News:
Pres. Abbas says Egypt is right [1] to create a buffer zone on the Gaza border. (Ha’aretz)
Jewish extremists [2] torch an Arabic-Hebrew bilingual [3] school in Jerusalem [4]. (Washington Post/JTA/The National)
A Palestinian [5] woman [6] stabs [7] an Israeli [8] in the occupied West Bank [9]. (Reuters/AP/Ma’an/PNN/JTA)
An Israeli court finds two Jewish settlers guilty [10] of torching a Palestinian-owned car. (Ha’aretz)
A Palestinian cab driver is pepper-sprayed [11]in a Jerusalem attack. (Times of Israel)
Hamas says the unity government with Fatah “has ended [12].” (Jerusalem Post)
A Fatah official [13] says there was never any agreement that the unity government [14] would last only six months. (Ma’an/Times of Israel)
The French parliament will vote [15] on a resolution urging the government to recognize the State of Palestine. (Ynet)
US lawmakers have reportedly released most of their holds on a $230.3 million aid package [16] for the West Bank and Gaza. (Al-Monitor)
Egypt opens the Rafah crossing [17] for a second consecutive day. (Ma’an)
Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian home [18] in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)
Islamic Jihad urges [19] the PA to stop security coordination with Israel. (Ma’an)
Hamas cancels its 27th anniversary celebration [20] in Gaza. (Ma’an)
Palestinian soccer chief Rajoub calls on FIFA [21] to punish Israel. (Ha’aretz)
Hundreds of Israelis protest in Jerusalem [22] against the “Jewish nation-state” bill. (JTA)
PM Netanyahu [23] will reportedly decide [24] in the next few days [25] whether to call an early election [26]. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Jerusalem Post)
DM Ya’alon [27] says Israel may need early elections. (Reuters)
Israel will stagger the purchase [28] of its second batch of 31 US-made F-35 fighter jets [29] over the next three years. (Reuters/Ha’aretz)
The US-led anti-ISIS coalition carried out at least 30 air strikes in Raqqa [30] against ISIS extremists. (Reuters)
Iraqi officials say ISIS extremists have attacked a checkpoint [31] along the border with Syria, killing at least 15 Iraqi border policemen. (AP)
PM al-Abadi says the Iraqi army has been paying salaries to at least 50,000 soldiers [32] who don’t exist. (Washington Post)
The UN World Food Program [33] suspends its assistance program to Syrians. (AP)
Bahrain says Qatar has agreed to stop supporting the Muslim Brotherhood [34], aid the Egyptian government and establish a GCC joint command to counter ISIS and Iran. (Financial Times)
Protests erupt [35] in Egypt against the acquittal [36] of former Pres. Mubarak [37]. (Reuters/New York Times/The National)
Pres. Sisi [38] says he will not pursue further actions [39] against Mubarak. (New York Times/AFP)
Pres. Putin is visiting Turkey [40] amid Syria differences. (AP)
Pope Francis [41] calls for the protection of Christians [42] in the Middle East. (New York Times/AFP)
Commentary:
Alastair McPhail [43] says the Palestinian character of occupied East Jerusalem must be preserved. (Al Arabiya)
Uri Savir [44] says the Obama administration is considering an Israeli settlement freeze in exchange for Palestinian security cooperation and no unilateral moves at the UN. (Al-Monitor)
Amira Hass [45] says Palestinians are being generous when they attribute Israel’s policies to stupidity. (Ha’aretz)
Elhanan Miller [46] asks if Israeli civil society can heal the Arab-Jewish rift. (Times of Israel)
Yoni Ben Menachem [47] says Hamas may be rethinking its policies. (JCPA)
Rasha Abu Jalal [48] says pregnant women in Gaza are still suffering from this summer’s war. (Al-Monitor)
Nahum Barnea [49] says the proposed “Jewish nation-state” bill is the symptom, not the cause, of the crisis in Israeli politics. (Ynet)
Hussein Ibish [50] says the Mubarak acquittal illustrates how murky Egypt's political scene has become. (Now)
H.A. Hellyer [51] looks at Mubarak’s impunity. (Al Arabiya)
The Jordan Times [52] says the extension of the P5+1 talks should be seen as a positive development. (Jordan Times)
Hussein Ibish [53] says its not surprising that no one wants Def. Sec. Hagel’s job. (The National)
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