main road near Balata refugee camp east of Nablus. (Ma’an)

Israeli soldiers wound seven Palestinian university students as clashes break out near the Ofer detention center in Ramallah. (Ha’aretz/Ma’an)

The Obama administration will wait for Israel’s elections before commenting on conflicting reports of PM Netanyahu’s retreat from a two-state solution. (JTA)

FM Lieberman brushes off Palestinian threats to prosecute him for proposing to behead Arab citizens disloyal to the state. (AFP/Times of Israel)

AP profiles Gaza novelist Atef Abu Saif. (AP)

King Abdullah of Jordan says an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal is essential to combating Islamic extremists.  (AFP/The National/Jordan Times)

UNRWA Chief Krahenbuhl accompanies the first aid convoy in three months to enter the besieged Yarmouk camp in Damascus. (AFP)

Palestinian Deputy PM Mustafa says Israeli voters ignore the West Bank at their peril. (The National)

As Israel’s election nears, peace with the Palestinians earns barely a mention. (Reuters)

Iraqi security forces capture part of Tikrit's northern Qadisiya district. (Reuters/New York Times)

Iraqi FM al-Jaafari dismisses Saudi concerns that Iran is taking control of his country and says Baghdad has good relations with both regional powers. (Reuters)

A video posted online by ISIS purportedly shows the killing of teenager Muhammad Musallam, anIsraeli Arab accused by the group of being an Israeli spy. (Reuters/Washington Post/AFP/JTA/Times of Israel/The National)

A small number of Americans have offered to take up arms against ISIS, working with local militias in Iraq and Syria. (New York Times)

A Jordanian city votes to avoid the “ISIS aesthetic.” (New York Times)

Saudi Arabia recalls its ambassador from Sweden after a human rights spat. (Reuters/AFP)

King Salman vows that low oil prices will not halt progress in his country, and promises to defend Arab and Muslim causes around the world. (AP/The National/Al Arabiya)

Egypt’s investment conference aimed at drawing investors from around the world starts on Friday. (AP)

Commentary:

Ilan Goldenberg and Nicholas Heras ask if Israel can survive without the PA. (Foreign Policy)

Yossi Mekelberg says Israel and the PA are playing a potentially “dangerous high stakes game of chicken” in which neither wants to be the first to blink. (Al Arabiya)

Hana Salah says young Palestinian women in Gaza are now turning to business incubators to find funding and support to build their own businesses. (Al-Monitor)

Peter Beinart says if Israelis reelect Netanyahu, they will risk losing the US. (Ha’aretz)

Alex Fishman says Pres. Obama is making clear to Israel that he is about to become much more aggressive regarding the Palestinian issue. (Ynet)

The Daily Star says any new Israeli government will probably seek a continuation of the status quo. (Daily Star)

Zvi Bar’el asks which of the” two Jewish nations”  Israeli voters will choose. (Ha’aretz)

J.J. Goldberg looks at the electoral and psychological landscape of Israel. (The Forward)

Akiva Eldar asks if opposition leader Herzog will compromise party values to join the government. (Al-Monitor)

Yossi Verter says Netanyahu's Likud party is showing signs of distress. (Ha’aretz)

Thomas Friedman says the influence of Sheldon Adelson is being felt in both the US and Israel. (New York Times)

“Abdel” recounts his experiences as a surgeon in Aleppo.  (New York Times)

Tom Fletcher says the international community has tolerated the intolerable in Syria. (Al Arabiya)

Michael Young says worrying Israel and Arab countries alike, America is pivoting away from the region. (The National)

Jamal Khashoggi explains how the Middle East should handle the Muslim Brotherhood. (Al Arabiya)

David Ignatius says a letter from Republican lawmakers to Iran is dangerous and irresponsible. (Washington Post)

Tyler Cullis says Senate efforts to undermine the president's attempts to reach a nuclear accord with Tehran are on the wrong side of history. (New York Times)

Hussein Ibish says the unfolding battle in Tikrit will reveal much about the future of Iraq and the battle against ISIS. (NOW)

March 10th

News:

UN expert panel tasked with investigating possible war crimes in Gaza last year has asked for more time to complete its report. (AP/New York Times/JTA)

The PA is holding 50 Islamic militants, fearing a terror attack would ensure a Likud victory in Israel’s upcoming election. (Ha’aretz)

The State Department says it expects the next Israeli government to be committed to the two-state solution. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Former Amb. Oren says Israel must restrict settlement building and create a “two-state reality.” (Ynet)

UN Middle East Envoy Serry proposes a three-to-five year truce in Gaza in order to enable reconstruction. (Ha’aretz)

Women in Gaza protest in front of the UNRWA headquarters to demand that the international community accelerate the reconstruction of Gaza. (Ma’an)

Hamas denies it is interested in a long-term ceasefire agreement with Israel in Gaza. (Ma’an)

The municipality of Jerusalem is blacklisting Palestinian residents suspected of security offenses. (Ha’aretz)

Israeli occupation forces level vast areas of land in the East Jerusalem town of al-Esawiya. (Ma’an) 

Israel’s Amb. to Sweden protests the pulling off the air of a cooking show because its presenter called Jerusalem the Jewish state’s “heart.” (JTA)

PM Netanyahu says there is a “worldwide effort” to topple him. (Reuters)

The Washington Post looks at Israel’s united Arab party. (Washington Post)

persistent Israeli ethnic divide may split the vote for Netanyahu in the upcoming election. (Reuters)

Israeli opposition leader Herzog is emerging as a credible challenger to Netanyahu. (New York Times)

95 captives, including some Kurdish fighters, escape from an ISIS-run prison in northern Syria. (Reuters)

Iraqi forces retake a town next to the militant-held city of Tikrit as they press their offensive against ISIS militants. (AP)

Pres. Assad seems more likely to survive the Syrian crisis than at any point since it began four years ago. (Reuters)

King Abdullah of Jordan likens ISIS to Nazism -- "an expansionist ideology based on hatred." (Jerusalem Post/Jordan Times)

suicide bomber kills a civilian and wounds 30 policemen in northern Sinai. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Ma’an/The National)

Democrats accuse GOP senators of undermining Pres. Obama in international talks to curb Iran's nuclear program. (AP/New York Times/Washington Post)

FM Zarif says a letter to Iranian leader by Republican lawmakers suggests that the US is “not trustworthy.” (AP/Times of Israel)

Commentary:

Anshel Pfeffer says to beat Netanyahu, Herzog needs to “lift Labor's old curse.” (Ha’aretz)

David Horovitz gives some insights on what to expect in the next Israeli election. (Times of Israel)

Steven Klein gives five reasons why Netanyahu will not be replaced in the upcoming election. (Ha’aretz)

Michael Weiss and Hassan Hassan look at the metamorphosis of an ISIS warrior. (Foreign Policy)

Hassan Barari says the key to Iran’s strategy of becoming a regional superpower is the development of its nuclear program. (Jordan Times)

Salman Aldossary says a P5+1 deal with Iran essentially benefits only Tehran and would come at the expense of everyone else. (Asharq al-Awsat)

The National says its time for an Arab NATO. (The National)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says the Arab world has a long history of ignorance regarding the importance and preservation of monuments and historic treasures. (Al Arabiya)

March 9th

News:

PM Netanyahu says Israel will not cede any territory to the Palestinians due to the current climate in the Middle East. (AP/New York Times/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Ynet)

Palestinian Chief Negotiator Erekat says Netanyahu never believed in the two-state solution, always choosing settlements over peace. (Jerusalem Post)

Egypt opens the Rafah crossing with Gaza for two days. (Ma’an)

Hamas accuses the PA security services of arresting dozens of its supporters across the West Bank. (Ma’an/Times of Israel/Ynet)

EU diplomats tell the PA that it is not doing enough to rebuild Gaza. (Ha’aretz)

Hamas reportedly sent a series of messages to Israel indicating an interest in a long-term ceasefire in exchange for an end to the blockade of Gaza. (Times of Israel)

Israeli occupation forces uproot 300 olive trees on private Palestinian land near Nablus. (Ma’an)

PNN publishes statistics regarding the conditions of Palestinian women. (PNN)

The White House names Robert Malley, former US peace negotiator, to lead the Middle East desk at the NSC. (JTA)

Israelis will vote in a parliamentary election on March 17, choosing among party lists of candidates to serve in the 120-seat Knesset. (Reuters)

The United Arab party is a surprise new force in the upcoming Israeli election. (Reuters)

Reuters profiles the leading candidates in Israel's parliamentary election, their main policies and where they stand on participation in a governing coalition. (Reuters)

Reports of tensions and aggressive recruitment tactics suggest that ISIS militants are struggling to keep supporters amid battlefield losses. (Washington Post)

Gen. Dempsey says some Iraqi troops set for US-led training to fight ISIS are showing up ill-prepared. (AP)

Iraqi DM al-Obeidi says his government is comfortable asking for and receiving help from Iran. (AP)

US-led coalition airstrike in Syria hits an oil refinery run by ISIS militants near the border with Turkey, killing 30 people. (AP)

Archaeologists and preservationists lament, that in areas held by ISIS, there is little they can do but document the destruction. (New York Times)

Saudi Arabia blocked a plan for Sweden's FM Wallstrom to address the Arab League. (Reuters)

Gen. Haftar is sworn in as army commander for the internationally recognized government in Libya. (Reuters)

Iran and IAEA officials hold talks in Tehran. (Reuters)

Pres. Obama says the US would "walk away" from nuclear talks with Iran if there's no acceptable deal. (AP/New York Times)

47 Republican senators warn that any agreement with Iran may be short-lived unless Congressapproves the deal. (AP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish says Israelis think they can completely ignore the reality of the Palestinian people and get away with it. (The National)

Barak Ravid says Netanyahu has shown his rightist colors with the latest policy flip-flop towards the Palestinians. (Ha’aretz)

Nahum Barnea says it's legitimate to reveal the gap between Netanyahu's rhetoric and the major concessions he offered the Palestinians. (Ynet)

J.J. Goldberg looks at why Netanyahu nixed the two-state solution. (The Forward)

Rami Khouri says the recommendation by the PCC to suspend security coordination with Israel illustrates the broken relationship between Palestinians and Israelis.  (Daily Star)

Adnan Abu Amer says Hamas is discussing steps it could take if Egypt decides to attack Gaza, as hinted by the Egyptian army. (Al-Monitor)

Amira Hass looks at the Palestinian boycotts of Israeli products and the broader impact. (Ha’aretz)

Gideon Levy says Israel’s Jews must vote for the Arab list. (Ha’aretz)

Zeev Sternhell says if he wants to win, opposition leader Herzog must convince Israelis that peace and prosperity are intertwined. (Ha’aretz)

David Horovitz interviews former finance minister Lapid. (Times of Israel)

Niv Gilboa looks at how upscale Palestinian cuisine is flourishing in Israel. (Al-Monitor)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says if Saudi Arabia accepts a solution by which Pres. Assad stays in power, it will have handed over Iraq, Syria and Lebanon to Iran. (Al Arabiya)

Peter Salisbury asks if Yemen is becoming the next Syria. (Foreign Policy)

Faisal Al Yafai says the language and ideas of political Islam have sidelined liberalism and secularism in the Middle East. (The National)

Amal Mousa looks at how Islamism and political Islam have damaged Islam. (Asharq al-Awsat)

March 6th

News:

The Palestinian Central Council (PCCrecommends halting security coordination with Israel. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Ma’an/PNN/Ha’aretz/The Media Line)

Israel says ties with the PLO remain unchanged. (Times of Israel)

A Palestinian motorist injures at least seven Israelis in a car attack near a Jerusalem tram stop. (Reuters/AP/Ma’an/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Some Palestinian factions praise the Jerusalem car attack. (Ma’an)

PM Netanyahu reportedly considered an agreement with the Palestinians that would have uprooted West Bank settlements and recognized Palestinian claims to Jerusalem. (JTA/Times of Israel/Ynet)

An American official says Pres. Obama wants to make a renewed effort to achieve progress in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

The only power plant in Gaza is set to resume operations after a fuel delivery today. (Ma’an)

Israeli forces open fire on Palestinians in southern Gaza. (Ma’an) 

Israel will resume imports of fruits and vegetables from Gaza for the first time since 2007. (Ha’aretz/Reuters)

Dovish Brig. Gen. (ret.) Sedaka has been appointed to liaise with Bedouins in the occupied West Bank. (Ha’aretz)

ISIS militants loot and bulldoze the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud. (Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post/The National)

Reports that ISIS's most notorious executioner “Jihadi John” was born on their soil has stirred deep unease among Kuwaitis. (Reuters) 

A study says while Twitter has suspended many users linked to ISIS, at least 46,000 accounts still publicize the group’s message. (New York Times)

The future of Syria’s Al-Nusra Front is in question after its military chief was killed in an apparent government air strike. (Reuters/AP)

The UNSC will vote on a US-drafted resolution to condemn the use of chlorine as a weapon in Syria. (Reuters/New York Times)

The EU has stepped up its sanctions against Syria in response to the crackdown by Pres. Assad's regime. (AP)

FM Zarif suggests that a 10-year moratorium on some aspects of the country's nuclear program might be acceptable to Tehran. (Reuters)

The UAE is lining up investors to try to stabilize Egypt’s damaged economy, while building military cooperation. (AP)

BP signs a $12 billion deal to develop a major gas field in Egypt. (AP/Reuters)

Commentary:

Shlomi Eldar says Hamas' focus on rebuilding its tunnels, while ignoring the plight of Gazans, points to the military wing's dominance in the organization. (Al-Monitor)

Adnan Abu Amer says the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood is accusing Hamas of establishing a secret organization within the kingdom. (Al-Monitor)

Asmaa al-Ghoul says despite Hamas restrictions, Gaza actresses are seeking stages. (Al-Monitor)

George Hishmeh hopes the upcoming Israeli elections will produce a more reasonable Israeli leadership. (Jordan Times)

Haviv Rettig-Gur says the man who will decide Israel’s election is Pres. Rivlin. (Times of Israel)

Roger Cohen says Netanyahu’s obsessive Iran demonization is based on hyperbole and selective history. (New York Times)

Fareed Zakaria says Netanyahu’s speech was “utterly divorced from reality.” (Washington Post)

Charles Krauthammer says Netanyahu offered a real alternative on Iran. (Washington Post)

Michael Gerson says the White House is conceding too much on Iran. (Washington Post)

Ha’aretz says Netanyahu’s Iran proposals deserve serious discussion after the election, even if he loses. (Ha’aretz)

David Ignatius says targeting terrorist leaders is not enough. (Washington Post)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says the battle for Tikrit is igniting a sectarian war in Iraq. (Al Arabiya)

David Kenner asks if Shiite militias in Iraq are doing more harm than good. (Foreign Policy)

Raed Omari says Iran has a colonial attitudes towards the Arab world. (Al Arabiya)

The Daily Star says its time for Arab states and the rest of the world to agree on a new approach to solving the conflict in Syria. (Daily Star)

 

 


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