News: A UN expert panel [1] tasked with investigating possible war crimes [2] in Gaza last year has asked for more time [3] to complete its report. (AP/New York Times/JTA) The PA is holding 50 Islamic militants [4], fearing a terror attack would ensure a Likud victory in Israel’s upcoming election. (Ha’aretz) The State Department says [5] it expects the next Israeli government to be committed [6] to the two-state solution. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel) Former Amb. Oren [7] says Israel must restrict settlement building and create a “two-state reality.” (Ynet) UN Middle East Envoy Serry proposes [8] a three-to-five year truce in Gaza in order to enable reconstruction. (Ha’aretz) Women in Gaza protest [9] in front of the UNRWA headquarters to demand that the international community accelerate the reconstruction of Gaza. (Ma’an) Hamas denies it is interested in a long-term ceasefire [10] agreement with Israel in Gaza. (Ma’an) The municipality of Jerusalem is blacklisting [11] Palestinian residents suspected of security offenses. (Ha’aretz) Israeli occupation forces level vast areas of land in the East Jerusalem [12] town of al-Esawiya. (Ma’an) Israel’s Amb. to Sweden protests the pulling [13] off the air of a cooking show because its presenter called Jerusalem the Jewish state’s “heart.” (JTA) PM Netanyahu says there is a “worldwide effort” to topple him [14]. (Reuters) The Washington Post looks at Israel’s united Arab party [15]. (Washington Post) A persistent Israeli ethnic divide [16] may split the vote for Netanyahu in the upcoming election. (Reuters) Israeli opposition leader Herzog is emerging as a credible challenger [17] to Netanyahu. (New York Times) 95 captives, including some Kurdish fighters, escape from an ISIS-run prison [18] in northern Syria. (Reuters) Iraqi forces retake a town [19] next to the militant-held city of Tikrit as they press their offensive against ISIS militants. (AP) Pres. Assad seems more likely to survive the Syrian crisis [20] than at any point since it began four years ago. (Reuters) King Abdullah of Jordan [21] likens ISIS to Nazism [22] -- "an expansionist ideology based on hatred." (Jerusalem Post/Jordan Times) A suicide bomber [23] kills a civilian [24] and wounds 30 [25] policemen [26] in northern Sinai. [27] (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Ma’an/The National) Democrats accuse [28] GOP senators of undermining Pres. Obama [29] in international talks [30] to curb Iran's nuclear program. (AP/New York Times/Washington Post) FM Zarif says a letter [31] to Iranian leader by Republican lawmakers suggests that the US is “not trustworthy.” [32] (AP/Times of Israel) Commentary: Anshel Pfeffer [33] says to beat Netanyahu, Herzog needs to “lift Labor's old curse.” (Ha’aretz) David Horovitz [34] gives some insights on what to expect in the next Israeli election. (Times of Israel) Steven Klein [35] gives five reasons why Netanyahu will not be replaced in the upcoming election. (Ha’aretz) Michael Weiss and Hassan Hassan [36] look at the metamorphosis of an ISIS warrior. (Foreign Policy) Hassan Barari [37] says the key to Iran’s strategy of becoming a regional superpower is the development of its nuclear program. (Jordan Times) Salman Aldossary [38] says a P5+1 deal with Iran essentially benefits only Tehran and would come at the expense of everyone else. (Asharq al-Awsat) The National [39] says its time for an Arab NATO. (The National) Abdul Rahman Al Rashed [40] says the Arab world has a long history of ignorance regarding the importance and preservation of monuments and historic treasures. (Al Arabiya) |