News:
PM Netanyahu stakes out tough positions [1] for negotiations with Palestinians. (AP)
An Israeli newspaper reports negotiations are on the brink [2] of collapse. (Xinhua)
British press reports say about €1 billion in aid to the Palestinians [3] has been either "wasted" or lost to corruption. (PNN)
Israel says [4] it has found tunnels running from Gaza into southern Israel [5], and destroyed them [6]. (New York Times/AP/Times of Israel)
Israel says it's going to test new methods of arresting children [7] after a damning UN report. (AFP)
30 settlers attack a Palestinian car [8] near Nablus. (Ma'an)
Israel cancels the evacuation of 75 Palestinians [9] from their homes in the Jordan Valley. (Ma'an)
A report is issued reiterating traces of polonium [10] on articles of clothing belonging to the late Pres. Arafat, but Palestinian officials say there's nothing new revealed [11]. (AFP/Xinhua)
Russian officials [12] say they don't believe Arafat died from polonium poisoning. (Ha'aretz)
Nazareth is bracing for a hotly contested mayoral election [13]. (Jerusalem Post)
Prices are soaring and the economy is collapsing in Gaza [14] as the area's blockade intensifies. (The Guardian)
Tony Blair says he is optimistic [15] about the economic plan for developing the occupied West Bank. (Financial Times)
The first Palestinian baby is born with sperm smuggled [16] from a Palestinian prisoner held by Israel. (The Guardian)
10 Jewish men are arrested [17] at a holy area in occupied East Jerusalem. (New York Times)
A US citizen [18] is found dead in his Egyptian prison cell [19], causing alarm [20] among other Americans in Egypt. (AP/BBC/The Media Line)
New negotiations [21] begin between Iran, which presents a proposal, and the West on nuclear issues. (Ha'aretz)
Israel says it is opposed to a "partial deal" [22] with Iran. (New York Times)
Israel asks Europe [23] for support regarding Iran [24] and urges no easing of sanctions [25]. (AP/Xinhua/Los Angeles Times)
Israel conducts a massive Air Force drill [26]. (Times of Israel)
Archaeology in Jerusalem and beyond [27] continues to attract historic and religious controversy [28]. (Christian Science Monitor)
A bomb is found [29] in a Hezbollah stronghold in Lebanon. (Jerusalem Post)
A new Pew study finds broader criticism of Israel has entered the Jewish mainstream [30]. (The Forward)
The new Palestinian nonprofit hybrid "Visualizing Palestine" [31] unites activism and entrepreneurship. (Wamda)
Commentary:
Roger Cohen [32] says there is a brighter future for the Middle East, as long as it can break from past attitudes. (New York Times)
Shimon Shiffer [33] says PM Netanyahu's hard-line positions are leading to a bloody dead-end. (YNet)
J.J. Goldberg [34] asks if Netanyahu's positions on Jerusalem are actually softening. (The Forward)
Hassan Barari [35] says Netanyahu is becoming increasingly isolated. (Jordan Times)
Qadura Fares [36] says Netanyahu's "extreme positions" are intensifying hopelessness and frustration among Palestinians. (Al Monitor)
Yuval Steinitz [37] claims "Palestinian hate" is preventing Israeli-Palestinian peace. (New York Times)
Bruce Stokes [38] asks if Jewish Americans think Israeli-Palestinian peace is possible. (Foreign Policy)
Mona Chalabi [39] looks at how Palestine's economy functions under occupation. (The Guardian)
Emily Harris [40] looks at how Palestinians are dealing with Israel's separation barrier. (NPR)
Richard Forer [41] says compassion is essential to peace. (Ma'an)
Mazal Mualem [42] says Israelis have lost interest in peace talks since the murder of the late PM Rabin. (Al Monitor)
Yair Tzaban [43] says anti-democratic legislation pending in the Knesset must be blocked. (YNet)
Jane Arraf [44] asks if Syrian refugees will transform or threaten Jordan's economy. (Christian Science Monitor)
Bradley Burston [45] says that the Jewish students at UC Berkeley need to be open to different points of view. (Ha'aretz)
Salman Masalha [46] says Pres. Assad will never willingly relinquish power. (Ha'aretz)
Hussein Ibish [47] looks at the unfolding process of state fragmentation in Syria. (The National)
Jenny Cuffe [48] looks at British "Jihadists" fighting in Syria. (BBC)
Asharq Al-Awsat [49] interviews the head of the Syrian National Coalition, Ahmad Tomeh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Barak Barfi [50] says the United States needs to identify and promote a plausible alternative Syrian leader. (Jordan Times)
Diana Moukalled [51] asks why Hezbollah is remaining silent about a video apparently showing it killing wounded Syrian prisoners. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Khalaf Al Habtoor [52] says Gulf states need to unite against the possibility of a US-Iranian rapprochement. (Gulf News)
Mohammad Salah [53] says the new Egyptian government should appoint people based on qualifications, not an anti-MB quota. (Al Hayat)
Matt Surrusco talks with Palestinian film director Hany Abu-Assad [54] about his new movie "Omar." (The Indypendent)