News:
Pres. Obama [1] will meet with PM Netanyahu [2] today to discuss peace talks [3] and Iran [4]. (AP/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post/Reuters)
The extension of the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations [5] will depend on the meeting between Obama and Pres. Abbas.(Ma’an)
The US is reportedly pessimistic [6] that a framework agreement can be reached by the end of March. (Ha’aretz)
A Palestinian official says Israel must meet certain demands [7] for peace talks to be extended. (XInhua)
Chief Palestinian negotiator Erakat accuses Israel [8] of “propping up Hamas in Gaza.” (Times of Israel)
US Treasury Secretary Lew defends the Iran Interim deal [9] in a speech before AIPAC. (Jerusalem Post)
Egypt keeps the Rafah crossing closed [10] for the past 23 days. (Xinhua)
Hamas urges Egypt [11] to resume commercial cooperation with Gaza. (Xinhua)
Palestinians consider who should succeed Abbas [12]. (Financial Times)
Former Fatah leader Dahlan reportedly hopes [13] to replace Abbas. (Ynet)
Extremist settlers uproot 180 olive tree saplings [14] in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)
The settler group “Elad” is closer to controlling the Western Wall [15], despite objections among Israelis. (Ha’aretz)
The Israeli Medical Association [16] says forcing hunger strikers to eat is “tantamount to torture.” (Ha’aretz)
Israel is planning to lower the volume levels of microphones [17] in all mosques in occupied East Jerusalem. (Gulf News)
The Palestinian poet “Abu Arab” dies [18] at 83. (Ma’an)
Israel is reportedly buying information [19] on extremists from Syrian rebel groups. (National)
UNRWA says the latest clashes in Yarmouk [20] have disrupted efforts to distribute aid. (AP)
In Syria, the government is looking for local and temporary ceasefires. [21] (AP)
A pro-Hezbollah song [22] highlights tensions over the civil war in Syria. (The New York Times)
The new Egyptian government is sworn [23] in ahead of the presidential elections. (AP)
PM Mehlib [24] calls for an end to protests in Egypt. (AP)
The IAEA says Iran [25] has cuts its higher enriched uranium stock [26]. (AP/Reuters)
Commentary:
ATFP Pres. Ziad Asali [27] says “losing Egypt” should not be considered an option for the US. (Asharq al-Awsat)
Hussein Ibish [28] says nationalism is the real reason Islamists are losing in North Africa and beyond. (The National)
Amal Mousa [29] says the Salafists have emerged victorious due to the collapse of the Muslim Brotherhood. (Asharq al-Awsat)
Amer al Sabaileh [30] says Jordan is still a haven of safety and stability in a chaotic region. (Jordan Times)
Abdullah Ali [31] says Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood is feeling the pressures of regional changes. (The National)
Oudeh Basharat [32] says “Jordanians are a light unto the nations” for taking in so many refugees. (Ha’aretz)
Jeffrey Goldberg interviews Obama [33] on the peace process. (Bloomberg)
David Horovitz [34] says Goldberg’s interview with Obama is “a bombshell battering” for Netanyahu. (Times of Israel)
Ha’aretz [35] says Netanyahu must understand that the White House is “not an enemy but a partner.”(Ha’aretz)
Rami Khouri [36] asks what’s behind the “Jewish State” demand. (Daily Star)
Shibley Telhami [37] says a survey indicates that if the two-state solution collapses, Americans favor democracy over a “Jewish state.”(Foreign Policy)
Gershon Baskin [38] says annexing the West Bank would be a “catastrophic plan” for the Jewish people. (Jerusalem Post)
Lara Friedman [39] and Daniel Gordis [40] debate whether settlement boycotts are best for Israel. (New York Times)
Gideon Levy [41] says Israelis refuse to acknowledge what Amnesty International has demonstrated about the occupation. (Ha’aretz)
Bakir Oweida [42] says a Geneva III meeting is bound to fail.(Al Arabiya)
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