News:
Israel advances [1] plans [2] for 1500 [3] new settlement [4] housing units [5] in the occupied Palestinian territories [6]. (AP/AFP/PNN/Ha’aretz/JTA/The National)
The PLO [7]will appeal to the UNSC [8] over Israel’s settlement plans. (Ma’an/Xinhua)
Israeli Chief Negotiator Livni [9] says settlement building is a “diplomatic mistake.”(Jerusalem Post)
US Amb. to Israel Shapiro [10] condemns Israel’s new settlement plans [11]. (Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)
The US has reportedly been speaking to Hamas [12] through back channels for more than six months [13]. (Ynet/Buzzfeed)
Sec. Kerry defends the US decision [14] to work with a new Palestinian government [15]. (AP/Ha’aretz)
The White House says Israel’s “hard line public position” on the new Palestinian government isbelied by its own actions [16]. (Ha’aretz)
The question of Hamas [17] is the latest dispute between the US and Israel. (New York Times)
Pres. Abbas will reportedly seek to secure an Egyptian role [18] in supervising reconciliation with Hamas. (Ma’an)
The Australian government [19] will no longer refer to East Jerusalem as a territory under occupation [20]. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
Clashes break out in Gaza [21] as PA public employees attempt to withdraw their salaries [22] from ATM machines. (Reuters/Ma’an)
Abbas urges the new Palestinian government and the Central Elections Commission to start preparing for the upcoming elections [23]. (Xinhua)
PM Hamdallah urges the international community to pressure Israel to allow elections to take place in occupied East Jerusalem [24]. (Ma’an)
An Israeli military court says Palestinian minors have the right to see a social worker [25] before remand. (Ha’aretz)
Jewish “price tag” extremists set fire to dozens of olive trees [26] in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)
Pres [27]. Assad [28] is re-elected [29] in a landslide [30]. (AP/Reuters/New York Times/The National)
Kerry calls the Syrian election [31] a “great big zero.” (Washington Post)
UN Humanitarian Chief Amos [32] tells Assad to put his country's people first. (Reuters)
Chinese Pres. Xi [33] calls for a political resolution for Syria. (Reuters)
Ayatollah Khamenei [34]says Pres. Obama has taken the option of military intervention to resolve conflicts off the table. (New York Times)
Commentary:
The LA Times [35] says the US should continue to support the PA. (Los Angeles Times)
Akiva Eldar [36]says the Arab Peace Initiative is Israel’s best option. (Al-Monitor)
Khaled Diab [37]says the Palestinian literature festival demonstrates that “the pen is mightier than the sword.” (The National)
Salman Masalha [38] says, despite the new x-ray machines, the “brutal treatment” of Palestinian citizens of Israel at Ben-Gurion Airport continues. (Ha’aretz)
The Jordan Times [39] says the Syrian presidential election was a “sham.” (Jordan Times)
Rachel Brandenburg [40] says the amount of assistance required to meet the basic needs of Syrians affected by the conflict is astounding. (Foreign Policy)
Faisal Al Yafai [41] says, before his assassination, Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir foresaw the extent of Assad’s brutality in Syria. (The National)
The Daily Star [42] says the timing of Kerry’s visit to Lebanon is significant and so is his message. (Daily Star)
Joyce Karam [43] says Kerry in Lebanon looked more like a spectator than a problem solver. (Al Arabiya)
Michael Young [44] says focusing on Hezbollah, may tell us what the ultimate outcome will be in the Lebanese presidency. (Daily Star)
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