March 5th, 2015

News:

Pres. Abbas accuses Israel of "gangsterism" over its decision to withhold Palestinian tax revenues. (Ynet)

As Israel goes to the polls, Palestinians expect little change. (The National)

Gaza’s sole power plant was shut down on Wednesday evening as Qatari-donated fuel supplies ran out. (Ma’an)

Extremist Jewish settlers torch two Palestinian cars and vandalize a building near Ramallah. (Ma’an/PNN/JTA/Times of Israel)

Unidentified assailants throw flammable material at the door of a Fatah leader's house in eastern Gaza. (Ma’an)

Israeli forces shoot and injure two Palestinian fishermen off the coast of Gaza. (Ma’an)

Three thousand women protest outside the Knesset calling for an Israeli-Palestinian peaceagreement. (JTA/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

The number of Palestinians working for Israelis on either side of the Green Line has doubled in the last 4 years. (Jerusalem Post)

Experts say PM Netanyahu may gain only a fleeting lift from his Congressional speech. (New York Times) 

FM Zarif says Iran “saved the Jews” three times and Netanyahu should “learn his history.” (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

American officials are reportedly hinting that replacing Amb. Dermer is key to mending US-Israel ties. (Ha’aretz)

A Chinese official at the P5+1 talks sees hope for a deal. (Reuters)

Sec. Kerry meets with King Salman and Gulf Arab FMs in Riyadh to reassure them on Iranian nuclear talks. (Reuters/AP/Washington Post/New York Times)

Egypt may import natural gas from Israel. (JTA/TheMarker)

Pres. Sisi reshuffles his cabinet and replaces the minister of interior. (AP)

Syrian government barrel bombs kill at least 18 in Aleppo. (AP)

The collapse of the Hazzm movement in Syria underlines the failure of efforts to unify Arab and Western support for mainstream insurgents. (Reuters)

Syria's Western-backed political opposition is trying to ally with opposition groups based in Syria to boost its legitimacy. (Reuters)

The US strategy in Iraq is increasingly relying on Iran. (New York Times)

Iraqis plan to take a leading role in driving ISIS out of Mosul. (New York Times)

Warplanes from Libya's internationally recognized government carry out air strikes on an airport in Tripoli. (Reuters)

Libya says 11 oil fields in the country are non-operational after attacks by suspected ISIS militants. (AP)

Commentary:

Rami Al-Magheiri looks at Hamas’ reaction to the Egyptian court ruling against it. (The Media Line)

Ha’aretz says right-wingers’ assault on Knesset members at a panel discussion this week was an act worthy of fascists. (Ha’aretz)

Shlomo Sand says a Jewish vote for the Arab list could be a decisive event in Israel’s short history. (Ha’aretz)

Ben Sales profiles Israeli opposition leader Herzog. (JTA)

AP interviews former Finance Minister Lapid. (AP)

Melanie Lidman looks at the group “Runners Without Borders” that brings Arab, Jewish, and Armenian girls together. (Times of Israel)

Nahum Barnea says Netanyahu’s top priority is elections, not Iran. (Ynet)

Akiva Eldar says focused on Iran, Netanyahu’s is ignoring Israel’s economic crisis. (Al-Monitor)

Alan Philps says the “grenade thrown” by Netanyahu in the US Capitol will leave lasting scars. (The National)

Aaron David Miller says its too early to say whether Netanyahu’s speech bought him votes in the Israeli election or time on the Iran deal. (Foreign Policy)

Peter Beinart says Jewish history offers no parallels for the situation Israel finds itself in today, but American history does. (Ha’aretz)

Ari Shavit says Netanyahu’s speech did not generate interest in the US because he framed the Iranian nuclear threat in Jewish and Israeli terms. (Ha’aretz)

E.J. Dionne says Netanyahu’s speech threatens US support for Israel. (Washington Post)

Michael Young says on Iran, Arabs deeply mistrust Pres. Obama. (Daily Star)

Joyce Karam says Netanyahu bruised Obama in Congress without killing the Iran deal. (Al Arabiya)

Samir Atallah says King Salman has a sound vision for Saudi Arabia. (Asharq al-Awsat)

March 4th

News:

PM Netanyahu says a potential nuclear agreement would "pave Iran's path to the bomb." (AP/New York Times/JTA/The National)

Pres. Obama says Netanyahu is offering no viable alternative to negotiations with Iran. (AP/New York Times/Ha’aretz)

Netanyahu says his speech to Congress offered a "practical alternative" to a possible Iranian nuclear deal. (AP/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

House Democratic leader Pelosi says she did not appreciate Netanyahu’s condescension and felt insulted. (AP)

Iran says Netanyahu’s speech was “boring and repetitive.” (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

The Washington Post looks at how Israel reacted to Netanyahu’s speech. (Washington Post)

Israeli opposition leader Herzog says Netanyahu’s speech will have no effect on negotiations with Iran. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

A day after Netanyahu’s warning, Iran and the P5+1 make “some progress.” (Reuters)

The US says Iran is far from achieving a working nuclear bomb, but others differ. (AP)

Sec. Kerry heads to Saudi Arabia to consult on negotiations with Iran. (AP)

Pres. Abbas says Israel has stripped his government of all authority to the point where it has "no real power over anything." (AP/Times of Israel)

Palestinian leaders begin a two-day meeting at which they could decide to suspend security coordination with Israel. (Reuters/Ynet/Jerusalem Post)

The UN Human Rights Council says Israel should investigate the killing of more than 1,500 Palestinian civilians during last summer’s war. (Ma’an/PNN/Reuters)

For the third month in the row the PA will pay its civil servants only 60 percent of their monthly wages, as a result of Israel withholding tax revenues. (Ma’an)

Israeli officials prevent 10 PLO officials from entering the occupied West Bank from Gaza. (Ma’an)

Israel says it will double the amount of water it channels annually to Palestinians in Gaza. (AFP)

Israeli authorities demolish four houses in the Bedouin village of Sawah in the Negev. (Ma’an)

British advertising watchdog bans an Israeli government tourism ad for representing the Old City of Jerusalem as being in Israel. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

The Media Line looks at the foreign policy positions of Israel’s political parties. (The Media Line)

Gen. Dempsey says Iran's direct intervention in Iraq could be "a positive thing." (AP)

former British Royal Marine is reportedly killed fighting ISIS in Syria. (Reuters/AP) 

King Abdullah says there will be no compromise or leniency when it comes to security and stability of Jordan. (Jordan Times)

Egypt’s cabinet approves a long-awaited draft law on investment. (Reuters)

Commentary:

David Ignatius looks at Netanyahu’s “zero-sum game” on Iran. (Washington Post)

Gholamali Khoshroo says the world should see through Netanyahu’s alarmist rhetoric about Iran. (New York Times)

Thomas Friedman says Netanyahu’s speech “rubbed him” the wrong way. (New York Times)

The New York Times says Netanyahu offered no new reasons to reject the agreement being negotiated by the US to constrain Iran’s nuclear program. (New York Times)

The Washington Post says Obama needs to provide real answers to Netanyahu’s arguments. (Washington Post)

The Forward says Netanyahu’s speech raises the stakes for the Obama administration. (The Forward)

The National says Netanyahu’s speech demonised Iran, but the real threat is Israel's own “apartheid strategy.” (The National)

The Daily Star says Netanyahu’s speech contained all of the predictable generalizations and sweeping statements that could have been expected. (Daily Star)

Natan Sachs says patience is Israel's best strategy against Iran. (Ha’aretz)

Lara Friedman debunks “11 lies” Netanyahu told Congress on Iran. (The Forward)

Paul Waldman says Netanyahu’s speech did not do his American allies any favors. (Washington Post)

Ha’aretz says Netanyahu’s forgot to mention the “real existential threat” to Israel. (Ha’aretz)

Raphael Ahren says amid the criticism, Netanyahu also signaled some readiness for compromise in his Congressional speech. (Times of Israel)

Yochi Dreazen says Netanyahu’s speech quietly signaled that he’d be willing to accept an Iranian deal. (Foreign Policy)

Zvi Bar’el says Netanyahu presents Congress a “warped view” of the Middle East. (Ha’aretz)

Yossi Mekelberg says Netanyahu’s speech offered no solutions, and leaves Israel internationally isolated. (Al Arabiya)

David Horovitz says Netanyahu’s speech was a “devastating and irrevocable indictment” of Obama. (Times of Israel)

Avner Cohen says an Iranian nuclear deal looks like a reasonable compromise. (Ha’aretz)

Haviv Rettig Gur looks at why Obama and Netanyahu hate each other. (Times of Israel)

Aaron Mann says the only thing Netanyahu has managed to secure as prime minister is his own political survival. (Huffington Post)

Elhanan Miller interviews the leader of the joint Arab list Ayman Odeh. (Times of Israel)

Elie Leshem profiles Palestinian activist Ali Abu Awwad who uses nonviolence to challenge the prejudices of his Arab and Jewish neighbors. (Times of Israel)

Shlomi Eldar asks if a US-Israel rift would benefit the Palestinians. (Al-Monitor)

Michael Young says urgent action is required to help Arab Christians. (The National)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed looks at Gulf-Egyptian military and economic cooperation. (Al Arabiya)

The Jordan Times says the battle for Mosul is symbolically a battle for all of Iraq. (Jordan Times)

March 3rd

News:

The PLO will reportedly lodge its first complaint against Israel for alleged war crimes at the ICC onApril 1. (AFP/JTA)

The EU is seeking to bolster the Quartet by closely involving Arab states. (Reuters)

Palestinians urging a boycott of Israeli products have begun confiscating goods in the West Bank. (AP)

Israeli occupation forces shoot and injure a young Palestinian man during clashes in the West Bank. (Ma’an)

A video shows Israeli soldiers urging dogs to attack a Palestinian child, who they claimed threw rocks at them. (Ma’an/Ha’aretz)

An Israeli student throws bottle at MK Zoabi. (Ma’an/PNN/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

PM Netanyahu will address Congress today. (Reuters/New York Times/AP/Washington Post/Times of Israel)

49 Democrat members of Congress will not attend Netanyahu’s speech today. (New York Times/JTA/Ha’aretz)

Many in Iran have been awaiting the address by Netanyahu because they hope his blunt approach will turn American public opinion against him. (New York Times)

poll indicates Netanyahu is as popular as ever in the US. (Ha’aretz)

Deputy Sec. Blinken warns tensions with Israel could last until the end of the Obama administration in 2016. (Ynet)

Iraqi forces try to seal off ISIS around Tikrit. (Reuters/The National)

An American intelligence official says Iran is involved in the fight against ISIS in Iraq. (AP)

A new study says Syria’s civil war can be linked, in part, to a record drought worsened by global warming. (AP/New York Times)

Pres. Obama says Iran must commit to a verifiable freeze of at least 10 years on sensitive nuclear activity for a deal to be reached. (Reuters)

Iran calls Obama’s 10-year nuclear demand “unacceptable.” (Reuters/Times of Israel)

NSA Rice says a bad nuclear deal with Iran is worse than no deal at all. (AP/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Commentary:

The Jordan Times says a lasting solution to radicalism and extremism in the region must begin with ending the Israeli occupation. (Jordan Times)

Adnan Abu Amer looks at women’s role in Hamas. (Al-Monitor)

Shibley Telhami says the consequences of Netanyahu’s speech for Israel in American politics may be long lasting. (Foreign Policy)

Faisal Abbas says Netanyahu gets it right when it comes to dealing with Iran. (Al Arabiya)

Anshel Pfeffer says Netanyahu is in Washington to ensure he sees the White House from the inside next time he's in town. (Ha’aretz)

Amos Harel looks at what’s missing from Netanyahu’s arguments in Washington. (Ha’aretz)

Hassan Barari looks at Netanyahu’s “showdown” with Obama. (Jordan Times)

Nahum Barnea says Netanyahu’s speech will be judged by its effect on an Iranian deal. (Ynet)

Richard Cohen says Israel’s “moral argument” is on the line. (Washington Post)

Gregg Carlstrom says Netanyahu’s Washington speech is being criticized by Israeli spies, generals, and pundits. (Foreign Policy)

Bradley Burston says Netanyahu’s Congress speech is not really about Iran. (Ha’aretz)

David Hazony says Netanyahu should speak to Congress. (The Forward)

Akiva Eldar asks if Obama has a “secret weapon” against Netanyahu. (Al-Monitor)

The New York Times says ISIS’s needs are so great that shutting down its financing is a major opportunity for the West. (New York Times)

Maajid Nawaz says Britain’s universities have been infiltrated by Islamist extremists for years. (New York Times)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed looks at how ISIS’ exploits girls and women. (Al Arabiya)

March 2nd

News:

Gaza residents fear more isolation after an Egyptian court declares Hamas a terrorist organization. (AP)

Hamas supporters rally in Gaza against the Egyptian court ruling. (Ma’an)

Hamas is reportedly trying to mend its relationship with Iran. (Times of Israel)

Gaza’s only power plant is due to shut down by the end of this week as donor funding for fuel has run out. (Ma’an)

Israel says it has busted an Israeli-Palestinian smuggling ring that funneled iron, electronic equipment and other prohibited materials to Gaza. (AP/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

A Palestinian court postpones its verdict in the graft trial of exiled former Fatah official Dahlan. (AFP) 

King Abdullah of Jordan says the absence of Middle East peace will complicate the anti-terror fight.  (Jordan Times)

Israeli occupation forces detain eight Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)

The IDF calls up 13000 reservists and holds a surprise training exercises in the occupied West Bank. (JTA)

The US and Israel show signs of seeking to defuse tensions ahead of a speech in Washington by PM Netanyahu. (Reuters/Washington Post) 

Netanyahu and top US officials are set to face off in dueling speeches on the high-stakes Iran nuclear negotiations. (AP/New York Times)

Sec. Kerry accuses the UN Human Rights Council of being obsessed by allegations of Israeli abuses. (Reuters/Washington Post/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

The Iraqi army and Shiite militias launch an offensive to retake Tikrit from ISIS. (Reuters/AP/Washington Post/New York Times/The National)

Former Sec. Powell says the failure of Iraqi government allowed ISIS to flourish. (The National)

AP looks at how “Islamic is ISIS.” (AP)

Pres. Sisi meets with King Salman in Riyadh to discuss Middle East crises. (Reuters/The National)

PM Ensour announces a cabinet reshuffle. (Reuters/Jordan Times)

Audio recordings of senior Egyptian officials suggest that when Morsi was president, the UAE gave the Egyptian Defense Ministry money for a protest campaign against him. (New York Times)

The Washington Post looks at the conditions inside a Saudi prison. (Washington Post)

FM Zarif says a nuclear deal hinges on the US will to lift sanctions. (Reuters)

Kerry warns that a public discussion of details of the ongoing P5+1 negotiations with Iran will make itmore difficult to reach a deal. (AP/New York Times/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Commentary:

Ahmad Melhem says recent clashes in the West Bank between security forces and protesters have triggered Palestinian fears that stability will be difficult to restore. (Al-Monitor)

Moshe Arens says the reason prospects of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement are hardly discussed ahead of the election is that the vast majority of Israelis don’t believe in them. (Ha’aretz)

Avi Issacharoff says Netanyahu’s electoral trip to Washington will ignore the occupied West Bank to Israel’s peril. (Times of Israel)

Nahum Barnea asks if Netanyahu’s speech is “historic or hysteric.” (Ynet)

David Rothkopf says Pres. Obama needs to refocus the discussion on the larger Mideast strategy. (Foreign Policy)

Yochi Dreazen and Colum Lynch profile Amb. Dermer. (Foreign Policy)

Rami Khouri says Netanyahu is threatening the US-Israel relationship. (Daily Star)

Don Futterman asks AIPAC delegates to stand with Israel and not with Netanyahu. (Ha’aretz)

Jackson Diehl says in appealing to Congress, Netanyahu may win votes but hurt ties. (Washington Post)

Ray Takeyh looks at Ayatollah Khamenei’s “strategic genius.” (Washington Post)

The Daily Star looks at the repercussions of an Iranian nuclear deal. (Daily Star)

Hussein Ibish says organisations that counter extremism struggle to find funding. (The National)

Robert Grenier says we should remember that the threat posed to the US by radical Islam, while real, is not an existential one. (New York Times)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says Iran is at Saudi Arabia’s frontiers. (Al Arabiya)

Hisham Melhem says an Arab world without its Christian communities will be more insular, more rigid, less hospitable and more desolate. (Al Arabiya)

Gerard Russell says it would be tragic if the Assyrians leave the region. (The National)

February 27th

News:

Oxfam says the rebuilding of Gaza could take more than a century if Israel maintains its blockade. (Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

Israel will use frozen Palestinian tax revenues to offset the PA’s electricity debt. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

PM Netanyahu intervenes to approve water links to the Palestinian city in the occupied West Bank, Rawabi. (Washington Post)

Israel says more commercial goods are being allowed into Gaza. (Ma’an)

Farmers in Gaza continue to suffer the consequences of massive losses incurred during last summer’s war. (Ma’an)

Italy’s parliament will vote today on recognition of the State of Palestine. (PNN/Reuters)

billboard campaign is launched in Ireland to urge the government to recognize the State of Palestine. (Ma’an)

Jordan condemns the arson attack against a Greek Orthodox seminary in occupied East Jerusalem. (Jordan Times)

The Israeli army is setting up a unit to probe alleged criminal acts during wartime. (Ha’aretz)

With borders closed, Palestinians in Gaza are unable to make the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. (AP)

Hundreds of Jewish Israelis with armed guards visit the Tomb of Joshua in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)

Nadia Hilou, the first female Palestinian Christian MK elected to the Knesset dies. (Ynet)

British artist Banksy goes to Gaza and films the devastation there in the wake of last summer's war. (Reuters/The National)

AIPAC is reportedly opposed to Netanyahu’s upcoming speech to Congress. (Times of Israel/Al-Monitor)

The White House will send NSA Rice and Amb. Power to the upcoming AIPAC conference. (AP/New York Times/JTA/Times of Israel)

Netanyahu will meet with both Democratic and Republican Senate leaders in Washington. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

former Mossad chief Dagan criticizes Netanyahu’s handling of the Iranian nuclear threat. (AP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

PM Cameron vows to use all means at his disposal to hunt down British militants such as "Jihadi John." (Reuters)

A financial report says in order for ISIS to remain financially viable it will have to further expand the territory it controls in Iraq and Syria. (Reuters)

ISIS extremists in northern Iraq destroy a priceless collection of statues and sculptures from the ancient Assyrian era. (Reuters/New York Times)

UNESCO Chief Bokova denounces ISIS's destruction of ancient statues and artifacts as "cultural cleansing" and a war crime that the world must punish. (AP)

A UN official seeks havens for Syrian refugees in Europe. (New York Times)

King Abdullah holds talks in Cairo with Pres. Sisi. (Jordan Times)

The leader of the Houthi rebel group in Yemen accuses Saudi Arabia of fueling unrest to divide the country. (New York Times)

Sec. Kerry will will travel to Switzerland next week to resume nuclear talks with Iran's FM Zarif. (AP) 

Commentary:

The Daily Star says the international community must condemn the “hate crime” in Jerusalem. (Daily Star)

Rasha Abu Jalal looks at the plight of Palestinian children in Israeli prisons. (Al-Monitor)

Shlomi Eldar interviews Palestinian journalist Majdi Arbid. (Al-Monitor)

Isaac Herzog says that although Israelis put security first and need all Americans as their ally, Netanyahu is hurting that goal. (New York Times)

Betty McCollum explains why she will not be attending Netanyahu’s speech in Congress. (Washington Post)

Ron Kampeas says Netanyahu’s speech is straining bipartisanship ahead of the AIPAC conference. (JTA)

Aaron David Miller asks if Pres. Obama’s relationship with Netanyahu is broken. (Foreign Policy)

George Hishmeh says Netanyahu’s presence in Washington next week could turn the political situation between the US and Israel upside down. (Jordan Times)

Ha’aretz says Netanyahu is insisting on damaging Israel's ties with the US. (Ha’aretz)

Carolina Landsmann says Israel’s democrats must vote for opposition leader Herzog. (Ha’aretz)

Majid Rafizadeh says striking an accord in the first phase of the P5+1 nuclear talks is very likely. (Al Arabiya)

David Brooks says the P5+1 negotiations with Iran are based on misguided premises and could have disastrous outcomes.(New York Times)

David Ignatius says America is the ally Egypt needs. (Washington Post)

Amir Taheri says Pres. Erdogan acknowledges the evils of the Assad regime but ignores the equally evil ISIS. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Mshari al-Zaydi says fighting ISIS is the duty of all Arabs. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Fareed Zakaria says Muslims must lead the battle against extremism. (Washington Post)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed asks if Yemen’s former Pres. Saleh really has $60 billion. (Al Arabiya)

February 26th

News:

 

Israeli extremists set fire to a Greek Orthodox seminary in Jerusalem and spray hate slogans on the walls. (Ma’an/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

The PLO condemns attacks on Christian and Muslim holy sites. (Ma’an)

Extremist Jewish settlers spray-paint racist graffiti on the walls of a Palestinian school near Nablus. (Ma’an/Ha’aretz)

Palestinian activists descend on Ramallah to enforce the boycott of Israeli products. (Ynet)

Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank will vote in the upcoming election. (AP)

Israeli opposition leader Herzog calls on PM Netanyahu to cancel his upcoming Congressional speech. (AP/Jerusalem Post/Ynet)

Sec. Kerry reminds Americans that Netanyahu visited Washington in late 2002 to lobby for the invasion of Iraq. (New York Times/Times of Israel)

Following attacks by ISIS, Palestinian refugees in Iraq continue their search for a new, safe place to call home. (Times of Israel)

The “Jihadi John” masked fighter who fronted ISIS beheading videos is reportedly Mohammed Emwazi, a Kuwaiti-born Briton. (Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post/The National)

A coalition aistrike in western Iraq kills at least 17 ISIS militants overnight. (Reuters)

ISIS extremists have abducted at least 220 people from Assyrian Christian villages in Syria during a three-day offensive. (Reuters/AP)

Christian leader in Syria urges US-led air strikes to help repel an attack by ISIS militants on their villages. (Reuters)

French lawmaker faces party sanctions for holding talks in Damascus. (Reuters)

The US is looking to aid Syrian refugees amid security concerns. (AP)

ISIS is reportedly selling looted Syrian art in London to fund its battles. (Washington Post)

The UAE buys two Boeing C-17s. (Reuters)

King Abdullah and King Salman call for pan-Arab anti-terror efforts. (Jordan Times)

The US Embassy in Amman warns citizens of threat against malls in Jordan. (Reuters/Times of Israel/The National/Jordan Times)

Israeli and Jordanian officials sign a historic agreement on water trade. (Jerusalem Post)

Commentary:

Nicholas Kristof says Israel squanders political capital and antagonizes even its friends with its naked land grabs in the West Bank. (New York Times)

Abdullah Abu Rahmeh says Bil'in's villagers have become known as the “Palestinian Gandhis” for their popular struggle against the occupation. (Ha’aretz)

Gideon Levy says Israel is heading towards another violent eruption with Palestinians in Gaza. (Ha’aretz)

Akiva Eldar says all signs indicate that Netanyahu rejects a two-state solution. (Al-Monitor)

Shlomi Eldar asks if Israeli Jews will vote for the joint Arab list in the upcoming election. (Al-Monitor)

Carol Giacomo asks if Netanyahu and Speaker Boehner are hurting the American-Israeli relationship. (New York Times)

Dov Zakheim says Netanyahu must stay at home and not put the Israeli-American relationship at risk. (Foreign Policy)

Daniel Drezner looks at Netanyahu’s “blinkered view” of American politics. (Washington Post)

Robert Einhorn says Washington should make every effort to negotiate a sound agreement which can effectively deter an Iranian nuclear breakout. (New York Times)

Raphael Ahren says Netanyahu’s Congressional speech is “historic” and a “dangerous gamble.” (Times of Israel)

Hussein Ibish looks at the growing controversy regarding “how Islamic is ISIS.” (NOW)

The Agenda interviews Graeme Wood and Hussein Ibish on ISIS’ esxpansion into Libya. (TVO)

Alan Philps says US strategy in Iraq may open the door for the return of former PM Maliki. (The National)

The Jordan Times says the abduction of Assyrian Christians in Syria by ISIS highlights the plight of Christian communities in the Middle East. (Jordan Times)

H.A. Hellyer says the education sector in the Arab world will need to be reformed to counter ISIS. (The National)

Caryle Murphy looks at the implications of King Salman’s swift moves to build his new court. (Foreign Policy)

Joyce Karam says since the beginning of the Arab Spring, the Obama administration has not missed an opportunity to express surprise at major events shaping the region. (Al Arabiya)

February 25th

News:

Extremist Jewish settlers torch a Palestinian mosque in the occupied West Bank. (AP/Ma’an/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

A poll indicates a slight majority of Americans favor the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. (JTA)

Israel Electric will cut the power flow to the West Bank cities of Nablus and Jenin for about 30 minutes for the second time in two days. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

After being forced out from Damascus, Hamas is establishing itself in Turkey. (Ynet)

An autopsy shows a Palestinian teenager killed by Israeli occupation forces was shot at a close range. (Ma’an)

Palestinian girl is injured after being run over by a settler vehicle in the Silwan neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ma’an/PNN)

The new Palestinian city Rawabi has condos, a mall and a sports club — but no water. (Washington Post)

The Artist, a new magazine published in Gaza aims to introduce Palestinian artists to the public. (The Media Line)

NSA Rice says PM Netanyahu's decision to address Congress next week is "destructive" to US-Israel relations. (AP/New York Times/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Netanyahu turns down an invitation to meet privately with Senate Democrats next week during his visit to Washington. (AP)

Amb. Dermer has reportedly unsuccessfully lobbied the envoys of at least two Arab countries to attend Netanyahu’s speech to Congress. (JTA/Times of Israel/Ynet/The Atlantic)

Netanyahu’s office denies American reports that Israeli NSA Cohen objected to the premier's decision to address Congress next week. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

wave of bomb attacks around Baghdad kill 37 people. (Reuters/AP)

ISIS extremists abduct at least 150 people from Assyrian Christian villages in Syria. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Washington Post)

Kurdish militia press a big offensive against ISIS in Syria, cutting one of its supply lines from Iraq. (Reuters)

Human Rights Watch says the Syrian government has dropped so-called barrel bombs on hundreds of sites in the past year. (New York Times)

Pres. Obama meets with Qatar’s Emir al-Thani. (AP/The National) 

Retired Libyan Gen. Haftar will reportedly meet with Israeli officials in Amman. (Jerusalem Post)

Yemen’s Houthis take over a US special forces army base in Sanaa. (Reuters)

UN experts say Yemen’s former Pres. Saleh is suspected of corruptly amassing as much as $60 billion. (Reuters)

King Abdullah of Jordan will meet with King Salman today in Riyadh. (Jordan Times)

Sec. Kerry defends P5+1 negotiations with Iran before Congress. (AP/New York Times/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Commentary:

Zvi Bar’el says by controlling water, electricity and taxes Israel is showing the PA who’s the boss. (Ha’aretz)

Ha’aretz says the PA and parts of occupied East Jerusalem are totally dependent on Israeli power, and cutting off a city means directly harming essential services. (Ha’aretz)

Elhanan Miller says despite a putative ban, Israeli products still abound on Ramallah store shelves. (Times of Israel)

The New York Times debates what the recent ruling of the US court means for the future of the PA. (New York Times)

Hazar Masri-Hussein says Israeli politicians are avoiding dealing with the issues of racism and Jewish-Arab relations. (Ynet)

Yossi Mekelberg says the unity of Palestinian citizens of Israel in the upcoming election must benefit the Arab constituency and the entire country. (Al Arabiya)

Shai Franklin says Obama should send a high level representative to the upcoming AIPAC conference. (JTA)

Thomas Friedman says ISIS is a product of decades of failed governance in the Arab world.  (New York Times)

David Kenner says former PM Maliki is quietly plotting a return to power. (Foreign Policy)

The National says a new army post that consolidates two of Libya’s many fighting factions offers hope. (The National)

Michael Young says Lebanon was expected to be the least resistant to the sectarian anarchy sweeping the region but has managed to stay afloat. (The National)

The Jordan Times says Jordan and Kuwait are a model of sound pan-Arab relations. (Jordan Times)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says Turkey would have had a greater regional role if it abandons petty alliances and avoids poking its nose in Arab domestic affairs. (Al Arabiya)

David Ignatius says an Iran deal would be good for the region. (Washington Post)

The New York Times says recent talks offer hope that the protracted nuclear threat from Iran can be resolved peacefully. (New York Times)

February 24th

News:

Israeli occupation forces kill a Palestinian teenager in a refugee camp in the West Bank. (New York Times/Ma’an/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz)

An American jury finds the PLO and the PA liable for a series of terrorist attacks in the early 2000s.(AP/New York Times/AFP/JTA/Reuters/Times of Israel)

The PLO and the PA are “deeply disappointed” by the US court decision. (Ma’an)

Peace Now says the number of new homes under construction in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank rose last year by 40 percent. (AFP/Ha’aretz)

The Israeli government says it was not behind Israel Electric 's decision to cut power to Palestinians. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

New Zealand will appoint separate envoys to Israel and the PA. (Ha’aretz)

Hopes rise for Palestinian citizens of Israel in the country’s upcoming election. (The National)

Israeli forces open fire at Palestinian farmers in southern Gaza. (Ma’an)

Israeli forces demolish four Bedouin homes in Beersheba, leaving dozens homeless. (Ma’an)

Young Palestinian citizens of Israel are volunteering for the country’s national service. (The Media Line)

Agriculture in Gaza is suffering after the Israeli decision to ban vegetable exports to the West Bank. (Al-Monitor)

A poll indicates seven in 10 Americans continue to view Israel favorably, despite tension between US and Israeli leaders. (JTA) 

Israeli opposition leader Herzog says he will not address Congress with PM Netanyahu. (Times of Israel/Ynet)

Sen. Durbin and Sen. Feinstein ask Netanyahu for a private meeting to “clear bad feelings” on Congressional speech. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Netanyahu and Mossad reportedly have different views on Iran. (New York Times/Ha’aretz)

A group of French lawmakers hold talks with Syrian officials in Damascus. (Reuters)

ISIS extremists abduct at least 70 Christians in Syria. (AP/The National)

Reuters looks at how Iran’s military chiefs operate in Iraq. (Reuters)

Def. Sec. Carter says he is satisfied by the American-led campaign against ISIS. (Washington Post/The National)

Egypt rejects a report by Amnesty International that said seven civilians were killed in airstrikes targeting ISIS in Libya. (AP)

Pres. Sisi issues a new decree widening the scope of the security crackdown. (Reuters)

Tunisia arrests 100 suspected Islamist militants in the last three days. (Reuters)

Jordan provides the Lebanese army with artillery weapons and tanks. (Jordan Times)

An American official says the US made some progress in the P5+1 talks and managed to "sharpen up some of the tough issues." (Reuters)

A FIFA taskforce proposes shifting 2022 World Cup in Qatar to the end of the year. (New York Times)

Commentary:

Amira Hass asks if the PA will be forced to dissolve. (Ha’aretz)

Colum Lynch asks if the verdict against the PA will open the floodgates for new suits against terrorist groups and their alleged sponsors. (Foreign Policy)

Yoaz Hendel says the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee's summary of Operation Protective Edge must be published. (Ynet)

Peter Beinart says for both Pres. Obama and Netanyahu, giving up in the current fight over Iran would mean giving up on the way they see themselves. (Ha’aretz)

Oudeh Basharat says Netanyahu's address to Congress is not a speech but a “coup.” (Ha’aretz)

David Horovitz says the Obama administration claimed Israel was misrepresenting its deal with Iran but reports from Geneva indicate Israel’s concerns were all too accurate. (Times of Israel)

Akiva Eldar says Netanyahu hopes his speech to Congress will improve his chances of being re-elected. (Al-Monitor)

Octavia Nasr says this is a perfect opportunity to fill the gap with moderate, effective and progressive moves on behalf of Palestine. (Al Arabiya)

Oded Eran and Yoel Guzansky say Israel and Saudi Arabia are on diverging paths regarding Iran’s nuclear program. (Ha’aretz)

Hassan Hassan says the mistake of oversimplification made in the fight against al-Qaeda in the past is being repeated today with ISIS. (The National)

Wafiq Al-Samarrai looks at why the US is keen to liberate Mosul and not Anbar. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Magnus Ranstorp, Linus Gustafsson and Peder Hyllengren look at how a Swedish suburb became a breeding ground for foreign fighters streaming into Syria and Iraq. (Foreign Policy)

Salman Aldossary says Western governments can curb online extremism. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani says the Middle East will deteriorate further if the “peace-loving nations of the world” don't rein in the forces of instability and violence. (New York Times)

The National says Houthis use the language of law while waging war against Yemenis. (The National)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says the struggle in Yemen may divide the country into at least two parts. (Al Arabiya)

February 23rd

News:

A Palestinian official says Pres. Abbas has reportedly threatened to stop security coordination with Israel if Palestinian tax revenues are still withheld. (AP)

Sec. Kerry expresses concern about the viability of the PA if it does not soon receive tax revenues. (AP)

Israeli officials respond to claims that they are causing the collapse of the PA. (Jerusalem Post)

Abbas says the PA will not allow the outbreak of "chaos" in the Palestinian territory, a day after a senior Fatah official was stabbed by unknown assailants. (Ma’an)

Israel’s mayor in Jerusalem says he and his bodyguard apprehended a Palestinian who stabbed an Israeli. (AP/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz)

Seven Palestinians are injured in clashes with Israeli occupation forces near Bethlehem. (Ma’an/PNN)

The Shin Bet arrests 11 members of a Hamas cell in Hebron. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Israel Electric says it will be limiting supplies to the Palestinians due to debt. (Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

Palestinians in Gaza are forced to sell their belongings due to the harsh economic crisis. (Al-Monitor)

Israel denies Gaza government floodwater allegations. (Ma’an)

Brucellosis is on the rise in the West Bank. (Ma’an) 

Israel says it will purchase 14 more F-35 planes. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

The Washington Post profiles Israeli opposition leader Herzog. (Washington Post)

An American official says the White House will not boycott AIPAC’s upcoming convention over PM Netanyahu's Congressional speech. (Ha’aretz)

France’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier begins military operations against ISIS in Iraq. (Reuters/The National) 

France seizes the passports of six alleged French jihadists who were planning to depart to fight in Syria. (Reuters/AP)

Turkey says a military operation to rescue 38 soldiers guarding a tomb in Syria surrounded by ISISwas launched to counter a possible attack on them. (Reuters/AP/New York Times)

Pres. Sisi says the need for a joint Arab military force is growing every day. (AP/The National)

Def. Sec. Carter is scheduled to meet with senior American military and diplomatic officials who are leading the fight against ISIS. (New York Times)

An Egyptian court sentences a prominent activist Alaa Abdel Fattah to five years in jail for violating limits on demonstrations. (Reuters)

A panel disqualifies Egyptian tycoon Ahmed Ezz from running for parliament. (New York Times)

The Libyan government says it will end all contracts with companies from Turkey. (Reuters)

Pres. Hadi is reportedly taking steps to resume his duties in Yemen. (New York Times)

Nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 resume in Geneva. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Washington Post/Times of Israel)

Commentary:

Avi Issacharoff says rage in the occupied West Bank over frozen wages could boil over into violence. (Times of Israel)

Amira Hass looks at what has happened to Hebron 21 years after the Goldstein massacre. (Ha’aretz)

Iris Leal says if Moshe Kahlon can bring in disillusioned voters from the center-right, he has a good chance of ending the Netanyahu era. (Ha’aretz)

Hussein Ibish says Netanyahu’s trip to Washington will not prompt any major backlash, for now. (The National)

Joseph Lieberman says members of Congress must hear out Netanyahu’s speech. (Washington Post)

Dennis Ross asks if the divide between Israel and the US on Iran can be bridged. (Washington Post)

Raphael Ahren asks if a nuclear Iran truly poses an existential threat to Israel. (Times of Israel) 

Uri Savir looks at the “Iranian gap” between Pres. Obama and Netanyahu. (Al-Monitor)

Nick Robins-Early interviews Hussein Ibish about ISIS’ ideology. (Huffington Post)

Hisham Melhem looks at the differences between “violent extremism” and “Islamist extremism.” (Al Arabiya)

Tariq Alhomayed says fighting terrorism will depend on deeds not words. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Jamal Khashoggi says Egypt must not fall in the ISIS trap in Libya. (Al Arabiya)

Mshari al-Zaydi says the alliance between the Gulf and Egypt is not a matter of choice; but is an “unshakable necessity.” (Asharq al-Awsat)

Faisal Al Yafai says those who think a ceasefire in Aleppo with Pres. Assad will save Syrians have forgotten what happened to Homs last year. (The National)

The Jordan Times says it is high time that the perpetrators of war crimes in Syria be brought to justice. (Jordan Times)

Eyad Abu Shakra says Libya collapsed due to autocratic cliques that destroyed most pillars of civil society and by the inept handling by the international community. (Al Arabiya)

February 20th

News:

A Palestinian official says a PLO delegation is due to visit Gaza, but a date has yet to be confirmed. (Ma’an)

The US and the EU reportedly plan to test the new Israeli government vis a vis the Palestinians after the elections. (Jerusalem Post)

Palestinian security forces raid the offices of two members of parliament. (Ma’an)

The Italian parliament postpones the vote on a non-binding bill calling for the recognition of the state of Palestine. (PNN)

A Palestinian civilian and a Hamas fighter die in separate incidents in underground tunnels beneath Gaza and Egypt. (Ma’an)

Israeli occupation forces arrest 14 Palestinians in overnight raids across the West Bank. (Ma’an)

An American trial threatens to undermine Palestinian efforts to rally international support at the ICC. (AP/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

A poll indicates 70 percent of Palestinian citizens of Israel care more about bettering their socioeconomic standing than about solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Ha’aretz)

Israeli and American national security advisers meet amid tensions between the two countries. (JTA)

23 Democrats urge Speaker Boehner to delay PM Netanyahu’s speech to Congress. (JTA/AP)

secret government bank account holds funds Israel owes Iran for oil it received before the 1979 revolution. (Ha’aretz)

An American official says an Iraqi and Kurdish military force is being prepared to recapture the city of Mosul from ISIS, in the April-May time frame. (Reuters/AP/New York Times)

The US and Turkey sign an agreement to train and equip moderate Syrian opposition fighters. (Reuters)

AP looks at the some signs of tension emerging among ISIS militants. (AP)

ISIS’ flamboyant violence consumes the world’s attention while more familiar threats kill far more people. (New York Times)

Three car bombs in Eastern Libya kill 40 and wound 70 people. (Reuters/AP/Washington Post/AFP)

Pro-ISIS militants seize a university in the central Libyan city of Sirte. (Reuters)

Britain says Libya needs a unified government before the UNSC can lift the arms embargo. (Reuters) 

The UN says Yemen’s feuding parties have agreed on a "people's transitional council" to help govern the country and guide it out of a political crisis. (Reuters)

King Salman’s post-coronation giveaways will cost an estimated $32 billion. (New York Times)

The US and the UAE are launching a new media hub to tackle extremism. (The National)

Commentary:

Hanana Elsana, a Bedouin Arab woman, explains why she will vote in Israel’s upcoming election. (Ha’aretz)

Jamal Abdo says the merger of all the Arab parties is welcome, but he already knows what little impact they will have in the next Knesset. (Ha’aretz)

Maya Kornberg and Roee Kibrik say Israel must broaden the definition of security to reframe Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and break the deadlock. (Ynet)

David Ignatius looks at the public rift between Pres. Obama and Netanyahu over the Iranian nuclear issue. (Washington Post)

Ben Caspit says Israel fears that the US aspires to replace its traditional Middle East allies with Iran. (Al-Monitor)

Ali Khedery looks at how Iranian-backed Shiite militias are running amok in Iraq. (Foreign Policy)

Raed Omari says Arab states have been implementing a war on terror with America’s hesitance and decisiveness in the background. (Al Arabiya)

Tariq Alhomayed says Pres. Sisi should have gone to the Arab League before hitting ISIS in Libya. (Asharq al-Awsat)

The New York Times says Egypt’s airstrikes against ISIS positions in Libya could endanger the UN’s fragile peace effort. (New York Times)

Amir Taheri says Syria policy needs to recognize that Pres. Assad and ISIS are parts of the same problem. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Aaron David Miller says any meaningful summit on countering or preventing violent extremism has to happen in the Muslim world and not in Washington. (Foreign Policy)


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