Pres. Abbas orders the formation of a committee [1] to oversee initiatives aimed at the ICC. (AFP)
The Middle East Quartet [2] calls for the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian [3] peace talks. (JTA/Ynet)
Pres. Putin says [4] both Israel and the Palestinians need to make concessions to each other. (Jerusalem Post)
Fatah official al-Ahmed will meet with Hamas [5] official Abu Marzouq in Cairo. (Ma’an)
The PA will pay civil servants [6] a portion of January’s salary. (Ma’an)
The Israeli military [7] completes the demolition of a Gaza tunnel [8] discovered duringlast summer’s war. [9] (JTA/Ha’aretz/Ynet)
Israel is preparing major expansions [10] in four West Bank settlements. (Ha’aretz)
Israel publishes tenders for 580 [11] new hotel rooms in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)
Israeli forces open fire [12] on a march east of Gaza City to protest delays of reconstruction. (Ma’an)
The inability to travel freely between Gaza and the occupied West Bank [13] affects thousands of Palestinians. (New York Times)
An extremist Jewish settler [14] is sentenced to three years in prison [15] for a “price tag” attack. (JTA/Times of Israel)
PM Netanyahu says [16] he will go to Congress [17] like he went to Paris and “speak for all Jews.” (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
Israeli parties are seeking to obtain the ethnic-Russian vote [18] in the upcoming elections. (Reuters)
Netanyahu accuses the publisher of the influential newspaper Yediot Ahronot [19] of carrying out a smear campaign against him. (AP)
Jordan says [20] its airstrikes are targeting ISIS leadership [21] in Syria. (Washington Post/Jordan Times)
A squadron of UAE airforce F-16 fighter jets [22] arrive in Jordan. (Jordan Times)
Gen. Allen says [23] Iraqi troops will launch an extensive ground offensive [24] against ISIS “in the weeks ahead.” (The National/ABC News)
Sec. Kerry says the US-led coalition is “on the road” [25] to defeat ISIS. (Politico)
An Iraqi commander, Hadi al-Amiri, defends Shi'ite paramilitary groups [26] from accusations of mass executions and burning homes. (Reuters)
The end of Baghdad’s curfew [27] brings hope and fear to its residents. (New York Times)
25 people [28] are killed outside [29] an Egyptian soccer stadium [30] when security forces tried [31]to block fans. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/The National)
Egypt sets [32] a retrial date for two jailed Al Jazeera [33] journalists. (Reuters/New York Times)
An Egyptian tycoon and former Mubarak ally [34] Ahmed Ezz is seeking to run again for parliament. (New York Times)
Ayatollah Khamenei says [35] he could accept a compromise in nuclear talks. (Reuters)
FM Zarif says he hopes charges against Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian [36]will be cleared. (Washington Post)
Commentary:
Felice Friedson [37] interviews Palestinian professor Mohammed Dajani. (The Media Line)
Ha’aretz [38] says Netanyahu must call off his speech to Congress. (Ha’aretz)
Ben-Dror Yemeni [39] says Netanyahu must not go to Washington. (Ynet)
David Horovitz [40] asks who to believe on Iran: Pres. Obama or Netanyahu. (Times of Israel)
Amos Harel [41] says the ISIS threat is bringing Jordan and Egypt closer to Israel. (Ha’aretz)
Elise Labott and Jeremy Diamond [42] say the crucial security relationship between Jordan and Israel is gaining new meaning after the brutal execution of a Jordanian pilot. (CNN)
Eyad Abu Shakra [43] says Israeli occupation and the Iranian expansion in the region have played a major role in increasing religious and sectarian extremism. (Al Arabiya)
Hisham Melhem [44] says moderate Muslims in the Arab world are “intellectually homeless.” (Al Arabiya)
Rami Khouri [45] says Jordan’s public opinion, political leadership and regional and international dynamics today offer insights into the current condition of the Arab world. (Daily Star)
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed [46] says ISIS sees Jordan as the best candidate for its next target. (Asharq al-Awsat)
Amer Al Sabaileh [47] says Jordan must address the ideas, tools and the environment that allows ideologies such as that of ISIS to grow. (Jordan Times)
Faisal Al Yafai [48] says, while the West is consumed by ISIS, Pres. Assad continues to slaughter Syrians. (The National)
Jamie Dettmer [49] says ISIS extremists are facing their own internal “reign of terror.” (Daily Beast)
Tariq Alhomayed [50] says extremists are targeting Egypt to create the impression of complete chaos. (Asharq al-Awsat)
Hussein Ibish [51] says Yemen faces a perfect trifecta of fatal maladies – civil war, terrorism and secession - and faces national disintegration. (The National)
David Rothkopf [52] says Obama’s new national security strategy is many things but a strategy isn’t one of them. (Foreign Policy)
The Daily Star [53] says Iran is making tiny concessions on its nuclear program while reaping huge benefits elsewhere. (Daily Star)
Peter Manseau [54] says Islam is an indelible part of America’s culture. (New York Times)