News:
Pres. Abbas appears to be opting for rhetoric because he seem to lack other options [1] on relations with Israel. (AP)
Chief Palestinian Negotiator Erekat says if a proposed UNSC resolution fails [2], Palestine will apply for membership in 522 international organizations and statutes. (Ma’an)
Israeli occupation forces demolish three Palestinian homes [3] in East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)
Jewish extremist settlers construct two new wildcat outposts [4] in the occupied West Bank [5]. (Ma’an/PNN)
Hamas [6] says Gaza ceasefire talks [7] will resume in Cairo [8] next week. (AFP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
DM Ya’alon says Israel will not allow Gaza reconstruction [9] if Hamas rebuilds tunnels. (Jerusalem Post)
The UN says Israel must uphold human rights law [10] in its treatment of Palestinians. (Jerusalem Post)
Palestine’s UN Amb. Mansour sends a letter of complaint to the UNSC accusing a Jewish settler of killing a Palestinian schoolgirl [11]. (Times of Israel)
The US denies that the FBI withheld information [12] on a missing Israeli soldier [13] in the recent Gaza war. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
Israeli occupation forces [14] detain, handcuff and blindfold a disabled Palestinian child [15]. (Times of Israel/PNN)
A mortar [16] fired from Syria lands in the Golan Heights [17]. (Ha’aretz/JTA)
Britain says it will send drones [18] to fly surveillance missions [19] in Syria. (Reuters/AP)
The US and Turkey are giving Syrian Kurds a boost [20] in their fight against ISIS. (Washington Post)
ISIS is reportedly winning territory [21] from Syrian government forces in the eastern city of Deir al-Zor. (Reuters)
The EU imposes sanctions on 12 Syrian government ministers [22], two senior officers and a UAE company, accused of helping to supply oil to Syria. (Reuters)
Pres. Rouhani promises Iran will stand by Iraq [23] in the fight against ISIS. (AP)
Caritas says Iraqi refugees in Lebanon [24] face a daily struggle to survive. (Reuters)
Pope Francis [25] will visit Turkey. (Reuters)
PM Mehleb says Egypt has no plans for direct participation [26] in the war against ISIS. (Ynet)
King Abdullah [27] of Jordan says the Middle East [28] is threatened by both Jewish and Muslim extremists [29]. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Jordan Times)
Moody’s says Egypt’s political and security situation has stabilized, raising the country’s outlook from “negative to stable.” [30] (AP)
Libya’s elected parliament declares a formal alliance [31] with Gen. Haftar. (Reuters)
Commentary:
Ha’aretz [32] says “Judaizing” occupied East Jerusalem could torpedo peace. (Ha’aretz)
Elhanan Miller [33] asks if the PA could survive without the Israeli military. (Times of Israel)
Al-Monitor [34] interviews Mustafa Barghouti. (Al-Monitor)
Akiva Eldar [35] says PM Netanyahu mistakenly believes that a Republican Congress would pressure Pres. Obama to change his policy. (Al-Monitor)
Hassan Barari [36] agrees with Sec. Kerry’s linkage between the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and extremism in the region. (Jordan Times)
Michael Weiss [37] and Faysal Itani look at why pundits like Zakaria and Gelb are wrong about Syria. (Politico)
Diana Moukalled [38] says the world is failing the Syrian people. (Al Arabiya)
Yusuf Sayman [39] says Turkey is not abandoning the Syrian Kurds. (Foreign Policy)
The National [40] says Tunisians should trust the power of the ballot box. (The National)
The IFES [41] previews Tunisia’s upcoming parliamentary elections. (International Foundation for Electoral Systems)
H.A. Hellyer [42] says the international community must help Libya become free, united and pluralistic. (Al Arabiya)
Vali Nasr [43] says voting cycles in the US and Iran leave only a small window of opportunity for a nuclear deal. (New York Times)