News:
Israel [1] and Hezbollah [2] signal that their flare-up [3] in fighting across the Israeli-Lebanese border [4] is over. (Reuters/New York Times/JTA/Times of Israel)
Israel tells the UNSC it will take “all necessary measures [5]” to defend itself against Hezbollah. (Reuters)
Hezbollah [6] faces internal criticism in Lebanon [7] for getting into more conflict with Israel. (Ynet/Daily Star)
Some Palestinian factions [8] express their support for Hezbollah. (Ma’an)
PM Netanyahu [9] blames Iran for the deadly flare-up [10] along the Israeli-Lebanese border [11]. (AP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
FM Lieberman [12] slams Netanyahu’s decision to “contain” Hezbollah. (Times of Israel)
At the UNSC, Spain blames Israel [13] for the death of one of its peacekeepers. (Times of Israel)
UN Human Rights Chief al-Hussein [14] says Israel and the Palestinians have failed to adequately investigate the last Gaza war. (Reuters)
UN Envoy for the Middle East Serry says he is "outraged" by the recent assault [15]on UN premises in Gaza. (Ma’an)
An unnamed American official [16] criticizes Israeli Amb. Dermer [17] over PM Netanyahu’s visit [18]to Washington. (New York Times/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
Former Pres. Peres criticizes Netanyahu [19] for his upcoming speech before Congress. (Jerusalem Post)
Pres. Rivlin [20] tells the UN the “West has no war [21] with Islam.” (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
Two seven-year-old boys [22] from occupied East Jerusalem identify the alleged Jewish extremists who attempted to kidnap one of them. (Ma’an)
Israeli occupation forces demolish the home [23] of a Palestinian family in the West Bank. (Ma’an)
A new mobile app [24] offers information from Palestinian universities in the West Bank and Gaza. (The Media Line)
ISIS purportedly [25] sets a new deadline [26] for a prisoner swap [27] with Jordan [28]. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Jordan Times)
As Iraqi Kurds gain more ground from ISIS, local Sunni Arabs are worried [29] about how they will be treated. (AP)
Survivors say they saw Iraqi forces standing by and watching as Shiite militias executed 72 Sunnis. (Reuters)
Iran’s newly appointed UN Amb. Khoshrou [30] is expected to receive a US visa [31]. (Reuters/New York Times)
Commentary:
Joyce Karam [32] says with Hezbollah’s expanded role in Syria, Israel is unilaterally changing the 2006 rules of engagement. (Al Arabiya)
Zvi Bar’el [33] says Iran's real interest in Lebanon and Syria is political, not military confrontations with Israel. (Ha’aretz)
The Daily Star [34] says Hezbollah should think of what is best for all of Lebanon, not just itself. (Daily Star)
Ari Shavit [35] says Israel must hold off the “inevitable third Lebanon war.” (Ha’aretz)
Phillip Smyth [36] says as Hezbollah gains ground in the Golan Heights, Iran is now “knocking on the door of Israel’s quietest border.” (Foreign Policy)
Mitch Ginsburg [37] says Hezbollah’s attack on an Israeli army convoy was carefully chosen as punishment for the Quneitra strike. (Times of Israel)
Bradley Burston [38] says Israeli politics might be changing for the better. (Ha’aretz)
Alan Elsner [39] says Dermer is serving Netanyahu at the expense of all other Israeli citizens. (Ha’aretz)
George Hishmeh [40] says Netanyahu will have to pay for his arrogance. (Gulf News)
Aaron Zelin [41] looks at ISIS’ “political model.” (Washington Post)
Alan Philps [42] says there will be no swift victory over ISIS in Mosul. (The National)
Elias Groll [43] asks if the Jordan pilot captured by ISIS is still alive. (Foreign Policy)
Raed Omari [44] looks at Jordan’s latest hostage crisis. (Al Arabiya)
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed [45] says Saudi foreign policy is unlikely to witness “dramatic changes” on major issues. (Asharq al-Awsat)
Michael Young [46] says Washington’s current policies are ill-adapted to Middle Eastern dynamics. (Daily Star)