Daily News Issue Date: 
May 8, 2015
News: 

News:

Human Rights Watch accuses the Palestinian security forces of arresting and questioning West Bank students over their political opinions. (AFP)

delegation of eight members from a European observers mission to monitor the Rafah border crossing arrives in Gaza. (Ma’an)

The PLO says PM Netanyahu's new right-wing religious "government of war" is a blow to an already stagnating peace process. (AFP/Ha’aretz)

Israeli forces release Palestinian singer Shadi al-Burini after detaining him for several hours while he was shooting a video at the Huwwara checkpoint. (Ma’an)

Jewish settlers harass the head of the Palestinian Football Association and the South African head of an anti-racism group during a tour in Hebron. (Ma’an)

Europe and the US are keeping a watchful eye on Israel’s legislative plans. (Reuters)

AP looks at the key figures in Israel’s new government. (AP)

Pres. Obama in his message congratulating Netanyahu on forming a new Israeli governmentemphasizes the importance of a two-state solution. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

The Syrian army, backed by Hezbollah fighters, makes advances in mountainous areas along Syria's border with Lebanon. (Reuters)

The US begins training Syrian rebels in Jordan to fight ISIS. (AP/New York Times)

Saudi-led warplanes bomb targets in Yemen's Saada province and drop leaflets asking civilians to leave one district a day after promising a harsh response. (Reuters/AP)

Sec. Kerry meets with Gulf ministers to discuss Iran and Yemen. (Reuters)

The US Senate votes overwhelmingly to pass a bill giving Congress the right to review, and potentially reject, an international agreement with Iran. (Reuters/AP)

A senior al-Qaeda leader dies in a Yemen drone strike. (New York Times)

Commentary:

David Ignatius says Netanyahu is struggling at home. (Washington Post)

Raphael Ahren says for first time in 20 years, talks with the Palestinians don’t appear in any coalition agreement. (Times of Israel)

Ha’aretz says Israel's new government will lead a racist legislation while working to “gut the courts.” (Ha’aretz)

Nathan Guttman identifies seven things about Netanyahu’s new cabinet. (The Forward)

Siobhan O’Grady profiles Israel’s new Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. (Foreign Policy)

Carolina Landsmann says the possibility presented by Bennett and adopted by the right wing, of eternal Israeli rule over the Palestinians, is impossible. (Ha’aretz)

Ami Ayalon says the US and the international community should take the lead on a two-state solution. (Al-Monitor)

Fareed Zakaria says tides in the region have shifted in Israel’s favor. (Washington Post)

Jane Arraf says the threat of ISIS, combined with meager US and Iraqi government support, is driving Sunni tribes into the arms of Iranian-backed Shiite militias. (Foreign Policy)

The Daily Star says Hezbollah now finds itself again providing crucial life support to the Syrian regime across the border. (Daily Star)

Michael Young says Qalamoun is a test of Hezbollah’s hopes. (Daily Star)

Khairallah Khairallah says Hezbollah is laundering weapons and power. (Al Arabiya)


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