NEWS:
Israel's Housing Ministry gives final approval for 300 new settler homes [1] in occupied East Jerusalem. (AP)
US [2] and Palestinian [3] officials complain about Israeli settlement activity in occupied East Jerusalem. (AFP/Jerusalem Post)
EU foreign policy chief Ashton says Israeli settlement activity in occupied East Jerusalem is illegal and threatens the two-state solution [4]. (PNN)
Palestinian and Israeli officials [5] blame each other for stalling on new US peace initiatives [6]. (Xinhua)
Israeli and Palestinian businessmen are trying to forge peace through economic cooperation [7]. (The Economist)
The arrest of high-profile columnist Ibrahim Abrash calls attention to Hamas' repression of free speech in Gaza [8]. (Al Monitor)
An Israeli park is accused of racism [9] for holding separate days for Jewish and Arab visitors. (Xinhua)
Another Palestinian in Gaza dies from self immolation [10]. (Xinhua)
Israeli police are investigating the desecration of a prominent Jerusalem church [11] for the second time [12], apparently by Jewish hooligans. (AP/Ha'aretz)
Palestinian refugees in Lebanon burn aid donated by Hezbollah [13] in protest against the group's involvement in the Syrian conflict. (Daily Star)
Pres. Assad warns Israel [14] and says he has a stockpile of new Russian weapons. (New York Times)
Russia signs a new agreement to sell at least 10 MiG fighters to Syria [15]. (AP)
Israel doubts Syria [16] has taken possession of Russian S-300 missiles, which reportedly may not reach the country until 2014 [17]. (Ha'aretz)
Reports of Russian weapons sales to Syria have increased tensions with Israel [18]. (The Media Line)
PM Netanyahu says he wants to make sure every Israeli has a gas mask [19]. (Times of Israel)
The captain of theChilean Soccer Team “C.D. Palestino” [20] visits the Aida Refugee Camp in the occupied West Bank. (PNN)
Roger Waters and Alice Walker urge Alicia Keys not to perform in Israel. [21] (The Guardian)
A symphony dedicated to two Palestinians [22] killed in the occupied West Bank gets its first performance in Palestine. (Expatica)
The UN says a plague of locusts [23] is threatening crops on the Israeli-Egyptian border. (Bloomberg)
COMMENTARY:
Hassan Khader [24] says militias like Hezbollah spell the downfall of failed Arab states. (Modern Discussion, translated by ATFP)
The PLO [25] issues a fact sheet called "Six Questions for Resuming Negotiations." (PNN)
Uri Misgav [26] says those who are spearheading the occupation and the settlements will destroy Zionism. (Ha'aretz)
Amos Harel [27] doubts if Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank can actually be evacuated. (Ha'aretz)
Yossi Sarid [28] says it doesn't matter if Pres. Peres is internationally respected when Israel in general is a pariah. (Ha'aretz)
Maysoon Zayid [29] says gambling tycoon Sheldon Adelson is getting a free pass on bigotry. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)
David Weinberg [30] says Israel should not consider any unilateral redeployments in the occupied West Bank. (Jerusalem Post)
Gillian Slovo [31] describes attending a literary festival in the occupied West Bank. (The Guardian)
Ron Kampeas [32] looks at the unlikely friendship between the Zionist Organization of America and Sen. Rand Paul. (JTA)
The Gulf News [33] condemns Israel's demolition of Palestinian homes. (Gulf News)
Shlomi Eldar [34] says by drawing red lines on Iran it cannot keep, Israel is harming its credibility and deterrence capability. (Al Monitor)
Sam Jadallah [35] says a proposed new American law would countenance Israeli discrimination against Arab and Muslim Americans. (San Jose Mercury News)