News:
Israel plans 2,372 more settler homes [1] in the occupied West Bank [2]. (Reuters/AFP)
The PA says peace talks with Israel have reached an impasse [3] due to settlement activity. (AFP)
Pres. Abbas tells Fatah [4] officials that Palestinians will not give in [5]. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
A major Palestinian report says the PA is on the brink of collapse [6]. (Ha’aretz)
The US reportedly insists on an explicit apology [7] from DM Ya’alon. (Ha’aretz)
The EU and UNICEF launch a project to build a desalination plant in Gaza [8]. (AFP)
Israel announces [9] it has found a huge Gaza [10] smuggling tunnel [11]. (AP/Ma’an/Ha’aretz)
Two Palestinian children are attacked by settlers [12] in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)
The Manufacturers Association of Israel says factories over the green line [13] do not operate in accordance with Israeli industrial standards. (Jerusalem Post)
A Syria-linked [14] sectarian clash [15] in Lebanon kills three [16]. (AP/Reuters/Daily Star)
Lebanon’s parliament [17] gave the newly-formed cabinet a vote of confidence [18]. (Reuters/Daily Star)
Syrian troops capture [19] a famed Crusader castle near the border with Lebanon. (AP)
Former Amb. to Syria Ford says Pres. Assad is likely to remain in power [20] for the “medium term.” (New York Times)
The Turkish government [21] announces a ban [22] on Twitter [23] use. (AP/Reuters/New York Times)
Ayatollah Khamenei [24] says a stronger Iranian economy can overcome sanctions. (AP)
Ethics Prosecutor Garcia questions FIFA [25] officials for choosing Russia and Qatar as future World Cup hosts. (AP)
Commentary:
Ahmad Majdoubeh [26] says Middle East peace must remain a priority for the Obama administration. (Jordan Times)
The Jordan Times [27] says the US has little political will to focus on the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. (Jordan Times)
George Hishmeh [28] says peace talks are in limbo due to the halt of prisoners release. (Jordan Times)
Uri Savir [29] says both Israeli and Palestinian leaderships show a worrying lack of maturity on peace talks. (Jerusalem Post)
Matthew Levitt [30] says a return to armed struggle by any Palestinian group would be a disaster. (Washington Institute)
Daniella Peled [31] says Hamas is starting to lose its grip on Gaza. (The Spectator)
Ha’aretz [32] says Ya’alon is wrong about his assessment of US power and reliability. (Ha’aretz)
Yoel Marcus [33] says Israel should fire Ya’alon. (Ha’aretz)
Lior Akerman [34] says everyone in Israel secretly agrees with Ya’alon. (Jerusalem Post)
Elior Levy [35] looks at the ongoing confrontation between Abbas and former Fatah official Dahlan. (Ynet)
Aaron David Miller and Josh Nason [36] predict five scenarios in which Pres. Obama might use military force in the Middle East. (Foreign Policy)
Ayla Fateh [37] says Egyptian women dream of a harassment-free future. (Al Arabiya)
The CSM [38] says Russia deserves some credit for voting at the UN to honor Libya’s sovereignty. (Christian Science Monitor)
Samir Salha [39] asks what’s PM Erdogan’s next move. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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