NEWS:
Palestinian officials say Israel has proposed an interim agreement [1] leaving dozens of settlements and military bases [2] scattered throughout the West Bank. (AP/YNet)
Palestinian officials say Israel's proposal would leave it in control of at least 40% [3] of the occupied West Bank. (Times of Israel)
Palestinian officials say the Israeli proposals are "unacceptable," [4] and say they will not accept any"temporary solutions." [5] (Ha'aretz/Jerusalem Post)
Palestinians complain Israel cannot be shifted from the sole topic of security [6] in talks. (Xinhua)
Israel begins construction on 620 new settler housing units [7] in occupied East Jerusalem. (PNN)
Israeli police arrest at least seven people [8] following unrest at East Jerusalem holy sites. (Ha'aretz)
The World Bank transfers $72.2 million [9] to the PA. (Ma’an)
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics and its UN partners say about 1.6 million Palestinians suffer food insecurity [10]. (PNN)
Hamas is reeling [11] from Egypt's establishment of a Sinai-Gaza buffer zone. (Al Monitor)
Shortages in Gaza [12] are intensifying as Egypt continues to clamp down on smuggling tunnels. (Xinhua)
One Egyptian soldier is killed [13] and nine are wounded by extremists in Sinai. (Xinhua)
Egypt's Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim survives an attempted assassination [14] bomb attack. (BBC)
Senior advisers to Pres. Obama recommend a suspension of aid to Egypt [15]. (AP)
A Pentagon official warns cutting aid to Egypt could cost the US billions of dollars [16]. (Jerusalem Post)
A Senate panel narrowly approves [17] the use of American military force in Syria. (Los Angeles Times)
Syrian regime forces reportedly used large payloads of chemical weapons [18] and cluster bombs [19]. (New York Times)
Sec. Kerry says Arab states have offered to help pay [20] for any Western intervention in Syria. (AFP)
The Pentagon may help arm Syrian rebels [21], instead of the CIA. (Times of Israel)
Many Jewish-American organizations are backing Obama on Syria, but are downplaying the "Israel angle." [22] (JTA)
A former Syrian Defense Minister defects [23] from the regime. (Reuters)
COMMENTARY:
David Ignatius [24] says the Syrian war is reaching a turning point. (Washington Post)
Abdulkhaleq Abdulla [25] says the GCC will back any American effective action in Syria. (Gulf News)
Michael Young [26] says a very hard American hit that may signal the end of Pres. Assad is coming unless Russia can find a last-minute solution. (The Daily Star)
Jon Alterman [27] says that if Obama doesn't get approval for action in Syria, Iran will no longer be interested in nuclear talks. (Al Monitor)
Nick Kristof [28] says there's no point in calling for peace in the middle of a war. (New York Times)
The CSM [29] says any American action in Syria should be proportionate and just. (Christian Science Monitor)
The Forward [30] says the US needs to do "the right thing" and take action in Syria. (The Forward)
Aijaz Syed [31] says international intervention is required in Syria. (Arab News)
Albert Hunt [32] says Obama is haunted by his own redline in Syria. (New York Times)
Benny Morris [33] says Obama's hesitation on Syria leaves many Israelis feeling he is unreliable. (Los Angeles Times)
Rajan Menon [34] says preserving US credibility is no reason for military action in Syria. (Los Angeles Times)
Hagai Segal [35] says history will mock Obama for his hesitation on Syria. (YNet)
Nathan Guttman [36] says the White House pressed Jewish-American organizations to support it on Syria. (The Forward)
Eyad Abu Shakra [37] explains the sectarian breakdown and dynamics in Syria. (Asharq Al Awsat)
James Denselow [38] says bureaucracy and red tape are impeding aid to Syria's most vulnerable communities. (Asharq Al Awsat)
Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed [39] thinks the prospects for a US-Russian understanding on Syria have improved. (Asharq Al Awsat)
Shmuel Rosner [40] acknowledges that demographics and the occupation mean Israel must choose between being Jewish or democratic. (Al Monitor)
Diana Moukalled [41] says Syria's plight is overshadowing Iraq's desperate cries for help. (Asharq Al Awsat)
David D'Arcy [42] looks at a new movie about Palestinian identity, "Palestinian Stereo." (The National)
Yair Rosenberg [43] says Peter Beinart's recent essay on Jewish lack of empathy with Palestinians doesn't acknowledge Palestinian reticence to reach out to Jews. (Tablet)
The Media Line [44] profiles Maysoon Zayed and other edgy, young Palestinian comedians. (The Media Line)
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