News: 16 EU FM’s send a letter [1] to foreign policy chief Mogherini asking her to push forward the process of labeling goods produced in Israeli settlements. (Ha’aretz) The director of Israel’s foreign ministry [2] Ben-Sheetrit says Israel may pay a “heavy price” [3]for crisis with the US. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel) A Palestinian man [4] from occupied East Jerusalem drives his car [5] into two Israelis waiting at a bus [6]stop – killing one. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel) Amb. Power says the US will continue to “work closely” with Israel [7] at the UN but would not count out advancing resolutions targeting Israel. (JTA) Israel marks [8] Holocaust [9] memorial day [10] with sirens and ceremonies [11]. (AP/AFP/JTA/Ha’aretz) PM al-Abadi [12] says ISIS remains a fierce adversary [13] as he outlines plans to prioritize battles in the refinery city of Baiji and the Anbar province. (Reuters/AP) An exchange between Iraq and Saudi Arabia [14] reflects the challenges facing the Obama administration [15] as it tries to hold together a diverse coalition in the fight against ISIS. (New York Times/Foreign Policy) The UN World Food Programme says the worsening violence in Yemen has made almost half the country's population "food insecure." [16] (Reuters) The UN special adviser [17] to Yemen Benomar [18] is planning on stepping down from his job [19]. (Reuters/AP/New York Times) Congress’ Iran bill [20] makes a nuclear deal hard, but not impossible. (Reuters) Iran nuclear talks will resume next week [21] in Vienna. (AP) Austrian Pres. Fischer says he will probably visit Iran [22] this year should Tehran clinch a definitive deal with the P5+1. (Reuters) A new study indicates that Iran is raising sophistication and frequency of cyber attacks [23]. (New York Times) Former Pres. Gul says Turkey needs a better parliamentary system [24], not a more powerful presidency. (Reuters) Commentary: Amos Harel [25] says the split between the political and military wings of Hamas could lead to renewal of violence in the southern front. (Ha’aretz) Akiva Eldar [26] asks if former Sec. Clinton should promote the Clinton parameters. (Al-Monitor) Ha’aretz [27]says Obama's advisers are ignoring Amb. Dermer, a persona non grata at the White House. (Ha’aretz) Salman Masalha [28] asks why the US cannot figure out the Middle East. (Ha’aretz) Abdul Rahman Al Rashed [29] says UNSC resolution 2216 thwarts Iran’s plans in Yemen. (Al Arabiya) Eyad Abu Shakra [30] says today the term “resistance,” when used by the “Houthis of the whole region” - from Yemen to Iraq and Lebanon - means nothing more than “Iran’s hegemony.” (Al Arabiya) Michael Young [31] says a new museum is a start, but wonders how Lebanon will deal with its difficult past forty years after the civil war. (The National) Mustafa Akyol [32] says Pres. Erdogan is “alienating allies, curtailing civil liberties and stoking sectarianism simply for the sake of political gain.” (New York Times) |