News:
The PLO says existing policy negotiators will continue to "oversee the talks" [1] until a new team is formed. (Ma'an)
Gaza's streets are flooded [2] with rainwater and sewage, and electricity is running low. (New York Times)
USAID is reportedly halting key aid programs in Gaza [3]. (Al Monitor)
Islamic Jihad warns the Gaza ceasefire [4] could come to an end, citing Israeli "violations." (Ma'an)
Palestinian anti-corruption officials say complaints quintupled in 2013 [5]. (Ma'an)
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics says at least 100,000 Palestinians from the occupied territories work in Israel [6]. (Ma'an)
An Israeli soldier is arrested [7] for suspected "price tag" vigilante attacks. (Xinhua)
Some Israeli settlers [8] routinely reach out to pro-Palestinian tour groups in the occupied territories. (Christian Science Monitor)
UNSG Ban appoints Pierre Krähenbühl [9] to be the new Commissioner-General of UNRWA. (Ma'an)
Jibril Rajoub reportedly [10] suggests the "fool" former Pres. Bush" colluded what he alleges was Israel's assassination of the late Pres. Arafat. (Times of Israel)
Sec. Kerry is taking innovative approaches [11] to a range of long-standing, tough problems. (New York Times)
Observers think an interim deal with Iran might be nearing [12] as new talks begin. (New York Times)
Iran says difficult differences [13] remain to be overcome. (AP)
Iran is demanding the removal of oil and banking sanctions [14] in even a short-term deal. (Xinhua)
The US assures its allies of "caution" [15] as new talks begin, while Iran insists it won't back down [16]. (Los Angeles Times)
Israeli officials say they are "frustrated" [17] not to be familiar with any details about the talks. (YNet)
Iran holds a military drill [18] near the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz. (AP)
Israel and Gulf states [19] appear to be forming a "strange" alliance against Iran. (AP)
Syrians continue [20] to flood into Lebanon [21], fleeing the conflict in their country [22]. (AP/BBC/The National)
Palestinian refugees fleeing Syria face terrible difficulties in Egypt [23] and Lebanon [24]. (Reuters/Huffington Post)
Seven are killed [25] in a mortar attack in the Syrian city of Homs. (Xinhua)
An Iraqi Shiite militia says it has fired six mortar rounds into Saudi Arabia [26] as a warning against "interference." (Reuters)
Kuwait's national airline resumes Iraq flights [27] in another sign of continuing improved relations. (Reuters)
An Egyptian police officer is killed [28] in an operation to arrest wanted militants. (Reuters)
Egyptian army chief Sisi does not rule out [29] a presidential bid. (Reuters)
A truck bomb kills 27 people [30] at an outdoor market in northeast Iraq. (AP)
Commentary:
Mohammed Dajani Daoudi [31] explains the importance of teaching the Holocaust in Palestine. (Sharnoff's Global Views)
The ICG [32] looks at Israel's "national religious groups" [33] and the future of the conflict. (International Crisis Group)
Hazem Balousha [34] says Palestinians in Gaza are distinctly unimpressed with Hamas' military parades. (Al Monitor)
Michael Oren [35] tries to explain PM Netanyahu's hard-line policies. (Los Angeles Times)
Shlomi Eldar [36] says the Israeli public is generally standing with Netanyahu on the question of Iran. (Al Monitor)
George Hishmeh [37] says on both Iran and Israel, major "serious arm-twisting by the major powers" is required. (Gulf News)
Carlo Strenger [38] says "Netanyahu is paying a steep price for fanning fear and hatred." (Ha'aretz)
Zvi Bar'el [39] says Israeli society is hiding the occupation behind euphemisms and doublespeak. (Ha'aretz)
Salman Masalha [40] says Israelis are yearning for a "Palestinian Ben-Gurion" because they can't have another of their own. (Ha'aretz)
Amira Hass [41] notes that in the tally of violence throughout the decades, Palestinians have paid a much steeper price than Israelis. (Ha'aretz)
Ronald Lauder [42] says both Palestinian and Jewish refugee claims must be redressed. (JTA)
David Ignatius [43] says Egyptians are making a good-faith effort to really try to build a democracy. (Washington Post)
Michael Weiss [44] profiles Russian mercenaries in Syria. (Foreign Policy)
Ghassan Charbel [45] says, because of the Syrian conflict, Lebanon has never been so divided and its future is threatened. (Al Hayat)
Abdullah Iskandar [46] says terrorism in Lebanon doesn't help the Syrian opposition, it helps the Damascus dictatorship. (Al Hayat)
The Daily Star [47] says, unfortunately, the Lebanese can't expect their elected officials to prevent more such bombings. (The Daily Star)
Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid [48] worries Beirut could turn into another Baghdad. (Arab News)
FM Zarif [49] says Iran's neighbors are its priority. (Asharq Al Awsat)
Diana Moukalled [50] says Hezbollah is scared of satire. (Asharq Al Awsat)
Omar Alvi [51] says Ennahda finds itself at a crossroads in Tunisian politics which will determine its future. (The Daily Star)
Front Page Features