News:
Pres. Abbas sets preconditions [1] to restarting peace talks with Israel. (Jerusalem Post)
The Israeli ministry of construction [2] issues tenders for the building of 85 new housing units in the Givat Zeev settlement in the occupied West Bank. (AFP)
At least 21 Palestinians are injured [3] after clashes break out in Nablus [4] with Israeli military forces [5]. (Ma’an\JTA\Times of Israel)
Three Palestinians are injured [6] by live fire during a Nakba Day protest [7] in Gaza. (Ma’an\Times of Israel)
An Israeli demolition plan [8] for a Bedouin village sparks outcry. (AP)
The PA security forces uncover and arrest a Hamas cell [9] near Hebron in the West Bank. (Jerusalem Post)
Jewish settlers throw stones [10] at Palestinian vehicles near Nablus. (Ma’an)
Hamas [11] says ISIS has no [12] foothold in Gaza [13]. (Ma’an\Ha’aretz\Reuters)
PM Netanyahu’s [14] new rightist coalition [15] government [16] is sworn in [17]. (Reuters\New York Times\Washington Post\JTA)
The New York Times profiles new Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. [18] (New York Times)
Israel is reportedly turning to the media and diplomacy [19] to head off an almost inevitable new round of confrontation with Hezbollah. (Ha’aretz)
A renewed joint commitment to build the regional defense system [20] is one of the outcomes of the Camp David summit between the US and the GCC. (Reuters)
Pres. Obama [21] vows to keep Arab allies secure [22] amid Iran deal fears [23]. (AP\New York Times\The National)
At least 10 people are killed in heavy clashes in Yemen [24] despite a five-day humanitarian truce. (Reuters)
The UN urges the Saudi-led coalition to speed up imports of vital goods in Yemen [25]. (Reuters)
ISIS militants raise their black flag [26] over the local government compound [27] in the Iraqi city of Ramadi. (Reuters\AP)
ISIS releases [28] an audio recording [29] that it said was from the leader al-Baghdadi. (New York Times\Washington Post)
UNESCO Chief Bokova [30] says she is alarmed by developments in Syria [31], where clashes with ISIS militants are getting closer to the ancient city of Palmyra [32]. (AP\New York Times\The National)
Commentary:
Jimmy Carter and Gro Harlem Brundtland [33] say a lasting settlement in the Holy Land is still possible but Israel must end the siege on Gaza first. (Foreign Policy)
The New York Times [34] says the Vatican’s decision to formally recognize Palestine as a state comes at an especially bleak moment for peace efforts with Israel. (New York Times)
Hazem Balousha [35] says the Hamas-Fatah divide is crippling Palestine’s judiciary. (Al-Monitor)
Ha’aretz [36] says ending the occupation must be a top priority for the new Israeli government. (Ha’aretz)
Israel Harel [37] says no real effort was made to promote construction and societal plans so that Jews and Arabs could live in a truly unified Jerusalem. (Ha’aretz)
Raphael Ahren [38] says while Netanyahu fantasizes about a détente with the Arab world, the US and EU are ready to turn up the heat on his new government. (Times of Israel)
Ben Caspit [39] says Israel and Saudi Arabia feel that the US is playing a bad hand in its negotiating with Iran. (Al-Monitor)
David Laitin and Marc Jahr [40] say Syrian refugees can revitalize Detroit. (New York Times)
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed [41] says Iranian threats against Gulf countries are a direct message to the White House. (Al Arabiya)