News:
UNSG Ban [1] says Palestine [2] will become part of the ICC [3] on April 1st. (PNN/JTA/Times of Israel)
EU Foreign Policy Chief Mogherini [4] says Israel is violating the Oslo Accords [5] by freezingPalestinian tax revenues [6]. (AP/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)
France warns [7] the Palestinians [8] not to resubmit the UN statehood [9] resolution. (JTA/Reuters/Jerusalem Post)
An Israeli group files [10] a war crimes suit against Palestinian leaders. (Times of Israel)
PM Hamdallah [11] is scheduled to visit Gaza in the coming few days. (Ma’an)
Hamas says the PA is “misusing” Gaza [12] reconstruction funds. (Ma’an)
Sweden’s FM Wallstroem [13] postpones a planned visit to Israel [14]. (JTA/Times of Israel)
The Allenby Crossing [15] has been witnessing very serious overcrowdedness, as tens of thousands of Palestinians are trying to leave to Jordan. (Ma’an)
The Media Line looks at the challenges facing bilingual education in Israel [16]. (The Media Line)
The UN says Syrians are the largest refugee group [17] after the Palestinians. (Reuters)
Chemical weapons investigators are confident chlorine gas was used [18] in Syrian villages. (AP)
The Pentagon [19] says the American training of Syrian rebels [20] could begin in spring. (Reuters/New York Times)
Masked gunmen open fire [21] in the offices of a French satirical newspaper [22], killing 12. (New York Times/Ha’aretz)
Pres. Sisi visits [23] the main Coptic Christian cathedral during its Christmas Eve Mass. (New York Times)
The Egyptian army kills a senior Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis leader [24]. (Ma’an)
Egypt’s central bank says foreign currency reserves fell to $15.33 billion [25] at the end of December. (AP)
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Salman [26] gives a speech on behalf of King Abdullah. (The National)
A female suicide bomber [27] strikes in Istanbul [28], killing a policeman. (AP/Washington Post)
Ayatollah Khamenei [29] says the US cannot be trusted [30] in nuclear talks. (AP/Reuters)
Commentary:
Hussein Ibish [31] says in order to bring ICC charges against them, Israel would have to recognize Palestinian’s sovereignty. (Now)
Aaron David Miller [32] says the Palestinian move to join the ICC seems desperate and rash -- to everyone but the Palestinians. (Foreign Policy)
Rami Khouri [33] says its time for serious Palestinian leadership. (Daily Star)
Noah Feldman [34] says joining the ICC could provide Palestinians more leverage in -- and to get to -- negotiations with Israel. (Bloomberg)
Daniella Peled [35] looks at how Israel will stand to lose at the ICC, without a single trial taking place. (Ha’aretz)
Yossi Mekelberg [36] says the threat of the ICC is a serious weapon that should be handled by both sides very carefully. (Al Arabiya)
Osama Al Sharif [37] looks at Pres. Abbas’ diplomatic options. (Jordan Times)
Al-Monitor interviews Fatah official Jibril Rajoub [38]. (Al-Monitor)
Ha’aretz [39] says Israel cannot allow itself another term with PM Netanyahu. (Ha’aretz)
Shlomi Eldar [40] says Palestinian citizens of Israel will not vote in the next elections. (Al-Monitor)
Michael Young [41] traces the blunders made by the Assad regime through the fate of one of its more prominent partners, the late Omar Karami. (The National)
Hamad Al-Majid [42] says the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood needs to consider implementing significant, not superficial, change and reform. (Asharq al-Awsat)
John Hannah [43] says its time to pursue regime change in Iran. (Foreign Policy)
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