News:
Pres. Obama says the odds of completing a final treaty [1] between Israel and the Palestinians is less than 50-50. (New Yorker)
Canada says settlements are illegal [2] and an obstacle to peace. (Ha’aretz)
Israeli negotiators Livni and Molcho will meet [3]with Sec. Kerry in Washington. (Xinhua)
Israel is transferring the bodies [4] of 36 Palestinians to their families. (AP)
Two people are wounded in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza [5]. (The New York Times)
PM Netanyahu criticizes UNESCO [6] for postponing an exhibit on “Jewish connections to the Holy Land.” (AP)
Top Israeli business leaders say [7] Israel needs to make peace with Palestinians to maintain a growing and stable economy. (Ynet)
Israeli Economy Minister Bennett says [8] any Palestinian state will destroy Israel’s economy. (Ynet)
Three European pension funds are reviewing [9]their holdings in Israeli banks over concerns on financing settlements in the occupied West Bank. (Ha’aretz)
The PLO condemns the recent pro-settlement remarks from Australia’s FM Bishop. [10] (Ha’aretz)
A Palestinian official says Israel is dictating [11] the agenda in the peace process. (PNN)
Israel and Egypt are reportedly quietly cooperating against Hamas [12] in Gaza. (The Times of Israel)
Israel releases a Hamas [13] member. (AFP)
Israeli occupation forces injure [14] a Palestinian man near Hebron. (Ma’an)
The Oscar nominated Palestinian film “Omar” [15] tackles a taboo topic in Palestinian society. (Al-Monitor)
Israel will stop distributing gas masks [16] to the public. (Xinhua)
The Syrian peace talks are in doubt after the UN invites Iran to attend. [17] (AP)
The Syrian National Council [18] reportedly suspends its participation in the Geneva II conference. (Xinhua)
The State Department reiterates its reservations [19] about Iran’s participation in the Syria conference. (AP)
The World Food Programme says [20] Syria peace talks must address the humanitarian crisis. (Reuters).
Iran starts implementing the interim nuclear deal. [21] (AP)
Iraqi authorities [22] say a series of bombings across Baghdad killed 21 people [23]. (AP/Reuters)
PM Al-Maliki is trying to repeat the American “Awakening” [24] strategy in Anbar. (New York Times)
The death toll rises to four in new clashes in Lebanon’s Tripoli. [25] (Xinhua)
Egyptian prosecutors file new charges [26] against former Pres. Morsi. (AP)
Commentary:
S. Daniel Abraham [27] says Israel cannot survive the failure of peace talks. (Ha’aretz)
Gideon Levy [28] says the “Jewish state” cannot be reconciled with the occupation. (Ha’aretz)
Moshe Arens [29] says Israel should not relinquish the occupied territories out of fear of delegitimization. (Ha’aretz)
Yitzhak Laor [30] says the victims of the late PM Sharon in Qibya and Sabra and Shatila must be remembered. (Ha’aretz)
Kobi Niv [31]accuses the Israeli media of bias against non-Jews. (Ha’aretz)
The Gulf News [32] says the UAE will not normalize relations with Israel until it makes peace with the Palestinians. (The Gulf news)
Abdullah Al Shayji [33] says the future of the Arab World will be determined in 2014. (The Gulf News)
Amer Al Sabaileh [34] says Jordan can play an essential role in the settlement of the contentious issues in the region. (The Jordan Times)
The National [35] says the relatively high turnout of the Egyptian voters shows that the country is heading in the right direction. (The National)
Wael Haddara [36]says the referendum on the new Egyptian constitution was a “red herring.” (The Daily Star)
Hadeel al Sayegh [37]says dictatorship and religious extremists are bad choices for both Syrians and Iraqis. (The National)
Javier Solana [38] says the Syrian war poses a threat to global security and Geneva II must not be wasted. (The Daily Star)
Sinan Ulgen [39]says a Gulf-Turkey alliance is possible, but Aayid Mannaa [40] says it isn’t. (Asharq Alawsat)
Front Page Features