The defense establishment is focusing its readiness on the northern front, where Iran and Hezbollah are looking to build new attack capabilities, but if PIJ remains determined to rock the boat, it could collapse into yet another Gaza war.

Israeli left-wing watchdog group Peace Now says authorities have approved various planning stages for the construction of 2,342 new housing units in the West Bank last month. In a statement, the EU reiterates its longstanding position that all settlement activity on what is calls occupied land is illegal. “It erodes the viability of the two-state solution and the prospects for a lasting peace,” statement says.

PA President Mahmoud Abbas sends out memo stating that any faction running in parliamentary elections, which have yet to be scheduled, must recognize the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people and honor all agreements it signed.

“We fully support the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in conducting its independent verification role in Iran," State Dept. spokesperson says after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announces developments at Fordow plant.

For mosques around the country, the need to produce US-trained religious leaders is increasing.