News:
Pres. Abbas accuses Israel of "gangsterism" [1] over its decision to withhold Palestinian tax revenues. (Ynet)
As Israel goes to the polls, Palestinians expect little change [2]. (The National)
Gaza’s sole power plant [3] was shut down on Wednesday evening as Qatari-donated fuel supplies ran out. (Ma’an)
Extremist Jewish settlers [4] torch two Palestinian [5] cars [6] and vandalize a building [7] near Ramallah. (Ma’an/PNN/JTA/Times of Israel)
Unidentified assailants throw flammable material at the door of a Fatah leader's house [8] in eastern Gaza. (Ma’an)
Israeli forces shoot and injure two Palestinian fishermen [9] off the coast of Gaza. (Ma’an)
Three thousand women [10] protest outside the Knesset [11] calling for an Israeli-Palestinian peace [12]agreement. (JTA/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)
The number of Palestinians working for Israelis [13] on either side of the Green Line has doubled in the last 4 years. (Jerusalem Post)
Experts say PM Netanyahu may gain only a fleeting lift [14] from his Congressional speech. (New York Times)
FM Zarif [15] says Iran “saved the Jews” three times [16] and Netanyahu should “learn his history.” (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
American officials are reportedly hinting that replacing Amb. Dermer is key [17] to mending US-Israel ties. (Ha’aretz)
A Chinese official [18] at the P5+1 talks sees hope for a deal. (Reuters)
Sec. Kerry [19] meets with King Salman [20] and Gulf Arab FMs in Riyadh [21] to reassure them on Iranian nuclear talks [22]. (Reuters/AP/Washington Post/New York Times)
Egypt may import [23] natural gas from Israel [24]. (JTA/TheMarker)
Pres. Sisi reshuffles his cabinet [25] and replaces the minister of interior. (AP)
Syrian government barrel bombs [26] kill at least 18 in Aleppo. (AP)
The collapse of the Hazzm movement [27] in Syria underlines the failure of efforts to unify Arab and Western support for mainstream insurgents. (Reuters)
Syria's Western-backed political opposition [28] is trying to ally with opposition groups based in Syria to boost its legitimacy. (Reuters)
The US strategy in Iraq [29] is increasingly relying on Iran. (New York Times)
Iraqis plan to take a leading role in driving ISIS out of Mosul [30]. (New York Times)
Warplanes from Libya's [31] internationally recognized government carry out air strikes on an airport in Tripoli. (Reuters)
Libya says 11 oil fields in the country [32] are non-operational after attacks by suspected ISIS militants. (AP)
Commentary:
Rami Al-Magheiri [33] looks at Hamas’ reaction to the Egyptian court ruling against it. (The Media Line)
Ha’aretz [34] says right-wingers’ assault on Knesset members at a panel discussion this week was an act worthy of fascists. (Ha’aretz)
Shlomo Sand [35] says a Jewish vote for the Arab list could be a decisive event in Israel’s short history. (Ha’aretz)
Ben Sales [36] profiles Israeli opposition leader Herzog. (JTA)
AP interviews former Finance Minister Lapid [37]. (AP)
Melanie Lidman [38] looks at the group “Runners Without Borders” that brings Arab, Jewish, and Armenian girls together. (Times of Israel)
Nahum Barnea [39] says Netanyahu’s top priority is elections, not Iran. (Ynet)
Akiva Eldar [40] says focused on Iran, Netanyahu’s is ignoring Israel’s economic crisis. (Al-Monitor)
Alan Philps [41] says the “grenade thrown” by Netanyahu in the US Capitol will leave lasting scars. (The National)
Aaron David Miller [42] says its too early to say whether Netanyahu’s speech bought him votes in the Israeli election or time on the Iran deal. (Foreign Policy)
Peter Beinart [43] says Jewish history offers no parallels for the situation Israel finds itself in today, but American history does. (Ha’aretz)
Ari Shavit [44] says Netanyahu’s speech did not generate interest in the US because he framed the Iranian nuclear threat in Jewish and Israeli terms. (Ha’aretz)
E.J. Dionne [45] says Netanyahu’s speech threatens US support for Israel. (Washington Post)
Michael Young [46] says on Iran, Arabs deeply mistrust Pres. Obama. (Daily Star)
Joyce Karam [47] says Netanyahu bruised Obama in Congress without killing the Iran deal. (Al Arabiya)
Samir Atallah [48] says King Salman has a sound vision for Saudi Arabia. (Asharq al-Awsat)
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