News:

The White House issues a full transcript of remarks by Middle East Coordinator Philip Gordon at the Oct. 29 ATFP Gala. (ATFP)

In his ATFP remarks, Gordon condemns Israeli settlement activity. (JTA)

Israel announces it plans to add 1,500 new settlement housing units in the occupied West Bank. (New York Times/AP)

Israel may be actually contemplating up to 5,000 new settlement housing units. (Ha'aretz/Los Angeles Times)

The United States says it opposes new settlement activity, especially in occupied East Jerusalem. (YNet)

Pres. Abbas condemns Israel's latest settlement activity, and Palestinians say this is "destroying the peace process." (Xinhua/YNet)

AP provides a summary of recent Israeli settlement activity. (AP)

The EU condemns Israel's latest settlement plans, and calls for a complete end to all expansionincluding "natural growth." (Ma'an/Times of Israel)

Settlers demolish over 600 olive trees near Nablus. (Ma'an)

Israeli occupation forces kill a Palestinian man at a protest near Jenin. (Reuters/AP/Xinhua/Ma'an)

The Israeli military says it doesn't anticipate another intifada but is preparing for the failure of peace talks. (Jerusalem Post)

Palestinians welcome prisoners released by Israel. (New York Times/NPR)

Released prisoners arrive in the West Bank, and begin new lives outside of prison. (Xinhua)

Abbas says all prisoners must be released in the context of a peace agreement. (Jerusalem Post)

The UN says the status of Jerusalem must be resolved in any peace agreement. (Jerusalem Post)

Palestinians celebrate their Jerusalem heritage. (The Media Line)

Israeli occupation forces arrest 12 Palestinians, including three Hamas activists, in the occupied West Bank. (Ma'an)

Palestinians in village of Battir in the occupied West Bank launching farming "Green Intifada."(Xinhua)

At least 24 people were killed in Iraq in a series of attacks on Wednesday. (AP)

A major Syrian air base is destroyed by an attack from the sea, but it is unclear by whom. (Jerusalem Post)

Syria reportedly completes the demolition of its chemical weapons production facilities. (AP)

One of the last remaining senior Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood leaders not in custody has been arrested. (New York Times)

Egypt's interim president Mansour is making his second trip to the Gulf region. (AP)

The Emir of Qatar starts an official visit to the UAE. (Xinhua)

Pakistan says 2,227 people have been killed in US drone attacks in the country since 2008. (Xinhua)

 

Commentary:

Rifat Odeh Kassis looks at the plight of Palestinian children arrested in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ma'an)

Palestinian pollster Khalil Shikaki tries to explain Palestinian public opinion to an American audience. (The Heights)

Gideon Levy says prisoner release must come with the spirit of forgiveness. (Ha'aretz)

Gershon Baskin says no Israelis are happy to see Palestinian prisoners released. (Jerusalem Post)

Avi Issacharoff looks at Palestinian celebrations of released prisoners. (Times Israel)

Jesse Rosenfeld says there appears to be rising support among Palestinians for armed resistance. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Ahmad Azem says, on the contrary, Palestinians are shying away from armed resistance and nationalistic slogans. (Al Monitor)

Aaron Magid says, for peace talks to succeed, terrorism on both sides must cease. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

The Jerusalem Post says Israel is wrong to reengage the UN Human Rights Council. (Jerusalem Post)

David Ignatius says the US is pursuing a de facto policy of disengagement in the Middle East that potentially very dangerous. (Washington Post)

Rami Khouri is the downsizing the US presence in the Middle East is probably a good thing. (The Daily Star)

Doyle McManus says Pres. Obama is taking a huge risk in alienating Middle East allies by reaching out to Iran. (Los Angeles Times)

Osama Al Sharif says Obama cannot escape the Middle East even if he wants to. (Arab News)

The New York Times says more needs to be done to aid the suffering people of Syria. (New York Times)

The BBC looks at rising sectarian tensions in Iraq. (BBC)

Randa Takieddine condemns the "arrogance of Hezbollah." (Al Hayat)

Raphaël Lefèvre and Ali El Yassir say the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood is moving cautiously to establish its own militia. (Sada)