News:
Israeli veterans say [1] permissive rules of engagement [2] coupled with indiscriminate artillery fire contributed to the high numbers of civilian casualties in Gaza [3]. (Washington Post/Ha’aretz/The National)
A number of private hospitals [4] in the occupied West Bank are on the verge of collapse. (Ma’an)
Israeli defense officials [5] say the approval of building plans for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank is subject to political considerations. (AFP)
Islamic Jihad accuses the PA [6] of arresting and harassing its members in the occupied West Bank. (Ma’an)
Former Pres. Carter [7] calls for Palestinian elections [8] following his visit to Ramallah [9]. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)
Israeli security guards [10] shoot at and wound [11] a Palestinian man [12] after he allegedly attempted to stab [13]civilians at a light-rail station in Jerusalem. (Ha’aretz/Ma’an/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)
Protests [14] of Ethiopian Jews [15] draw attention [16] to racism [17] in Israel [18]. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/PNN/JTA)
Pres. Rivlin [19] says Israel [20] must respond to the grievances [21] of the Ethiopian Jews [22]. (AP/New York Times/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
Former FM Lieberman [23] says his Yisrael Beiteinu [24] party would not join [25] the new government coalition [26]. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)
Two mortar shells [27] fired from Syria [28] wound two UN peacekeepers [29] in the Golan Heights. (Ha’aretz/JTA/Times of Israel)
A senior Syrian army officer [30] is wounded in a suicide bombing in a central Damascus district. (Reuters)
Syrian state media [31] says the central bank is trying to stabilize its ailing currency. (AP)
World leaders are linking the nuclear talks with Iran [32] to the possibility for peace in Syria. (New York Times)
Yemeni fighters [33] who are believed to have received training and weapons in the Persian Gulf enter combat around the southern city of Aden. (New York Times)
France and Qatar sign a deal [34] for the sale of 24 Rafale fighter jets, an accord Pres. Hollande hails as a mark of Gulf Arab [35] regard for French regional strategy. (Reuters/AP)
Commentary:
J.J. Goldberg [36] looks at the recent split in Hamas’s political and military wings. (The Forward)
Uri Savir [37] says the PA is planning a diplomatic offensive to reconquer the interest of the international community. (Al-Monitor)
Nahum Barnea [38] says Israeli society is “infected with racism.” (Ynet)
Ha’aretz [39] says dealing with discrimination against Israelis of Ethiopian descent must be at top of new government's agenda. (Ha’aretz)
Hussein Ibish [40] says military cooperation between Sunni countries has a logic, but the joint force faces big obstacles. (New York Times)
Faisal Al Yafai [41] says Yemen's south cannot easily stay within a united Yemen. (The National)
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed [42] says PM al-Abadi has two big rivals: ISIS and former PM Maliki. (Al Arabiya)
Aaron David Miller [43] looks at what the recent rebel gains mean for Pres. Assad. (Foreign Policy)
The Washington Post [44] looks at the recent shakeup of the Saudi cabinet. (Washington Post)
Hussein Ibish [45] says a nuclear deal with Iran is changing the “old order.” (The National)
Theodore Karasik [46] says the international community should focus on Libya. (Al Arabiya)