News:
Israelis [1] go [2] to the [3] polls [4] today [5] to [6] elect [7] a new [8] government. [9] (Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post/AFP/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz/
PM Netanyahu’s political survival [10] in on the line. (AP) Netanyahu says [11] the right-wing is in danger [12] because “Arabs are voting in droves [13].” (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post) Netanyahu says [14] if he was returned [15] to office [16] he would never allow [17] the establishment of a Palestinian state [18]. (New York Times/Washington Post/AFP/Times of Israel/The National) Palestinian Chief Negotiator Erekat [19] says Netanyahu has done everything possible to bury the two-state solution. (PNN) Tzipi Livni says [20] she will forgo the opportunity to take the prime minister [21] position in two years should Zionist Union win. (JTA/Jerusalem Post) Fatah leader Hatem Abdul Qader [22] urges Palestinian citizens of Israel to vote [23] for the United Arab List. (JTA/Times of Israel) Israel closes the Kerem Shalom and Erez crossings [24] for the elections. (Ma’an) The EU appoints Italian negotiator [25] Fernando Gentilini [26] as its next envoy for the Middle East peace [27]process. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel) A French prosecutor [28] says the late Palestinian leader Arafat did not die of poisoning [29]. (JTA/AFP) Sec. Kerry’s comments on Assad talks create uproar [30] in the Middle East. (Washington Post) UN investigators say they are ready to share the names of, and details about, of Syria war crimes [31]suspects. (Reuters) A group monitoring the Syrian civil war says government forces carried out [32] a poison gas attack that killed six people [33] in the northwest. (Reuters/AP) The White House is consulting former CIA Director Petraeus [34] about the fight against ISIS. (AP) The US says Iran has sent arms to Iraq [35] to fight ISIS. (New York Times) An American official says the P5+1 and Iran have been making headway in identifying technical options [36] for a deal, but difficult issues remain. (Reuters) Iranians are reportedly optimistic about clinching a nuclear agreement [37] with the P5+1. (AP) The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia remains closed [38] to the public for a third day because of “security concerns.” (The National) Commentary: Munib al-Masri [39] says Palestinians find themselves on the dark side of the slogan that's dominated these Israeli elections: “it's us or them.” (Ha’aretz) Sayed Kashua [40] says Ayman Odeh is the only one inspiring hope that there's still a chance of ending the occupation. (Ha’aretz) Avi Issacharoff [41] says Palestinians are fixated on the Israeli election but are divided on the preferable outcome.. (Times of Israel) Gideon Levy [42] says Israel is the only country that denies millions of subjects the right to vote but still calls itself a democracy. (Ha’aretz) Gregg Carlstrom [43] looks at “the last days of King Bibi.” (Foreign Policy) Ha’aretz urges [44] Israelis to vote out Netanyahu. (Ha’aretz) Aaron David Miller [45] looks at what an Israeli government will look like if Netanyahu loses the election to Herzog-- and what it could accomplish. (Foreign Policy) John Hudson [46] asks if Herzog can repair the US-Israel relationship. (Foreign Policy) Ari Shavit [47] says Israel's 2015 election is a referendum on hope. (Ha’aretz) Amnon Reshef [48] says Netanyahu’s failures have caused significant damage to Israel on security, Iran, peace talks and the economy. (Ynet) Akiva Eldar [49] says Israel’s election focuses on the politics of fear. (Al-Monitor) Yossi Mekelberg [50] asks if the election will create real change in Israel. (Al Arabiya) The Daily Star [51] says Kerry’s remarks regarding Assad have prompted concern and surprise in the Arab world and beyond. (Daily Star) Abdul Rahman Al Rashed [52] harshly criticizes Kerry’s stance on Syria. (Al Arabiya)
Front Page Features