The White House [1] says Speaker Boehner’s [2] invitation for PM Netanyahu [3] to come to Washington is a breach of diplomatic protocol [4]. (AP/New York Times/AFP/Ha’aretz)
Sec. Kerry says Netanyahu [5] is welcome to speak in the US “at any time.” (Ha’aretz)
Israel’s Foreign Ministry says its unaware of any planned visit by Pres. Putin [6] next month, rebuffing reports in Palestinian media. (Times of Israel)
Egypt releases 45 Palestinians [7] from Gaza imprisoned after trying to flee to Europe. (Ma’an)
Egypt prepares to ship humanitarian aid [8] from the UAE to Gaza. (Ma’an)
Hamas military chief [9] Deif sends a letter of condolence [10] to Hezbollah leader [11] Nasrallah. (Ma’an/Times of Israel/Ynet)
The UN is holding [12] its first-ever meeting on anti-Semitism. (Ha’aretz)
A senior British official [13] says the US-led coalition could take up to two years to expel ISIS from Iraq. (Reuters)
ISIS is turning the captured Iraqi city of Mosul [14] into a fortress. (Reuters)
Iraq’s Kurds say ISIS has been pushed [15]out of a large area of northern Iraq. (Washington Post)
Japan says [16] it is considering all options [17] to release the two hostages held by ISIS. (AP/New York Times)
Pres. Sisi calls on world leaders [18] gathered at the World Economic Forum to unite against the global threat of terrorism. (Reuters)
Heavily armed Houthis [19] remain stationed outside [20] Yemen’s presidential palace [21], despite an agreement [22]. (AP/Reuters/New York Times)
The New York Times [23] profiles the Houthis. (New York Times)
Amnesty International [24] says Saudi Arabia plans to once again delay the public flogging of rights activist Raif Badawi [25] on medical grounds. (Reuters/Washington Post)
Mossad [26] Chief Tamir Pardo [27] denies reports he opposes new sanctions [28] on Iran. (Ha’aretz/JTA/Jerusalem Post)
Commentary:
Barak Ravid [29] looks at how Netanyahu’s trip to Washington was “cooked up behind Pres. Obama’s back.” (Ha’aretz)
Ron Kampeas [30] looks at the different reactions to Boehner’s “surprise invitation.” (JTA)
Aaron David Miller [31] looks at why Boehner invited Netanyahu without consulting the White House. (Daily Beast)
The Jerusalem Post interviews former Israeli chief negotiator and opposition leaderLivni. [32](Jerusalem Post)
George Hishmeh [33] says if the US will not restrain Israel it cannot complain about Palestinian initiatives at the UN and ICC. (Gulf News)
Linda Gradstein [34] asks if the EU can help solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (The Media Line)
Mohammed Othman [35] looks at Gaza’s “brain drain.” (Al-Monitor)
Ari Shavit [36]says Israel can no longer isolate itself from the Arab world. (Ha’aretz)
Alan Philps [37] says, like it or not, Pres. Assad will be part of Syria’s future. (The National)
Michael Young [38] says America’s Syria policy is bound to fail. (Daily Star)
Jayne Huckerby [39] asks why the West ignores the role women play in extremist groups like ISIS. (New York Times)
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed [40] looks at how the threat of extremism has become not just a Saudi, but a global problem. (Al Arabiya)
Joyce Karam [41] says Obama’s State of the Union speech made his unwillingness to be drawn into Middle East conflicts very clear. (Al Arabiya)
Laurent Fabius, Philip Hammond, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Federica Mogherini [42]explain why negotiations with Iran were extended and why diplomacy should be given a chance. (Washington Post)
Aaron David Miller [43] says Obama’s push to build a “legacy relationship” with Iran is only going to end in “heartache.” (Foreign Policy)
Hussein Ibish [44] says Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has provided a timely demonstration of real Islamophobia with his “no-go zones” fabrications. (NOW)
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