“Netanyahu’s proposals for an improved final accord are really aimed at preventing one from ever being reached. The best example is the linkage that he proposed (and that Senate Republicans tried to impose): conditioning a nuclear deal on Iran recognizing Israel and ceasing support for terror groups,” writes Gershom Gorenberg. “Historically, a similar linkage would have blocked any of the arms-reduction pacts that made the world marginally safer during the Cold War.”

The United States would continue to “work closely” with Israel at the United Nations but would not count out advancing resolutions targeting Israel, the U.S. ambassador to the world body said.

“Recent statements by former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton suggest that she’s adopting a conciliatory tone toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instead of pushing forward initiatives for the two-state solution,” writes Akiva Eldar.

“Following the destruction of homes built illegally in Arab settlements, some Israeli Arabs are threatening a general strike,” writes Shlomi Eldar.

Vandals have smashed gravestones at a Maronite Christian cemetery in a village near Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, Israeli police said on Wednesday.

“You would think that sentencing a group of Israelis for setting fire to a Palestinian cafe is a positive development. But a closer look shows that the culture of minimizing the seriousness of price tag attacks is alive and strong,” writes Natasha Roth.

High Court rejects petition against the law, gives grounds to allows individuals who want to sue anyone calling for a boycott of Israel, or ‘areas under its control.’

According to a US survey of Israeli voters, security considerations tipped the scale in the recent Israeli elections and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won once again for his reputation as a strong leader.

Netanyahu is also meeting Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman as part of ongoing coalition negotiations.

As the International Criminal Court continues its preliminary investigation into the crimes committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip, Israeli official statements which support illegal settlement activities in the West Bank should be taken into the court’s account, urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.