MUST-READS

• US-Israel
  U.S. condemns Israeli expropriation of West Bank land

  The United States levied unusually harsh criticism at Israel on Tuesday, denouncing plans to seize a large tract of West Bank land for Israeli homes. The State Department called on Israel to reverse its announced plan to appropriate nearly 1,000 acres in the occupied West Bank. “We are deeply concerned about the declaration of a large area as ‘state land’ to be used for expanded settlement building,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement. “We call on the Government of Israel to reverse this decision.”

  • AP - After Gaza war, poll finds support for Hamas risesnking
• Saudi National Guard
  Boeing awarded AH-6i contract for Saudi Arabia

  Although not disclosed in the DoD contract announcement, the end-user will be the Saudi Arabia National Guard (SANG), which is buying the AH-6i as part of a wider build-up of its rotary-winged capabilities that includes the procurement of 12 AH-64E attack helicopters and 24 Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk transport helicopters. This deal marks the first sale of the AH-6i for Boeing, although Jordan has signed a letter of intent for 18 such helicopters with an option for a further six.

• Solar Power
  Solar Power Investors Start to See Some Light and Heat

  Prices have stabilized as growth in demand for panels is finally outpacing capacity expansion. This benefits manufacturers. Most top-tier suppliers of solar modules reported profit margins that topped 15% in the first quarter, up from 10% toward the end of 2013, according to Matthew Feinstein of Lux Research.

• Islamic State
  As battle lines shift in Iraq, Sunnis who welcomed the Islamic State fear retribution

  A day after breaking through a siege by Islamic State militants on the Shiite town of Amerli, Iraqi forces and pro-government militias on Monday pushed their way into nearby villages they accuse of helping to enforce the months-long blockade.

  • Channel News Asia - US launches air strikes on IS rebels near dam, Amerli: Pentagon
  • CNN - Graphical Breakdown of Where Syria's Jihadists Come From
  • New York Times - Kurdish Pesh Merga: Tarnishing a Reputation as Storied Warriors
  • Politico - DOD: Iraq Effort Cost More Than $560 Million
  • Voice of America - Saudi-Iran Meeting Could Boost Fight Against Islamic State
  • New York Times - To Beat ISIS, Focus on Syria
• Islam
  Proposal to move Mohamed’s tomb in Saudi Arabia sparks debate

  The controversial proposals are part of a consultation document by a leading Saudi academic which has been circulated among the supervisors of al-Masjid al-Nabawi mosque in Medina, where the remains of the Prophet are housed under the Green Dome, visited by millions of pilgrims and venerated as Islam’s second-holiest site.

• Israel
  After Gaza cease-fire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in tough spot at home

  In Gaza, as Hamas leaders stood in a rubble-filled central square to declare an unequivocal victory, thousands of flag-waving supporters cheered. In Israel, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a televised news conference alongside his defense minister and army chief to claim a win, he was slammed by the media, the public, the opposition and even members of his own party and coalition.

• Refugees
  Syrian Refugees Top 3 Million

  A The U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, stated over 3 million people who have fled the conflict in Syria will have registered as refugees in neighboring countries as of Friday. Another 6.5 million people have become internally displace, so that about half of the Syrian population has been forced to leave their homes since fighting broke out in March 2011.

• Yemen
  Yemeni president hits out at Houthis as protests continue

  Amid growing tensions in the Yemeni capital of Sana’a, President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi launched a vehement attack on the Houthi movement occupying protests sites across the capital on Wednesday.

• Labor
  Saudi Arabia denies axing shorter work week plan

  Saudi Arabia’s Labour Ministry has denied reports it has axed plans to reduce the working week from 48 to 40 hours and introduce a two-day weekend, according to local media.

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