News:
Pres. Abbas will meet with Sec. Kerry [1] in London on Tuesday. (Xinhua)
Israeli ministers [2] approve a law [3] to block the release [4] of Palestinian prisoners [5]. (Reuters/Xinhua/Ha’aretz/The Media Line)
Latin Patriarch Twal [6] says “hate crimes” [7] threaten Pope Francis’ visit [8] to the Holy Land. (AP/AFP/Ha’aretz)
Israel accuses Special Envoy Indyk [9] of doing nothing to help the Middle East peace talks. (Reuters)
The UN accepts Palestine [10] as a signatory to the UN Convention Against Corruption. (Ma’an)
Israeli Minister Steinitz [11] says “someone” [12] wants to sabotage US-Israeli relations. (Ha’aretz/JTA)
Finance Minister Lapid [13] defends his decision to stay in government despite impasse in peace talks. (Jerusalem Post)
Israeli soldiers [14] open fire on Palestinian farmers [15] in Gaza. (PNN/Times of Israel)
Israeli forces and Palestinian students [16] clash at Al-Quds university. (Ma’an)
Israeli occupation forces detain 16 [17] in West Bank raids. (Ma’an)
Israeli author Amos Oz say [18] Jewish “price tag” extremists are “Hebrew neo-Nazis.” (Ynet)
PM Netanyahu says Iran’s nuclear program [19] is a “clear and present danger.” (Reuters)
Syria [20] officially opens [21] its presidential campaign [22]. (AP/Xinhua/Times of Israel)
Thousands of Syrians [23] return to Homs [24] after rebels leave. (AP/The National)
ISIS criticizes al-Qaeda [25] and says it refuses to leave Syria. (AFP)
Field Marshall Sisi [26] promises to make improvements in people’s living conditions [27] in Egypt within two years, if elected. (AP/The National)
US Defense Secretary Hagel [28] will meet with GCC Ministers in Saudi Arabia. (The National)
Militants [29] kill 20 soldiers [30] in northern Iraq. (Reuters/AP)
US officers kill two [31] armed civilians in Yemen. (New York Times)
Commentary:
Aaron David Miller [32] asks why Kerry’s initiative failed. (Los Angeles Times)
Rami Khouri [33] asks why Abbas is waiting to try to join the ICC. (Daily Star)
Elliott Abrams [34] says the Obama administration has made settlements a new obstacle to peace talks. (The Weekly Standard)
Bruce Stokes [35] says Americans do not care about peace in the Middle East. (Foreign Policy)
Nicholas Pelham [36] asks where is it really better to be a Christian in Israel or in the occupied territories. (Ha’aretz)
Moshe Arens [37] says Jewish “price tag” extremists want to prevent Palestinian citizens of Israel from integrating in Israeli society. (Ha’aretz)
Amoz Oz [38] explains why he thinks Jewish “price tag” extremists are “Hebrew neo-Nazis.” (Ynet)
Colin Shindler [39] says Netanyahu’s “Jewish state” demand is a “public relations stunt.” (New York Times)
Seth Lipsky [40] asks if the Jewish American community should speak with one voice on Israel. (Ha’aretz)
Hussein Ibish [41] says more work remains to be done to repair US-Egypt relations. (The National)
Max Reibman [42] says Egypt’s dependence on the GCC will be a challenge for any incoming Egyptian government. (Daily Star)
The Daily Star [43] says the international community must work with Lebanon to manage the refugee crisis. (Daily Star)
Michel Kilo [44] says the people of Homs never hesitated to “shoulder the burden” of the Syrian revolution. (Asharq al-Awsat)
The Jordan Times [45] says the Arab world should defend media freedom. (Jordan Times)
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed [46] says the Anbar province in Iraq is now suffering from al-Qaeda criminals, rebels and tribes allied with them. (Al Arabiya)