News:
Pres. Abbas [1] will push for a UN Security Council vote [2] this week on a resolution [3] setting a November 2016 [4] deadline for ending the Israeli [5] occupation. (AP/AFP/PNN/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
Sec. Kerry and PM Netanyahu [6] will meet in Rome to discuss the Palestinian UN statehood [7] bid. (Reuters/New York Times)
Netanyahu [8] says he rejects [9] the Palestinian UN bid [10]. (AFP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
Abbas says the main concern of the Palestinian government is the reconstruction of Gaza [11]. (Ma’an)
The population of Jewish settlers [12] in the occupied West Bank has surged during Netanyahu's [13] years in office. (AP/The National)
Portugal’s Parliament passes [14] a non-binding resolution calling for recognition of Palestine. (JTA)
Former American Amb. Kurtzer [15] says the US should ignore Israeli elections and submit a plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace. (Ha’aretz)
Three Israelis [16] are charged with torching [17] an Arab-Jewish school in Jerusalem [18].(Reuters/Ynet/
Israeli police says a fire at a West Bank mosque [19] last month was most likely caused by an electrical fault and not the result of arson. (New York Times) Israel will demolish the home of Mutaz Hijazi [20], who attempted to assassinate Israeli far-right activist Yehuda Glick. (Ma’an) Israeli occupation forces detain 13 Palestinians [21] in the occupied territories. (Ma’an) Hamas flies [22] a drone over Gaza [23] during its anniversary parade [24]. (AFP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel) Israel’s Shin Bet [25] thwarts an alleged planned suicide bomb [26] attack in Tel Aviv [27]. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel) The EU backs a UN plan [28] for a truce in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo. (Reuters) The Syrian army recaptures [29] territory north of Aleppo. (Reuters) Reuters looks at the challenges facing PM al-Abadi [30]. (Reuters) ISIS extremists shoot [31] down an Iraqi military helicopter. (AP) The New York Times looks at how ISIS’ has exerted control over schools [32] and other aspects of society while doing little to provide services in Mosul. (New York Times) Saudi Prince bin Talal’s pan-Arab news channel Alarab [33] will go live in February. (AP) Turkish police [34] conduct raids in a dozen cities, arresting journalists and police [35]. (AP/The National) Egypt denies entry [36] to former American official and Carnegie analyst Michelle Dunne [37]. (New York Times/Washington Post) The Egyptian gay community [38] suffers a crackdown under Pres. Sissi. (Washington Post) Commentary: Vincent Fean [39] says Israel should see European support for Palestinian statehood as a step toward a peace deal, not a threat. (New York Times) Avi Issacharoff [40] says the PA is trying to play chess against Netanyahu and the US. (Times of Israel) Ha’aretz [41] says the US has made it clear that “rhetorical juggling and slogans” are no longer enough to save Israel from the Palestinian initiative. (Ha’aretz) The Daily Star [42] says US credibility is on the line with regards to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Daily Star) Amos Harel [43] says Palestinian-Israeli security coordination is a “win-win” situation for both. (Ha’aretz) The Times of Israel interviews former Mossad chief Efraim Halevy [44]. (Times of Israel) Uri Savir [45] says, until the Israeli elections, the US and Europe will attempt to balance nonintervention and expressing policy positions relevant to the Palestinian issue. (Al-Monitor) The Washington Post [46] says a war authorization against ISIS should be Congress’s priority. (Washington Post) The National [47] says more must be done for helpless Syrian refugees. (The National) Abdul Rahman Al Rashed [48] looks at the recent American plan to train the Syrian opposition against the Assad regime. (Al Arabiya) Osman Mirghani [49] says Egypt is facing a war on multiple fronts. (Asharq al-Awsat) H.A. Hellyer [50] looks at the consequences for Egypt for refusing to allow Dunne to enter the country. (Al Arabiya) Bel Trew [51] says Egypt's new regime is cracking down on the gay community -- with a little help from the media. (Foreign Policy) Rami Khouri [52] asks if the Middle East can debate torture. (Daily Star)
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