News:
Pres. Abbas says Palestinians will go to the UN [1] before Israel’s elections. (Ha’aretz)
Israel’s military [2] orders a criminal investigation of one of its deadliest airstrikes [3] in last summer's war in Gaza. (AP/New York Times/The National)
Israeli National Security Advisor [4] Cohen says PA could collapse if Israel withholds tax funds. (Ha’aretz)
King Abdullah of Jordan says “door is still open [5]” for Middle East peace process. (Ynet)
Former PM Barak says a new government that doesn't pursue the peace process [6] will endanger Israel. (Jerusalem Post)
Abbas orders an investigation into the legal status of 2,800 non-government organizations [7] and associations. (Times of Israel)
A Palestinian official says Jewish settlers have been expanding an illegal settlement outpost [8] in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)
Israeli occupation forces detain 19 Palestinians [9] in raids across the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)
Israel arrests [10] several suspects in the arson attack on a joint Arab-Jewish school [11] in Jerusalem. (JTA/Ynet)
Israel accuses Palestinians of looting antiquities [12]. (AP)
A Knesset committee unanimously approves bill to dissolve the Knesset [13] and set March 17 as the date for new elections. (JTA)
Sec. Kerry [14] says the US will not interfere [15] in the next Israeli election. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
Syrian officials [16] say Israeli warplanes [17] have struck at least two areas [18] near Damascus [19]. (New York Times/Washington Post/JTA/Times of Israel)
Russia demands [20] an Israeli explanation of airstrikes in Syria. (Ha’aretz)
UNICEF declares [21] 2014 a devastating year for children as many as 15 million [22] caught in conflicts. (Reuters/New York Times)
Kerry urges “patience” [23] while vowing that the P5+1 nuclear talks would not continue without "tangible progress." (AP)
PM Netanyahu [24] says Israel played a key role in stopping a deal [25] with Iran. (AFP/JTA)
Qatar halts its bid [26] to broker the release of Lebanese soldiers and policemen captured by Al-Nusra. (Reuters)
The UK closes [27] its embassy in Cairo [28] over security fears. (AP/The National)
The New York Times looks at the implications in the arrest of Jordan’s deputy head of the Muslim Brotherhood [29] Rushaid. (New York Times)
Commentary:
Shibley Telhami [30] asks if Americans care about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Foreign Policy)
Oudeh Basharat [31] says Palestinian citizens of Israel must vote in the upcoming election. (Ha’aretz)
Ron Kampeas [32] says former Sec. Clinton endorsed Pres. Obama’s Israel’s-related positions at the Saban Forum. (JTA)
Aaron David Miller [33] says if Israel passes the proposed “Jewish nation-state” bill, it will incite not only more internal strife but violence. (Foreign Policy)
Anshel Pfeffer [34] says Netanyahu’s actions and attitudes resemble Pres. Putin, Pres. Sissi and Pres. Erdogan. (Ha’aretz)
J.J. Goldberg says Netanyahu might lose the election. (Jewish Daily Forward)
Jackson Diehl [35] says Obama’s “no military solution” derails political options in foreign policy. (Washington Post)
Raed Omari [36] says the Syrian people have passed a point of no return and cannot replicate their past again.(Al Arabiya)
Peter Hellyer [37] says it’s unfair to label the UAE as uncaring over the plight of Syrians. (The National)
Salman Aldossary [38] looks at the five challenges the GCC is facing. (Asharq al-Awsat)
The Jordan Times [39] says women deserve more than the 10 per cent quota accorded them in the current electoral system. (Jordan Times)
Shaarik Zafar [40] explains how the US engages with international Muslim communities. (Al Arabiya)
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