News:
Palestinian officials condemn Israeli proposals for a 40-year military presence [1] in the Jordan Valley following a peace agreement. (AP)
Palestinian officials say Israeli demands may scupper ongoing peace talks [2]. (AFP)
Palestinian public employees cancel strikes [3] planned for next week. (Ma'an)
The PA will ask for $500 million [4] in international aid in meetings next week. (Xinhua)
Canada pledges C$5 million [5] towards Palestinian economic growth. (Xinhua)
Egypt sentences five Palestinian fishermen [6] to a year in prison for violating its territorial waters and fishing rules. (Ma'an)
Arab states may be again preparing to focus international attention [7] on the question of Israel's nuclear weapons [8]. (Reuters/Times of Israel)
Pres. Peres [9] is planning to visit the Netherlands. (Jerusalem Post)
Iran is reportedly seeking a broad accord with the West [10] on nuclear matters in order to end sanctions. (New York Times)
Mainstream Syrian rebels strongly condemn Al Qaeda [11]. (AP)
Israel's internal security service warned some Palestinians [12] may be joining Al Qaeda. (YNet)
Palestinian refugees fleeing Syria are being denied entry [13] into Lebanon. (IRIN)
The US and its allies are targeting Hezbollah assets in Africa [14]. (Reuters)
Commentary:
The PLO issues a report on "Israel's annexationist policies in the Jordan Valley." [15] (PLO)
Gamil Matar [16] says the new round of Israeli-Palestinian talks doesn't have much to build on. (Al-Ahram Weekly)
Lara Friedman [17] says Israelis and Palestinians should face reality and not indulge in "magical thinking." (APN)
Saud Abu Ramadan [18] says Hamas finds itself stranded in isolated in an economic and political nightmare. (Xinhua)
Avi Issacharoff [19] says Hamas has become so desperate it may lash out against Israel. (Times of Israel)
Linah Alsaafin [20] says Pres. Abbas' high poll numbers better reflect the lack of an alternative than his real popularity. (Al Monitor)
Shlomi Eldar [21] says Israeli dissident artists pay a price for their political views. (Al Monitor)
Ron Pundak [22] says all the parties have their share of the blame for the failure of the Oslo Accords. (Ha'aretz)
J.J. Goldberg [23] says both Israelis and Palestinians feel betrayed by the outcome of the Oslo Accords. (The Forward)
Liat Collins [24] says Oslo may not have worked, but ignoring Palestinians and boycotting Israel achieves nothing. (Jerusalem Post)
Haim Bresheeth [25] says the Oslo accords were a disaster for the Palestinians. (Ahram Online)
Ha'aretz [26] says there must be a thorough investigation into the death of an injured Palestinian worker. (Ha'aretz)
Shlomo Avineri [27] says it's unreasonable to expect Arab states to resemble Western democracies. (Ha'aretz)
Pres. Rouhani [28] appeals for more dialogue with the West. (Washington Post)
Ray Takeyh [29] says Rouhani must be judged by deeds, not words. (Los Angeles Times)
Uri Savir [30] says Pres. Obama has recognized the limitations of American power. (Jerusalem Post)
Alan Phillips [31] says Pres. Assad is likely to survive in power for the meanwhile. (The National)
Michael Young [32] says the real question now is what will come after Assad. (The Daily Star)
Maysoon Zayid [33] praises TV personality and chef Anthony Bourdain's visit to Israel and Palestine. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)
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