News:
PM Netanyahu [1] suspends [2] a proposed plan [3] to segregate [4] Palestinians [5] from Israelis [6] on West Bank [7]buses [8], overruling his own defense minister [9]. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel/Ynet/Jerusalem Post)
Pres. Rivlin lauds decision [10] to cancel Palestinian transportation edict. (Jerusalem Post)
The UN Middle East Envoy [11] Mladenov tells the UNSC [12]that Gaza is “desperate and angry” [13] over the devastation following last summer's war. (Ha’aretz/AFP/Jerusalem Post)
Israel denies talks with Hamas [14] on seaport and prisoner swap. (Times of Israel)
Israel’s new Cabinet [15] approves a plan for development [16] at the Western Wall. (AP/JTA)
Israel’s deputy DM, MK Ben-Dahan, will not assume responsibility [17] over the Israel Defense Forces’ Civil Administration in the occupied West Bank. (Ha’aretz)
The Palestinians place a proposal to suspend Israel from FIFA [18], the governing body of world soccer, on the agenda for FIFA’s annual congress. (New York Times)
Sweden will contribute $5 million [19] toward the May salaries and pensions of 70,000 PA employees across the occupied West Bank and Gaza. (Ma’an)
Israeli forces [20] shoot and kill [21] a Palestinian man [22] in Jerusalem claiming he attempted to run over [23]border guard police officers [24] with his vehicle. (Ma’an/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)
An Israeli court sentences [25] a Palestinian man to eight months of prison over Facebook posts [26]. (Ma’an/JTA)
Pres. Obama [27] meets with his advisors on the situation in Iraq [28] and reaffirms support for PM al-Abadi. (Reuters/New York Times)
Iraqi forces say they defeated an overnight ISIS attack [29] near Ramadi. (Reuters)
The Pentagon says Iraqi troops abandoned US military vehicles [30] and artillery pieces when they fled ISIS fighters in Ramadi (AP)
Analysts say Ramadi’s fall [31] shows US comments on Iraq [32]were too optimistic. (Reuters/Washington Post)
The Saudi-led coalition targets army bases and weapons depots in Sanaa [33]. (Reuters)
Ayatollah Khamenei [34]says he will not accept "unreasonable demands" by the P5+1 and rules out letting inspectors interview its atomic scientists [35]. (Reuters/AP)
Commentary:
Henry Siegman [36] says the US must stop blocking UN action on Mideast peace and start pushing for a tough UNSC resolution that forces both parties to negotiate a deal. (New York Times)
Rami Khouri [37] says Europe can reverse the US failures on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Daily Star)
Ben Sales [38] asks if Israel will be barred from FIFA. (JTA)
Ron Kampeas [39] asks if the Vatican’s recognition of the state of Palestine will impact Jewish-Catholic ties. (JTA)
Yossi Mekelberg [40] says between obliviousness and defiance, Israel is sleepwalking towards international isolation unless it changes course sharply and quickly. (Al Arabiya)
David Ignatius [41] says the fall of Ramadi is a blow to US strategy. (Washington Post)
Hassan Hassan [42] says the ISIS’ momentum is continuing and anyone telling you is in decline isn’t paying attention. (Foreign Policy)
The National [43] says the Iraqi government has been too reactive in its attacks on ISIS and must pursue a new approach. (The National)
Hussein Ibish [44] looks at the recent achievements of the US-GCC Camp David summit. (AGSIW)
David Rothkopf [45] explains why Obama’s bet on letting friends and enemies “slug it out in the Middle East” is so risky. (Foreign Policy)
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