News:

PM Netanyahu stakes out tough positions for negotiations with Palestinians. (AP)

An Israeli newspaper reports negotiations are on the brink of collapse. (Xinhua)

British press reports say about €1 billion in aid to the Palestinians has been either "wasted" or lost to corruption. (PNN)

Israel says it has found tunnels running from Gaza into southern Israel, and destroyed them. (New York Times/AP/Times of Israel)

Israel says it's going to test new methods of arresting children after a damning UN report. (AFP)

30 settlers attack a Palestinian car near Nablus. (Ma'an)

Israel cancels the evacuation of 75 Palestinians from their homes in the Jordan Valley. (Ma'an)

A report is issued reiterating traces of polonium on articles of clothing belonging to the late Pres. Arafat, but Palestinian officials say there's nothing new revealed. (AFP/Xinhua)

Russian officials say they don't believe Arafat died from polonium poisoning. (Ha'aretz)

Nazareth is bracing for a hotly contested mayoral election. (Jerusalem Post)

Prices are soaring and the economy is collapsing in Gaza as the area's blockade intensifies. (The Guardian)

Tony Blair says he is optimistic about the economic plan for developing the occupied West Bank. (Financial Times)

The first Palestinian baby is born with sperm smuggled from a Palestinian prisoner held by Israel. (The Guardian)

10 Jewish men are arrested at a holy area in occupied East Jerusalem. (New York Times)

A US citizen is found dead in his Egyptian prison cell, causing alarm among other Americans in Egypt. (AP/BBC/The Media Line)

New negotiations begin between Iran, which presents a proposal, and the West on nuclear issues. (Ha'aretz)

Israel says it is opposed to a "partial deal" with Iran. (New York Times)

Israel asks Europe for support regarding Iran and urges no easing of sanctions. (AP/Xinhua/Los Angeles Times)

Israel conducts a massive Air Force drill. (Times of Israel)

Archaeology in Jerusalem and beyond continues to attract historic and religious controversy. (Christian Science Monitor)

A bomb is found in a Hezbollah stronghold in Lebanon. (Jerusalem Post)

A new Pew study finds broader criticism of Israel has entered the Jewish mainstream. (The Forward)

The new Palestinian nonprofit hybrid "Visualizing Palestine" unites activism and entrepreneurship. (Wamda)


Commentary:

Roger Cohen says there is a brighter future for the Middle East, as long as it can break from past attitudes. (New York Times)

Shimon Shiffer says PM Netanyahu's hard-line positions are leading to a bloody dead-end. (YNet)

J.J. Goldberg asks if Netanyahu's positions on Jerusalem are actually softening. (The Forward)

Hassan Barari says Netanyahu is becoming increasingly isolated. (Jordan Times)

Qadura Fares says Netanyahu's "extreme positions" are intensifying hopelessness and frustration among Palestinians. (Al Monitor)

Yuval Steinitz claims "Palestinian hate" is preventing Israeli-Palestinian peace. (New York Times)

Bruce Stokes asks if Jewish Americans think Israeli-Palestinian peace is possible. (Foreign Policy)

Mona Chalabi looks at how Palestine's economy functions under occupation. (The Guardian)

Emily Harris looks at how Palestinians are dealing with Israel's separation barrier. (NPR)

Richard Forer says compassion is essential to peace. (Ma'an)

Mazal Mualem says Israelis have lost interest in peace talks since the murder of the late PM Rabin. (Al Monitor)

Yair Tzaban says anti-democratic legislation pending in the Knesset must be blocked. (YNet)

Jane Arraf asks if Syrian refugees will transform or threaten Jordan's economy. (Christian Science Monitor)

Bradley Burston says that the Jewish students at UC Berkeley need to be open to different points of view. (Ha'aretz)

Salman Masalha says Pres. Assad will never willingly relinquish power. (Ha'aretz)

Hussein Ibish looks at the unfolding process of state fragmentation in Syria. (The National)

Jenny Cuffe looks at British "Jihadists" fighting in Syria. (BBC)

Asharq Al-Awsat interviews the head of the Syrian National Coalition, Ahmad Tomeh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Barak Barfi says the United States needs to identify and promote a plausible alternative Syrian leader. (Jordan Times)

Diana Moukalled asks why Hezbollah is remaining silent about a video apparently showing it killing wounded Syrian prisoners. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Khalaf Al Habtoor says Gulf states need to unite against the possibility of a US-Iranian rapprochement. (Gulf News)

Mohammad Salah says the new Egyptian government should appoint people based on qualifications, not an anti-MB quota. (Al Hayat)

Matt Surrusco talks with Palestinian film director Hany Abu-Assad about his new movie "Omar." (The Indypendent)
 

News:

Palestinians say Pres. Abbas is prepared to meet with PM Netanyahu. (Jerusalem Post)

Israeli Finance Minister Lapid calls for an "endgame" between Israel and the Palestinians. (Al Monitor)

Israeli police say an Israeli settler was killed by Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. (AP/Reuters/Xinhua)

Five suspects are arrested regarding the murder. (Ha'aretz/Times of Israel/BBC)

Extremist settlers are accused of defacing a mosque in the occupied West Bank. (Reuters)

A tiny Palestinian village is about to be destroyed for the fourth time by Israeli forces. (Ha'aretz)

Some Palestinians want to resettle refugees in the occupied West Bank outside of refugee camps. (The Economist)

Another Palestinian is killed in the conflict in Syria. (Ma’an)

An Israeli court says Palestinian parents can attend the interrogation of young children detainees. (Ma’an)

A new study shows Jewish Americans have strong ties to Israel but increasingly divergent views. (Washington Post)

A poll shows most Israelis think the US is projecting weakness regarding Syria and Iran. (Jerusalem Post)

Gaza's ancient archaeology is being lost to neglect, looting and war. (Al Monitor)

Human Rights Watch says it can, for the first time, document a massacre of Alawite civilians in Syriaby Al Qaeda-style rebels. (New York Times/Human Rights Watch/Washington Post)

A fifth suspect is indicted by the tribunal investigating the murder of former Lebanese PM Hariri. (New York Times)

Iran cancels an anti-Israel conference as part of its outreach to the West. (AP)

Civilians in Sinai are caught in the battle between the Egyptian military and extremists. (BBC)

Abbas receives a phone call from Pres. Obama wishing all a happy Eid al-Adha. (PNN)


Commentary:

Alan Phillips says the destiny of "Area C" in the occupied West Bank holds the key to peace. (The National)

Ari Shavit says Israelis should remember 1974 as the year they "failed to repair the country." (Ha'aretz)

Uri Savir says without normalizing relations with each other, Israeli-Palestinian relationships will be abnormal by definition. (Jerusalem Post)

Leigh Cuen thinks "women's brains" may hold the key to Middle East peace. (Your Middle East)

Arad Nir says Israeli ties with Greece are no substitute for its strained alliance with Turkey. (Al Monitor)

Israeli extremist Dani Dayan explains his annexationist perspective. (Los Angeles Times)

Letty Cottin Pogrebin looks at the plight of Israel's Bedouins. (Moment)

Mazal Mualem interviews Israeli sociologist and one-state advocate Yehouda Shenhav. (Al Monitor)

Michael Young says the international community's reaction to killing in Syria and Lebanon reveals "humanitarian indifference." (The Daily Star)

Daniel DePetris says Syria cannot be trusted to deal honestly with its CW commitments. (Christian Science Monitor)

Rami Khouri says US-Iranian negotiations should be based on "respect and reciprocity." (Jordan Times)

George Hishmeh says Israel's nuclear weapons should also be an issue on the table. (Jordan Times)

H. A. Hellyer says the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood has to ask itself how it got into its crisis and what to do about it. (The National)

Osama Al Sharif says Tunisia may provide a better model than Egypt of how to incorporate Islamists into a democratic process. (Gulf News)

Nervana Mahmoud lists four reasons why the US shouldn't reduce aid to Egypt. (Al Monitor)

The New York Times says the US should help build a viable army and government in Libya. (New York Times)

News:

The PA and Syrian government agree to cooperate to protect Palestinian refugees remaining in Syria. (Ma'an)

Some experts say Israeli claims about Palestinian incitement are distorted or exaggerated. (JTA)

A rampage by masked settlers in the occupied West Bank forces a Palestinian school lockdown. (AP/Ma'an)

Settlers torch three Palestinian cars near Bethlehem. (Ma'an)

The PA asks UNESCO to probe Israeli measures in occupied East Jerusalem. (Xinhua)

A PLO official says Palestinians are seriously considering declaring peace talks with Israel a failure. (Jerusalem Post)

The "Tamarod" movement in Gaza calls for Nov. 11 rallies to oust Hamas rule. (Al Monitor/Azzaman)

Hamas asks to meet with Fatah to discuss Israel's policies in occupied East Jerusalem. (Jerusalem Post)

There is an outcry in Gaza over reductions in food aid due to an UNRWA budget shortfall. (New York Times)

Hamas supporters rally in Gaza in defense of the death penalty. (AFP)

Israel says a soldier was lightly wounded by shrapnel from ordinance fired from Syria. (New York Times)

Israeli forces destroy a Syrian canon post in response. (Xinhua)

Israeli military leaders foresee the potential for multi-front conflicts. (Xinhua)

Hamas says it has gotten jihadist groups in Gaza to agree to stop attacks against Israel. (Xinhua)

In Turkey, Hamas leader Mishaal calls for an end to negotiations with Israel and more armed struggle. (Ha'aretz)

The US announces a temporary suspension of some aid to Egypt. (New York Times)

Egypt criticizes the move. (Reuters)

Israel expresses dismay at the aid cut back to Egypt, and frets about its impact on the peace treaty. (New York Times)

A suicide bomb in Sinai kills three Egyptian soldiers and one policeman. (AP)

Libya's PM Zeidan is kidnapped and then released by a group of armed men. (France 24)

UNIFIL commends the prevailing calm on the Lebanese-Israeli border. (Xinhua)

The Palestinian consumer price index rose slightly in September. (PNN)

In an impoverished Arab town in Israel, women are learning literacy and leadership. (Ha'aretz)


Commentary:

Yigal Kipnis says newly released Israeli documents show the 1973 war was certainly avoidable. (Los Angeles Times)

Kifah Ziboun looks at the Hamas-Salafist rapprochement in Gaza. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Asmaa al-Ghoul says, despite all the rhetoric, the Egypt-Gaza border remains quiet for now. (Al Monitor)

Elias Harfoush says Arabs are paying the price for "Pres. Obama's deals." (Al Hayat)

Aviad Kleinberg says PM Netanyahu's deterministic approach to Mideast conflict breeds diplomatic blindness. (YNet)

Ilene Prusher interviews Aryeh King, a leading force behind Israel's push to colonize Palestinian areas in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ha'aretz)

Gershon Baskin insists that the Al-Aqsa Mosque is not in any danger, and that Palestinians have gone a long way towards independence. (Ma'an/Jerusalem Post)

Amos Harel says Israeli lobbying in Washington on Iran is walking a fine line with the Obama administration. (Ha'aretz)

Ron Kampeas says AIPAC's rhetoric about Iran echoes but does not mimic Netanyahu's. (JTA)

Linda Gradstein says Israel is nervous Iran wants a fake nuclear agreement with the West. (The Media Line)

Or Kashti says Israel can't really claim credit for Nobel prizes won by scientists who left the country 40 years ago. (Ha'aretz)

The Daily Star is alarmed by the cutback of US aid to Egypt, seeing it as symptomatic of a deeper Middle East policy malaise. (The Daily Star)

The Jerusalem Post says the future of Egypt's peace treaty with Israel is largely independent of US aid. (Jerusalem Post)

Asma Alsharif and Yasmine Saleh say Egypt's MOI, not army, was the main force behind the ouster of former Pres. Morsi. (Reuters)

Itamar Rabinovich says Israel benefits from the agreement on Syrian chemical weapons but worries about rising Russian influence in the region. (Al Monitor)

Hania Mourtada says there is no place for minorities in the Syrian opposition anymore. (Foreign Policy)

Osama Al Sharif says the Assad regime has managed to gain undeserved legitimacy of late. (Arab News)

News:

Christian leaders in Jerusalem protest what they say is an unprecedented wave of grave vandalismby Jewish extremists. (AP)

Israel reportedly refuses US and Palestinian requests to bring forward the next round of prisoner releases. (Xinhua/Ma'an/Ha'aretz)

US Middle East peace envoy Indyk is expanding his team of experts and advisers. (Al Monitor)

Israeli Finance Minister Lapid says Israel doesn't need Palestinian recognition it is a Jewish state. (Ha'aretz)

A Palestinian is injured by Israeli gunfire at a disturbance at a West Bank checkpoint. (Xinhua)

The PFLP urges Pres. Abbas to stop negotiations with Israel. (Xinhua)

Some Fatah officials are reportedly urging Abbas to designate jailed leader Marwan Barghouti his successor. (Times of Israel)

PLO Secretary-General Abed Rabbo reportedly calls PM Netanyahu "Israel's number one extremist." (Times of Israel)

MKs who violated Israeli law to meet Abbas in "Area A" say they did it in pursuit of peace. (The Media Line)

Hamas is under increasing pressure due to Egypt's intensifying blockade. (BBC)

Hamas chief Mashaal will meet PM Erdogan in Ankara. (Ma'an)

The PA and Hamas are quarreling over who from the occupied territories will make the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. (Los Angeles Times)

Hamas is holding the passports of 60 would-be pilgrims in Gaza. (Ma'an)

The US is rumored to be preparing to reduce aid to Egypt, but the White House strongly denies this. (New York Times/AP/USA Today)

Gunmen kill two Egyptian soldiers in canal cities. (Xinhua)

Libya says relations with the US won't be harmed by a recent raid in which a top Al Qaeda operative was captured. (AP)

Iran is reportedly offering a deal to reduce nuclear activity in exchange for sanctions relief. (Jerusalem Post)

An Israeli drone crashes into the Mediterranean. (Xinhua)

Israeli pilots have completed a workshop to train them to survive in enemy territory. (Xinhua)

Israeli women of the Machsom Watch group are united in opposing the occupation. (Deutsche Welle)


Commentary:

Hussein Shobokshi says American inaction in the Middle East has presented Russia with new opportunities. (Asharq Al Awsat)

The National says the new World Bank report on how much the occupation is costing Palestinians should help change more minds. (The National)

Hugh Naylor looks at how Bethlehem's economy is being strangled by the occupation. (The National)

Hazem Balousha says a potential US-Iran deal is worrying Islamic Jihad in Gaza. (Al Monitor)

Orit Perlov says both Hamas and Hezbollah must either reform or collapse. (INSS)

Marc Grey says two pending bills in the Knesset would muzzle Israel's minorities. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Bradley Burston says Netanyahu provides endless fodder for the anti-Israel left. (Ha'aretz)

Raif Zreik says the Oslo agreements changed everything for Israel's Palestinian citizens. (Ha'aretz)

The late Rabbi Yosef's legal advisor says he would have given up land for peace, including holy places in Jerusalem. (Al Monitor)

The CSM says one way to reduce tensions in Egypt is to stop using competing fatwas. (Christian Science Monitor)

Neta Alexander looks at the Palestinian movie "Omar" and the Israeli movie "Bethlehem." (Ha'aretz)

Nechama Duek underscores the importance of Israeli-Turkish relations. (YNet)

Dan Diker says a silent majority of Arabs agrees with Netanyahu's approach towards Iran. (Jerusalem Post)

The Jerusalem Post complains about various aspects of Abbas' meeting with Israeli MKs. (Jerusalem Post)

Hazem Saghieh says compromise in Tunisia might still save both the "Arab Spring" and the Muslim Brotherhood. (Al Hayat)

Al-Hayat interviews Egyptian FM Fahmy, who says relations with the US are "troubled." (Al Monitor)

Ehud Yaari looks at the durability of the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty. (WINEP)

News:

A new World Bank report says Palestinians lose billions every year because they lack access to"Area C," and prospects for recovery without it are dim. (World Bank/Ma'an/The Guardian/AP)

In a meeting with Israelis, Pres. Abbas expresses optimism peace can be achieved in nine months. (AP/New York Times)

The Likud-Yisrael Beitenu coalition chairman calls Israel's chief negotiator Livni a "puppet."(Jerusalem Post)

Abbas condemns an attack on a nine-year-old Israeli girl and says the PA should be allowed to apprehend the culprits. (YNet)

Israeli occupation forces arrest two men suspected of the attack. (Jerusalem Post)

Hamas complains Israel is allowing less than 30% of the population's needs into Gaza. (Xinhua)

Israeli opposition groups slam PM Netanyahu's recent hawkish, pro-settlement speech. (Xinhua)

Israel and the United States have reportedly assured the Palestinians the next round of prisoner release will come before the end of the month. (Xinhua)

Israeli police arrest a gang of Jewish youths accused of hate crimes against Palestinians. (Xinhua)

Over 80 Israeli soldiers enter the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday. (Ma'an)

Sinai extremists are increasingly targeting Egyptian government sites as the conflict intensifies. (New York Times)

The death of Shas' spiritual leader  Rabbi Ovadia Yosef has left a gap in Israeli politics. (AP)

Egypt's interim president makes his first visit to Saudi Arabia and receives a firm pledge of support from the King. (AP)

Four Saudi women become the first authorized to practice law in the Kingdom.  (Xinhua)

Free speech groups call for an end to Internet censorship in Jordan. (Reporters Without Borders)

In Israel archaeology is scientific, political and sometimes exaggerated. (The Media Line)

Pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian activists compete in Britain's vacation center, Brighton. (The National)

A video of sexual harassment in Gaza has gone viral online. (Al Monitor)

Hamas activists in Gaza are reportedly accusing politburo leader Mishaal of preferring life in exile. (Al Monitor)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish says the Muslim Brotherhood movement in the region may be dying, but Avi Issacharoff isn't so sure. (The National/Times of Israel)

Mohammad Salah asks what the Muslim Brotherhood was trying to achieve on "Victory Day." (Al Hayat)

Quentin Sommerville says the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood is proving resilient and its supporters will risk everything. (BBC)

Jeremy Ben-Ami says an Israeli-Palestinian two-state solution isn't an illusion, it's the only way to avoid more war. (Los Angeles Times)

Mostafa Zein says Pres. Obama and VP Biden protect Israel from itself. (Al Hayat)

Akiva Eldar says new data shows how much occupation is corrupting Israeli society. (Al Monitor)

Gershom Gorenberg looks at the real political meaning of Route 443, which runs from parts of Israel into the occupied West Bank. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed asks if Arab societies could really fight Al Qaeda without American support. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Arnold Eisen says Israel is in danger of losing the interest and support of the next generation of Jewish Americans. (Ha'aretz)

Alexa Stevens says Gaza auto racers struggle to compete abroad. (Ma'an)

Shmuel Rosner says Israelis are unnecessarily fretting about Jewish emigration from Israel, but Lior Dattel says Israel has the worst brain drain in developed nations. (New York Times/Ha'aretz)

Moshe Arens says Netanyahu's critics are suffering from "wishful thinking" about Iran. (Ha'aretz)

Hassan Barari says Israel's options are limited regarding Iran. (Jordan Times)

Haviv Rettig Gur says Netanyahu's tough talk merely reflects his grasp of the conflict. (Times of Israel)

The Daily Star says Netanyahu speech was "myopic." (The Daily Star)

David Horovitz complains about aspects of Abbas' meeting with Israeli MKs. (Times of Israel)

Tariq Alhomayed says there needs to be a serious inquiry into who, exactly, is funding extremist groups in Syria. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Asharq Al-Awsat interviews Egypt's interim president Mansour. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Tariq Al-Mubarak says it's time to change women's roles in Arab societies, especially in the Gulf. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Rami Khouri says Tunisia showing the Arab world the political path forward. (The Daily Star)

Mustafa al-Kadhimi interviews Iraqi PM al-Maliki, who says terrorism in Iraq is directly linked to the conflict in Syria. (Al Monitor)

Hussein Ibish says Arabs and Kurds in Syria should not fall into Pres. Assad's trap of fighting each other. (NOW)

NEWS:

The PA says security situation in the West Bank is under control amid security crackdown in Jenin. (Ma'an)

PM Netanyahu defends Jewish settlements, saying the roots of conflict with the Palestinians started in 1921, not with the occupation. (Xinhua/Guardian)

Israeli housing minister, Uri Ariel, says the West Bank will be under Israeli control forever, asking Netanyahu to provide weekly reports on the progress of peace talks. (PNN/Haaretz)

Palestinian rights groups call on the ICC to investigate commission of crimes in occupied territories without ratification by Palestine. (Guardian)

Palestinian child is found dead in Jenin village, and an Israeli child is wounded in an attack in the illegal settlement of Psagot, near Ramallah. (Ma'an)

Palestinian farmers in the northern West Bank return to their land for the first time in almost 40 years and began to plant olive trees. (PNN)

A new poll shows 74.8% of Israeli Jews believe the state can be both Jewish and democratic, and 30% say any peace deal should be approved by an Israeli Jewish majority in a referendum. (Ma'an/Jerusalem Post)

Nine Palestinian prisoners in Israel jails serve the longest sentences on earth. (Ma'an)

Israeli settlers raze agricultural lands in Salfit, West Bank, and Jerusalem police arrests perpetrators of Price Tag attacks. (Ma'an/Xinhua)

Israel issues demolition orders to six families living in the northern Jordan Valley. (Ma'an)

Ovadia Yosef, outspoken spiritual leader of Israel’s Sephardi Jews, dies at 93. (The Times of Israel)

Jordanian Goodwill campaign offers support to Palestinian refugees in Irbid. (Jordan Times)

A design of a theoretical Palestinian city in the West Bank shows how the right of return of Palestinian refugees could be implemented. (Haartez)

Fatwa issued by top religious authority in the West Bank permits Internet dating under certain circumstances. (LA Times)

Netanyahu's claim that Iranian youths not permitted to wear jeans or listen to music backfires on him. (New York Times/Haaretz)

Iranian FM Zarif wants broader diplomatic ties with the United States. (AP)

Iran still seeks to acquire Russian S-300 air defense missiles suspended Western and Israeli pressure on Russia since 2007. (ASharq Al-awsat)

A day of celebration in Egypt turns into bloody clashes between Muslim Brotherhood supporters and police. (AFP/New York Times/Times of Israel)

Sec. Kerry lauds Assad for quickly complying with Syria chemical weapons resolution. (Reuters)

Christians feel threatened as Islamist extremists gain more influence in Syria. (Washington Post)

35 were killed and 163 wounded in violent attacks in Iraq, and wave of deadly attacks in Egypt kills 8. (Xinhua/AP)

Commentary:

Yaakov Lappin warns from the current upsurge of violence against Israelis in West Bank. (Jerusalem Post)

Amos Harel says recent attacks against Israelis in the West Bank could worsen right-wing indignation of the peace talks. (Haaretz)

Mazin Qumsiyeh explores the other options the Palestinians have beside solganism and defeatism. (Ma'an)

Ayman Mustafa says it might be too early to talk about a comprehensive plan for the region despite the American-Iranian rapprochement . (Gulf News)

Bakir Oweida rejects Hamas' claim that Arabs missed the opportunity of liberating Gaza in Camp David and returning it to be administered by Egypt. (ASharq Al-awsat)

Oudeh Basharat depicts Netanyahu as the man of "nada," saying no even when the Palestinians make compromises, and the Iranians show signs of change. (Haaretz)

Jawad Anani says Netanyahu’s image is very similar to that he projected of Pres. Rouhani at the UN forum. (Jordan Times)

Reuven Pedatzur says the West sees Netanyahu as a troublemaker, trying to sabotage the best opportunity for U.S.-Iran rapprochement since the 1979 revolution.

Ben Caspit highlights the formation of a quiet Israeli-Sunni coalition aimed at countering Iran. (Al-Monitor)

Barry Rubin argues that Obama's plans of "comprehensive solution" in the Middle East will face failure. (Jerusalem Post)

Isabella Eisenberg says there is a hope for sectarian reconciliation in the Middle East, citing a rare story of reconciliation in Akkar, Lebanon. (The Daily Star).

James Traub portrays ISIS as the ultimate threat in Syria. (Foreign Policy)

Jean Aziz asks if Christians have future in the Middle East. (Al-Monitor)

The National Editorial says Tunisia’s roadmap is a cause for hope. (The National)

News:

The Egyptian military reportedly has contingency plans to intervene in Gaza if its troops keep gettingattacked in Sinai by groups based there. (Ma'an/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post)

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators will meet again Thursday, with American participation. (Ha'aretz)

US Special Envoy Indyk says that if an Israeli-Palestinian agreement is reached, it will be on final status issues. (JTA)

Israel's chief negotiator Livni says she is seeking a final status agreement with the Palestinians. (Jerusalem Post)

A new poll suggests a slight majority of Palestinians believe another intifada is likely if peace talks fail. (Xinhua)

Palestinians and others say the success of the Quartet's economic development plan depends on progress on peace. (Xinhua)

The EU says it is confident it can reach an agreement with Israel over its occupation guidelines. (Jerusalem Post)

An Arab women's group in Israel predicts a large increase in membership in local city councils after upcoming municipal elections. (Ha'aretz)

Saudi Arabia cancels its speech at UNGA for the first time ever over international inaction on Syria and Palestine. (Reuters/Jerusalem Post)

Hamas hangs a Palestinian man convicted of murder in Gaza. (AP/Xinhua)

Gaza university students are hit particularly hard by the intensified Egyptian closure. (Al Monitor)

Israel is easing restrictions on building materials being imported into Gaza. (NPR)

Sec. Kerry lays out American terms for negotiating with Iran. (New York Times)

DM Ya'alon says Israel disagrees with the United States about Iran. (Xinhua)

A "high-ranking Israeli official" says Israel and Arab states should cooperate on Iran. (Times of Israel)

Pres. Rouhani dismisses condemnations by PM Netanyahu. (New York Times)

Israeli opposition figures denounce Netanyahu's strong condemnations of Iran. (Xinhua)

Iran says it is optimistic over nuclear negotiations with the West, despite Israel's call for increased sanctions. (Xinhua)

Israeli occupation forces destroy a Palestinian Jordan Valley village for the fourth time. (Ma'an)

Palestinians say settlers destroy 50 olive trees near Hebron. (Ma'an)

Hamas officials prevent another Fatah leader from leaving Gaza. (Ma'an)

Henry Kissinger reportedly says if Israel prepared its nuclear weapons in 1973, the US was not informed. (Ha'aretz)

Kuwait will hold a second international Syria aid conference. (The National)

The US is reportedly trying to mediate a maritime border dispute between Israel and Lebanon. (Al Monitor)


Commentary:

Naela Khalil says tensions in Hebron are so volatile they could explode and disrupt the peace negotiations. (Al Monitor)

Palestinian politician Khalida Jarar says security cooperation and other factors will prevent a third intifada. (Times of Israel)

Al-Ahram Weekly thinks there are harbingers of a third intifada because of Israel's actions in occupied East Jerusalem. (Al-Ahram Weekly)

Gershon Baskin says Israeli and Palestinian leaders have not convinced their publics that peace is possible. (Jerusalem Post)

George Hishmeh says Netanyahu is displaying "shocking arrogance." (Gulf News)

Alan Dershowitz complains the New York Times distorted Netanyahu's UN speech. (Ha'aretz)

Shlomi Eldar says Netanyahu paid insufficient attention to peace and the Palestinians in his UN speech. (Al Monitor)

Responding to his critics, Ian Lustick warns against what he calls "two-state messianism." (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Ron Gerlitz and Jabir Asaqla say discrimination against Arab citizens of Israel is still rampant. (Ha'aretz)

Jacques Neriah asks if Hamas faces the same fate as the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. (JCPA)

Vali Nasr says the US shouldn't mistake signs of Iranian openness for weakness. (New York Times)

Elliott Abrams asks if the US and Israel are playing good cop/bad cop with Iran. (Foreign Affairs)

James Lunney says Canada's aid to the PA should be conditioned on its performance as a "peace partner." (Jerusalem Post)

David Pollock says Palestinian incitement against Israel remains a major problem. (Fathom)

Asharq Al-Awsat interviews Jordan’s Political Affairs Minister Khalid Al-Kalaldeh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Abdullah Iskandar says no one has a plausible plan for dealing with the "massacre" of 1,000 Iraqis in the past month. (Al Hayat)

Michael Young says, with the influx of people fleeing Syria, Lebanon is facing "a refugee problem from hell." (The Daily Star)

News:

Three more Palestinian refugees are killed in the Syrian conflict. (Ma'an)

A Palestinian man is killed by Israeli artillery shells fired into northern Gaza. (Xinhua)

The Israeli military says Palestinians shot recently near the Gaza border entered a "forbidden zone."(Jerusalem Post)

PM Netanyahu meets for hours with VP Biden and Sec. Kerry. (Jerusalem Post)

Arab media reports quote Western diplomats saying Israel's approach has meant peace talks have reached "a dead end." (Jerusalem Post)

The Middle East Quartet unveils its economic plan for Palestine. (AFP)

Pres. Peres says poverty is more dangerous than terror in the Middle East. (Times of Israel)

Israeli occupation forces arrest 11 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank Tuesday night. (Ma'an)

Egyptian authorities say they will open the Gaza crossing for pilgrims and humanitarian reasons untilFriday. (Ma'an)

Gaza smuggling tunnels lie idle under a heavy Egyptian crackdown. (AP)

Jordan sends a formal complaint to the UN about Israel's "violations" in occupied East Jerusalem. (PNN/Jordan Times)

Test results on the remains of the late Pres. Arafat are being delayed because of a dispute between the PA and his widow. (Xinhua)

The Ma'an news agency suspends work in Gaza and seeks damages from Hamas. (Ma'an)

The visit of Israeli fashion designers to a West Bank town sparks controversy among Palestinians. (Xinhua)

The PA legalizes online dating. (Jerusalem Post)

A bureaucratic typo dubbing a Palestinian man a terrorist has deeply complicated his life. (Times of Israel)

Netanyahu denounces Pres. Rouhani. (New York Times)

DM Ya'alon says Western engagement with Iran is based on "wishful thinking." (Times of Israel)

The prospect of any Israeli attack against Iranian targets appears off the table for the meanwhile,despite tough rhetoric. (AP/AFP)

Almost 1000 people have been killed in Iraq in the past month. (New York Times)

Israeli builders in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights come under fire from across the frontier. (Xinhua)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish previews the Oct. 29 ATFP 10th Anniversary Gala. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

HRH Prince El-Hassan Bin Talal says Israel should move from exceptionalism to regional partnership. (Ha'aretz)

Jonathan Cook says the situation for Hamas and Gaza is desperate and unsustainable. (The National)

Husam Itani says Hezbollah acts as an occupying force in areas under its control. (Al Hayat)

Rami Khouri says US-Israeli relations have reached a critical stage, testing its resilience. (The Daily Star)

Amira Hass doubts the domestic American political system is capable of putting significant pressure on Israel. (Ha'aretz)

The New York Times says Pres. Obama should not let Netanyahu sabotage diplomacy with Iran. (New York Times)

The Jerusalem Post says Obama and Netanyahu have found a working relationship for the meanwhile. (Jerusalem Post)

Amos Harel says, deep down, Netanyahu knows it's time for diplomacy with Iran. (Ha'aretz)

Ron Kampeas says Netanyahu subtly left open the door for diplomacy with Iran. (JTA)

Ariella Ringel-Hoffman says Israel should consciously embrace the change in Iranian rhetoric. (YNet)

Yehezkel Dror says Netanyahu should appeal directly to the Arab and Islamic worlds. (Ha'aretz)

Jason Hamacher says the Syria he knows is now in ruins. (Washington Post)

Hassan Hassan says Islamists are winning in Syria, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. (Foreign Policy)

Shlomi Eldar says both Israelis and Palestinians have false narratives about the second intifada. (Al Monitor)

Al Hayat interviews Fatah leader Jibril Rajoub on national reconciliation and other issues. (Al Hayat/Al Monitor)

Alan Elsner says it's time to move beyond lip service and really achieve a two-state solution. (Huffington Post)

Patrick Martin says Palestinians have little to show for last year's UN status upgrade. (Globe and Mail)

Hugh Naylor interviews Raja Shehadeh about his work documenting life under Israeli occupation. (The National)

News:

Pres. Abbas vows not to withdraw from peace talks with Israel. (Xinhua)

Pres. Obama urges PM Netanyahu to speed up peace talks with the Palestinians. (Ha'aretz)

VP Biden tells the J Street conference regional instability presents opportunities for peace. (JTA)

Obama and Netanyahu express unity on Iran and other issues. (New York Times)

Netanyahu urges the continuation of sanctions against Iran. (Los Angeles Times)

Iran's FM calls Netanyahu "a liar." (AP)

Iranians are caught between dueling narratives about their overtures to the United States. (New York Times)

Gulf states are carefully watching the development of Iran-related issues. (The Media Line)

Palestinians say Israeli soldiers killed a man near the Gaza border area. (AP/Xinhua)

Israel's military confirms the man it killed was unarmed. (Ha'aretz)

Palestinians are going to petition Israel's High Court to reclaim Jordan Valley land from settlers. (Ha'aretz)

Israeli police say there has been a surge of "price tag" hate crime vandalism in Jerusalem. (Xinhua)

GDP at constant prices in Palestine increased during the 2nd quarter of 2013 compared to last year's parallel quarter. (PNN)

Following a month-long student strike over tuition hikes, Birzeit University will commence classes. (PNN)


Commentary:

Barak Ravid says, despite deep differences, Netanyahu got what he wanted from Obama. (Ha'aretz)

Hassan Barari says Iranian reconciliation with the West and its neighbors will take more than just a moderate leader. (Jordan Times)

Peter Galbraith says Obama may prove a triple-winner on Iran, Syria and Russia. (The Daily Star)

Ha'aretz urges Netanyahu to stop "sowing fear" diplomatically. (Ha'aretz)

Hagai Segal says Netanyahu has no choice but to be a "constant nagger" about the threat of Iran. (YNet)

Kevin Connolly questions whether Israel will be able to keep the West skeptical about Iran. (BBC)

Alon Pinkas says Netanyahu is making a big mistake by turning Iran into "Israel's issue." (Ha'aretz)

Doyle McManus asks how long Iran's charm offensive can be effective. (Los Angeles Times)

Russell Sticklor suggests ways of dealing with what he thinks is an upcoming Middle East region-wide water crisis. (Christian Science Monitor)

Amira Hass says the Middle East Quartet needs to push Israel to lift restrictions on Palestinians. (Ha'aretz)

Paul Gross says the US is indispensable to the Middle East. (Jerusalem Post)

David Newman says right-wing extremist groups are hijacking Zionism. (Jerusalem Post)

Neve Gordon says Israelis and Palestinians could consider "consociational government" as another model to the traditional two-state solution. (Los Angeles Times)

Shmuel Rosner complains European diplomats keep provoking Israeli soldiers in the occupied territories. (Al Monitor)

Naela Khalil explains how a Hamas leader is embroiled in a scandal over an "honor killing" in the West Bank. (Al Monitor)

Anna Lekas Miller says Congress should not be facilitating Israeli discrimination against Americans. (The Nation)

Sandy Tolan remembers Edward Said. (PNN)