News:

Sec. Kerry meets PM Netanyahu to try to advance peace talks. (AP/AFP)

Kerry is pushing both sides on the new American security proposal. (Washington Post)

Pres. Abbas reportedly explains his concerns about US security proposal to Kerry. (Xinhua)

Kerry may be pushing for a summit meeting between Netanyahu and Abbas. (Times of Israel)

Kerry's mission is taking place amid a rapidly changing regional landscape. (Wall Street Journal)

The EU reportedly proposes massive incentives including billions of euros to Israel and the Palestinians to make peace. (Ha'aretz)

Other European measures are rekindling Israeli fears of widespread boycotts. (Financial Times)

After a massive outcry from many quarters, Israel postpones plans for mass forced Bedouin relocation. (New York Times/AP/Times of Israel)

1,000 Bedouins are still facing eviction in the Negev desert. (AFP)

A Palestinian teenager is indicted for stabbing an Israeli soldier. (Times of Israel)

Israeli and Palestinian officials agree to coordinate civilian emergency responses. (Jerusalem Post)

Palestinians express concern that divisions between nationalists and Islamists become almost permanent. (AP)

Hamas cancels all anniversary celebrations due to terrible finances and weather conditions. (Ma'an)

Arab foreign ministers will meet in Cairo on December 21 to discuss the Palestinian issue. (Xinhua)

The EU and Israel finalize a new air traffic agreement. (Ha'aretz)

Hillel's leadership insists it will enforce limitations on free speech despite the recent vote at Swarthmore. (JTA)

The White House announces new list of Iranian companies to be targeted by existing sanctions. (New York Times/AP)

Iran criticizes the new sanctions list. (Xinhua)

UN says chemical weapons have been repeatedly used in Syria. (New York Times/AP)

Former CIA chief Hayden says a victory for Pres. Assad in Syria is "the best of three very bad outcomes." (AFP)

Many are feared killed in a rebel attack near Damascus. (AP)

Syrian refugees in Jordan complain about bad and worsening conditions. (Xinhua)

A film critiquing the Saudi Royal family opens in Damascus. (AP)

A drone strike in Yemen kills 11 people, including Al Qaeda suspects and civilians. (New York Times)

Drone strikes in Yemen are gaining Al Qaeda new sympathy. (Reuters)

22 inmates reportedly escape prison in Iraq in a violent breakout. (AP/Reuters)

Egyptian DM Sisi reportedly says of the late Pres. Sadat appeared to him in a dream. (Times of Israel)

Tunisian parties agree on a new prime minister to lead a caretaker government. (BBC)

A new report suggests the Arab film industry operating well below its potential. (Xinhua)

Saudi Arabia's grand mufti deems suicide bombers "criminals." (AFP)

Turkey reaches out to Armenia but offers no apology. (Al Monitor)

Commentary:

Jonathan Brown says Palestinians can't go running anymore without fear of getting shot by Israeli soldiers. (The Economist)

Mustafa Barghouti explains what Nelson Mandela meant to the Palestinian people. (Foreign Policy)

The Daily Star says the US needs to show that it can start to stand up to Israel on peace. (The Daily Star)

Matthew Kalman satirizes the peace process as if it were a Hollywood film. (Daily Beast)

Roy Isacowitz says if Netanyahu is sincerely praising Mandela, he knows where that logic leads. (Ha'aretz)

Zvi Hauser looks at new difficulties regarding a possible Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. (Ha'aretz)

Nathan Guttman says the American Studies Association vote supporting boycotting Israel is symbolically important but will have little practical impact. (The Forward)

Yossi Alpher looks at how regional dynamics are affecting Israeli-Palestinian peace prospects. (NOREF)

Paul Adams says the rise of Syrian Islamists is causing many to rethink the future of Assad. (BBC)

Asharq Al-Awsat interviews Syrian opposition's interim government PM Tu’mah. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

James Denselow says the US can't do much to stop the fighting in Syria until it develops a grand strategy for the region. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Andrew Parasiliti interviews Samy Gemayel about Hezbollah's intervention in Syria and its impact in Lebanon. (Al Monitor)

Nasser Chararah says Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli has become a microcosm of the Syrian conflict. (Al Monitor)

Lally Weymouth interviews Tunisian politicians Rachid Ghannouchi and Beji Caid Essebsi. (Washington Post)

The CSM notes that senior Muslim clerics are becoming more angrily outspoken against suicide bombings. (Christian Science Monitor)

The Gulf News says Gulf states are right to welcome Iran's new, more "moderate" posture. (Gulf News)

Alan Philps says Russia is in no position to become a major player in the Middle East. (The National)

News:

Sec. Kerry is back in the region pursuing Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and more. (Reuters/AFP)

Pres. Abbas is reportedly under pressure to accept the new US security proposal. (Xinhua)

Palestinians confirm they will complete the established negotiation timeframe despite frustrations. (Xinhua)

Palestinian sources reportedly say Kerry is dooming the peace talks by siding with Israel. (Ha'aretz)

The EU's Court of Auditors says aid to the PA needs to an "overhaul" and some major changes. (AFP)

The PA says it is still sending Palestinian patients for treatment overseas despite heavy costs. (Ma’an)

The UN condemns Israel's destruction of 30 Palestinian properties in the occupied territories. (AFP)

Israel's chief negotiator Livni says settlement construction outside the large blocs harm Israel's security. (Ha'aretz)

Israel slams a Dutch water company for cutting ties to Israel over settlement activity. (AP/Xinhua)

The Dutch move is only part of a growing trend in Europe to isolate settlements and occupation. (The Media Line)

British NGOs complain about UK participation in the development of a new Israeli drone. (The Guardian)

Palestinians draw parallels between their own fight for independence and Mandela's anti-apartheid struggle. (The Guardian)

The PLO criticizes the President of Guatemala for visiting Israeli institutions in occupied East Jerusalem. (PNN)

10 years after a bloody siege, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is undergoing a facelift. (New York Times/AP)

A blood collection crew in Israel's parliament refuses a donation from an Ethiopian-born MK. (Reuters/AFP)

Jerusalem experiences its heaviest snows in many years. (Xinhua/Washington Post/Ha'aretz)

International news organizations call on Syrian factions to stop kidnapping journalists. (New York Times/AP)

The UK joins the US in halting all nonlethal aid to northern Syria. (AP)

Extremist rebels reportedly storm a suburb of Damascus killing many people. (Xinhua)

Detained at sea, many Syrian refugees now find themselves stranded in an Egyptian limbo. (Christian Science Monitor)

Israeli artists take a new approach to depicting Pres. Assad. (Christian Science Monitor)

A key White House adviser says the growth of extremism in Syria may actually be a key to ending the conflict. (Foreign Policy)

Sec. Hagel's visit to a huge US military base in Qatar reveals much. (New York Times)

Bickering continues between political and military and paramilitary leaders in Iran. (New York Times)

Egyptian riot police use water cannons and tear gas against protesters. (Reuters)

More Egyptian judges recuse themselves in trials of Muslim Brotherhood leaders. (AP)

Tunisia says it plans to hold elections before the end of 2014. (Asharq Al Awsat)

The UAE will host a GCC defense think tank for the study of common security threats. (The National)

Commentary:

Elias Groll thinks the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is no longer a top US priority. (Foreign Policy)

Gershon Baskin says he suspects more progress is being made in peace talks and most people think. (Jerusalem Post)

Brent Budowsky says he's not optimistic but Kerry is waging a valiant one-man battle for "common interests and common sense." (The Hill)

Emily Hauser sees many flaws in the recent Israel-PA-Jordan water agreement. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Nathan Jeffay asks if imprisoned Fatah leader Barghouti could prove the "Mandela of the Palestinians." (The Forward)

Chemi Shalev says Israel is inching closer to an international South Africa-style boycott regime. (Ha'aretz)

Israel's new opposition leader Herzog calls PM Netanyahu "an enigma." (AP)

Israel Harel says pro-Israel loyalists should support Netanyahu. (Ha'aretz)

George Hishmeh says Israeli leaders avoided Mandela's funeral fearing "a trial and oral whiplashing." (Gulf News)

Ari Shavit says, after missing its top leaders avoided Mandela's funeral, Israel must restore its international moral credibility. (Ha'aretz)

Osama Al Sharif says Mandela's Middle East legacy may be realized when Israel is ready for peace in Palestine. (Arab News)

Chaim Levinson points out that in the occupied West Bank home construction rules are changed depending on whether the owners are Arabs or Jews. (Ha'aretz)

Monika Halkort looks at the rebuilding of the Nahr el Bared Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon. (Open Democracy)

Andy Bachman says censorship at campus Hillel organizations goes against Jewish traditions. (The Forward)

David Ignatius says Pres. Obama's realistic, pragmatic foreign policy recalls the days of Kissinger and Baker. (Washington Post)

Nicola Nasser says, with friends like Kerry, the Palestinians need no enemies. (Arab News)

El Hassan bin Talal says between violence, kidnappings and a harsh winter facing refugees, the brutality of the Syrian conflict is laid bare. (Jordan Times)

The National says aid for Syrian refugees will be a test of Iran's intentions. (The National)

Rym Ghazal looks at life in the Zaatari refugee camp on the Jordan and Syria borders. (The National)

Yaron Friedman says, despite shared interests, there is little chance of Israeli-Saudi normalization. (YNet)

Jacky Hugi agrees there will be no formal, or even informal, Israeli-Saudi alliance against Iran. (Al Monitor)

Francis Matthews says Gulf states are extremely concerned at the drift in American policies. (Gulf News)

Joseph Kechichian looks of the evolving structure of the GCC. (Gulf News)

Mustafa Akyol says the Erdogan-Gulen rift should make Turkey stronger. (New York Times)

News:

Israeli occupation forces shoot dead a 14-year-old child in the back near Ramallah. (Xinhua)

Thousands mourn the dead Palestinian child. (Ma'an)

A Palestinian teenager is seriously injured as unidentified device explodes south of Hebron. (Ma'an)

Palestinians mourn Nelson Mandela as an inspiration for their own liberation. (AP/Times of Israel)

Pres. Abbas will go to South Africa for Mandela's funeral. (Ma'an)

PM Netanyahu will not attend Mandela's funeral due to "high costs." (Los Angeles Times/Ha'aretz)

The US security proposal reportedly includes some residual Israeli military presence in Jordan Valley. (Ha'aretz)

PLO SG Abed Rabbo accuses the US of appeasing Israel over Iran at the Palestinians' expense. (Reuters/YNet)

US Amb. Shapiro says there is no link between US policy on Iran and Israeli-Palestinian talks. (Jerusalem Post)

Palestinians say they won't accept any further delays in a third round of prisoner release. (Xinhua)

The Israeli military seizes a Palestinian home in the occupied territories despite a court ruling. (Ha'aretz)

Netanyahu says any peace with the Palestinians will likely be a "cold" one. (AP)

Israel says it's about to sign a "historic" agreement with Jordan and the PA to protect the Dead Sea. (AFP/Times of Israel)

An East Jerusalem photographer says he was badly mistreated when trying to cover a Netanyahu event. (Ha'aretz)

Israeli Finance Minister Lapid pledges his party's support for peace efforts. (Reuters)

Pres. Shimon Peres says he's willing to meet Pres. Rouhani. (Xinhua)

The Dutch PM says he has no idea why Israel won't let scanner be used for exports to West Bank. (Ha'aretz)

Because of Israel's refusal about the scanner, the Dutch PM angrily cancels a dedication ceremony. (Ha'aretz)

The UK government warns its citizens against doing business in Israeli settlements. (Ha'aretz)

Egypt's blockade is taking a heavier toll on Gaza businesses. (Reuters)

Gaza's power crisis is intensifying as winter approaches. (Ma'an)

The World Health Organization expresses concern about the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. (Ma'an)

Palestinians in Gaza spoof a noted Volvo ad. (ABC)

Bedouins in Israel see a forced mass relocation plan as a threat to their way of life. (New York Times)

Benny Begin, who was in charge of formulating the Bedouin relocation plan, denies they agreed to it. (YNet)

The first International Film Festival on Nakba and Return is held in Tel Aviv and Jaffa. (Ma'an)

Jordanian officials criticize Israel's "systematic and repeated violations" against Christian and Muslim holy places in occupied East Jerusalem. (Xinhua)

The OECD urges Israel to fight unemployment among Arab and ultra Orthodox citizens. (Xinhua)

Israelis and Palestinians are trying to build bridges by working together to control sewage. (Christian Science Monitor)

Israeli officials say an explosion in the occupied Golan Heights deliberately targeted their forces. (New York Times)

Syrian government troops seize control of a key strategic highway. (AP)

The head of the Syrian National Coalition fears the US-Iranian thaw could benefit the Syrian dictatorship. (Reuters)

Syrian refugees in Jordan are turning to desperate measures. (The National)

The number of Palestinians fighting in reportedly Syria on the rise. (Times of Israel)

At least 45 people, mostly Shiites, are killed in a wave of bombings in Iraq. (New York Times/AP)

A car bomb near an Iraqi cafe used by Sunni militia kills 11. (Reuters)

Al Qaeda-linked groups are gaining ground in Iraq are gaining ground in Iraq. (Washington Post)

Kurdish PKK militants capture four Turkish soldiers, but then free them. (Reuters/Xinhua)

The leader of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood appears in court. (Reuters)

Egypt releases 21 female protesters. (AP)

More students protest at Egypt's Al-Azhar university. (AP)

Jordan wins a seat, that was refused by Saudi Arabia, on the UN Security Council. (AFP)

Plans for a EU-style GCC upgrade hit a snag with Omani and other objections. (The National)

The US naval presence in the Gulf is a crucial part of the strategy of keeping pressure on Iran. (New York Times)

Arab officials express unease about Iran's new posture and the West's engagement with. (Reuters)

Commentary:

Pres. Obama and Sec. Kerry separately address US Middle East policy at a Brookings forum. (Brookings)

MK Ahmad Tibi the says the peace process is failing. (Foreign Policy)

Raphael Ahren says Obama appeared more inflexible on Israeli concerns about Iran but more empathetic regarding concerns about the Palestinians. (Times of Israel)

Ron Ben-Yishai tries to decipher what Obama is saying to Israelis. (YNet)

Hassan Barari says US can't yet claim to be an "honest broker" between Israel and the Palestinians. (Arab News)

Netanyahu and FM Lieberman also address the Brookings gathering. (Brookings)

David Horovitz says Netanyahu avoided confrontation but did imply condescension. (Times of Israel)

Mustapha Karkouti says Netanyahu is increasingly isolated over Iran. (Gulf News)

David Patrikarakos says the US and Iran can turn from adversaries to allies. (New York Times)

Hussein Ibish says if Arab states are uneasy about the trajectory of US policy, they should do more to engage the Washington policy conversation. (The National)

Amer Al Sabaileh says apparent pullback of American engagement in the Middle East opens opportunities for Germany. (Jordan Times)

Theodore Sasson says the Iran agreement means Jewish-American groups have lost clout. (The Forward)

Ataollah Mohajerani says Israel is trying to use Iran to distract attention from the Palestinian issue. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Ori Nir says Palestinian resistance to occupation shouldn't mean refusing to talk to Israelis. (Ha'aretz)

Bill Van Esveld thinks Palestinians should seek justice at the ICC. (Ma'an)

Amira Hass looks of the intricacies of "Israeli apartheid." (Ha'aretz)

Ha'aretz says Bedouin citizens of Israel must be allowed the right to protest. (Ha'aretz)

J.J. Goldberg asks why there's such a huge divide between Israeli security officials and politicians. (The Forward)

Bernard Avishai looks at deep divisions in Israel over Iran. (The New Yorker)

Lally Weymouth interviews Libyan PM Zeidan. (Washington Post)

The Los Angeles Times says the US needs to be wary about a more aggressive policy in Syria. (Los Angeles Times)

Abdulrahman Al-Rashed says the Assad dictatorship is "playing dirty" to crush the opposition. (Arab News)

Rami Khouri says Islamist militants pose a real threat to all in Syria. (The Daily Star)

James Traub compares and contrasts the founding of Israel and the United States. (Foreign Policy)

Marwan Asmar says Jordan is ready to be an active member of the UN Security Council. (Gulf News)

Nathan Brown and Michelle Dunn say the new draft Egyptian Constitution rewards the military and judiciary. (Carnegie)

Mshari Al-Zaydi complains about "vulgar," absurd comparisons between Mandela and former Pres. Morsi and Azmi Bishara. (Asharq Al Awsat)

News:

Israel, Jordan and the PA sign a historic agreement on water cooperation. (Washington Post/Los Angeles Times)

Sec. Kerry is again headed to the Middle East and Asia, as both parties warn of possible "failure."(AP/AFP)

The US' Israeli-Palestinian security proposal reportedly allows Israel a 10 year military presence in the Jordan Valley. (Ha'aretz)

Both sides have voiced doubts about the proposal. (Jerusalem Post)

A new poll shows a majority of both Israelis and Palestinians favor a two-state solution if the other side does too. (USIP)

PM Netanyahu and Pres. Peres are both mistakenly listed as in attendance at Nelson Mandela's funeral. (Times of Israel)

Jewish Israeli extremists conduct a "price tag" attack against Palestinians inside northern Israel.(Xinhua/Ma'an/YNet)

Israeli settlers attack a Palestinian park near Nablus. (Ma'an)

Israeli occupation forces destroy a Palestinian home and several other structures near Nablus. (Ma'an)

Israel army recruits tour the al-Aqsa mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem. (Ma'an)

The New York Times prepare a map of Bedouin villages in Israel facing forced relocation. (New York Times)

Israel will allow building materials into Gaza, but only for UN projects. (New York Times)

PM Hamdallah says the PA is working on an access to information law. (PNN)

Some Palestinians seem to embrace Mandela more as a fighter than a peacemaker, at least for now. (Christian Science Monitor)

Hamas leader Zahar says his organization renewed ties with Iran following Pres. Rouhani's election. (AFP/Jerusalem Post)

The Gaza energy crisis has electricity operating for a quarter of every day. (The Media Line)

Al Jazeera reportedly fired a journalist for questioning its murder theory about the death of the late Pres. Arafat. (Washington Free Beacon)

Israel is now a leading manufacturer of drone aircraft. (The Media Line)

Swarthmore's Hillel, in defiance of the broader organization, rejects prohibiting BDS and other controversial speech. (JTA)

PM Netanyahu explains what Israel seeks in a broader international agreement with Iran. (Xinhua)

The Syrian army is attacking rebels in mountains near Lebanon. (AP)

A Spanish daily says to its journalists have been kidnapped in Syria. (AP/BBC)

Iraqi forces clash with militias near the Syrian border. (New York Times)

Urban inflation in Egypt is soaring, adding to risks of social unrest. (Reuters)

A US drone strike kills three Al Qaeda operatives in Yemen. (AP)

Saudi Arabia urges the GCC to stick together for security reasons. (AFP)

Iran and the UAE are reportedly close to deal on the Hormuz Islands. (Defense News)

Commentary:

Jeffrey Goldberg says, if Israelis don't think they have a Palestinian peace partner, they have nothing to lose by making the most forthcoming peace offer possible. (Bloomberg)

Nahum Barnea says the American security proposal has robbed Netanyahu of his most cherished excuses against peace. (YNet)

Ha'aretz says Israel's opposition to Kerry's security proposal is based purely on ideology. (Ha'aretz)

The Daily Star calls the American security proposal "a bad deal" for the Palestinians. (The Daily Star)

Shlomi Eldar thinks Kerry has a reason for his often-repeated optimism on Israeli-Palestinian peace. (Al Monitor)

Aeyal Gross says Israel's closing of the investigation into the death of a Palestinian protester shows its disregard for human rights. (Ha'aretz)

Khaled Diab says it would take more than a leader of Mandela's character to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Ha'aretz)

Bradley Burston says Netanyahu has shown what kind of person he is by declining to attend Mandela's funeral. (Ha'aretz)

Sima Kadmon says Netanyahu's excuse that traveling to  South Africa would cost too much is an insult to the intelligence. (YNet)

Zvi Bar'el says Netanyahu is just using Iran to put off peace with the Palestinians. (Ha'aretz)

Mazal Mualem says Netanyahu has left himself few diplomatic options. (Al Monitor)

Victor Kotsev says the walls are closing in on Hamas. (The Daily Star)

Naela Khalil says the concern about Al Qaeda sympathizers in the West Bank is more about the future than the present. (Al Monitor)

Debra Kamin asks if Israel and Qatar can learn to be friends again. (Times of Israel)

Ari Briggs says Israel is just trying to enforce law and order on Bedouins. (Jerusalem Post)

AP interviews the head of the Egyptian Constitution-drafting committee, Amr Mousa. (AP)

Ahmet Uzumcu, head of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), urges Israel and others to join the chemical weapons treaty. (Reuters)

Richard Cohen looks at Ari Shavit’s new book about Israel, good and bad. (Washington Post)

Doyle McManus says Kerry is emerging as the unexpected star of the second term Obama White House. (Los Angeles Times)

Douglas Brinkley says Kerry has a simple doctrine: go big or go home. (Foreign Policy)

Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed says the focus of the Damascus dictatorship and its allies has been and remains to crush the Free Syrian Army. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Leon Panetta says he regrets the lack of a US strike on Syrian targets, among other misgivings. (Foreign Policy)

Elliott Higgins completely dismisses Seymour Hersh's recent article alleging chemical weapons used by Syrian rebels. (Foreign Policy)

Frank Kane interviews prominent Qatari royal Sheikh Mohamed bin Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani. (The National)

Madawi Al-Rasheed says Omani rejection of the proposed GCC union adds insult to injury for Saudi Arabia. (Al Monitor)

Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi says the peoples of the Gulf should unite to face an uncertain future. (Arab News)

Abdulkhaleq Abdulla says it's become impossible for the Gulf states to trust the US to way they used to. (Gulf News)

Asharq Al-Awsat interviews Libya's PM Zeidan (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Maxim Suchkov asks if Russia is preparing to exploit Kurdish issues for its own purposes. (Al Monitor)

Faisal Al Yafai says political lobbying by Arabs in the West must start of the grassroots. (The National)

News:

Sec. Kerry and Pres. Abbas will discuss the new US security proposal in Ramallah on Thursday. (Xinhua)

Kerry calls negotiations with Iran "a hinge point in history." (Jerusalem Post)

Israelis and Palestinians seem to agree that peace talks are not progressing. (Ha'aretz)

Palestinians raise the prisoner release issue in international forums. (Jerusalem Post)

A major Dutch water company severs ties to an Israeli company over settlement activity. (Ha'aretz)

Israelis express concern PM Netanyahu's skipping Mandela's funeral fuels accusations Israel is an apartheid state. (Christian Science Monitor)

South African Jews and Blacks join together to slam Netanyahu's "disgraceful" decision. (The Forward

In a eulogy to the late South African leader, Marwan Barghouti vows to "honor Mandela's struggle."(Ha'aretz)

Netanyahu cancels an appearance at a US reform Jewish meeting as well. (Ha'aretz)

Romania angers Israel by refusing to allow its workers to help settlement construction. (AFP)

The EU says the PA should stop paying public employees in Gaza who don't work. (AP)

A group of Israelis is trying to draw up a "grand strategy" for the country. (Jerusalem Post)

A Palestinian man is stabbed by a group of "religious" Israelis in West Jerusalem. (Ma'an)

More details emerge about a "price tag" attack Monday by Jewish extremists on Palestinian citizens of Israel. (Xinhua)

The PA policeman is killed by unknown assailants near Bethlehem. (Ma'an)

Palestinians see a worrying rise in "honor killings." (Reuters)

More women in Gaza are learning karate. (The Media Line)

Palestinians complain their "most fertile meadow" is at risk due to corruption. (Ma'an)

10 years on, Palestinians put a patriotic spin on the siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. (Times of Israel)

The U.S. Congress increases funding for Israel's missile defense programs. (YNet)

A human rights lawyer is now among four people recently kidnapped by Islamist extremists in Syria. (New York Times/Washington Post/Foreign Policy)

Egypt frees detained Syrian and Palestinian refugees. (Xinhua/Ma'an)

Israel passes a law allowing the detention of African migrants for up to a year without any process. (New York Times)

A former Israeli military chief reportedly says the country prefers Pres. Assad over Islamist rebels. (Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)

Western Muslim radicals fighting in Syria are using social media to attract more recruits. (AFP)

Lebanon is increasingly worried Syrian refugees will be staying indefinitely. (New York Times/NOW)

Syrian refugees are being hit hard by winter snowstorms. (Reuters)

Wounded and disabled Syrian refugees are the hardest hit. (The Media Line)

The UN says the EU must do more to help Syrian refugees. (Reuters)

The US is suspending its non-lethal aid program in northern Syria. (Reuters)

Hillel reprimands its Swarthmore chapter over a recent vote in favor of free speech. (JTA)

13 Sunnis and 12 Shiites are killed in another spate of attacks in Iraq. (New York Times)

Egypt says it will hold its constitutional referendum in January. (Asharq Al Awsat)

The US may have underestimated the amount of sanctions relief Iran will receive under the interim nuclear agreement. (Ha'aretz)

Sec. Hagel tours a low-profile US base in Qatar, as the two countries sign a new defense accord. (AP/Reuters)

The US says it is "not expecting a Gulf union soon." (The National)

The GCC steps closer to an EU-style union, and creates a joint military command. (The National/AP)

Commentary:

Ron Kampeas says Israel and the US seem to be closer on a framework agreement for peace, but the Palestinians perhaps not. (JTA)

Ben Caspit calls Kerry the "evangelist of Israeli security and Palestinian peace." (Al Monitor)

Osama Al Sharif says Mandela's legacy to Palestinians is the belief in their own freedom. (Jordan Times)

Susan Collin Marks says Mandela's example can show the way forward in the Arab world. (The Daily Star)

Ha'aretz says Netanyahu's absence at Mandela's funeral is a symbol of Israel's growing isolation because of the occupation. (Ha'aretz)

The Forward agrees skipping Mandela's funeral is Israel enforcing its own international isolation. (The Forward)

Ali Ibrahim says Mandela showed that politicians don't have the luxury of revenge. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Aluf Benn recalls how apartheid era South Africa saved Israel's defense industry. (Ha'aretz)

Amir Oren and Avi Shilon separately recalls and contextualizes Israel's alliance with apartheid-era South Africa. (Ha'aretz)

Amira Hass says senseless acts of violence like the recent killing of a Palestinian teenager are the likely trigger for a third intifada. (Ha'aretz)

Jonathan Cook says as Bedouin villages are destroyed, so too are hopes for Palestinian peace deal. (The National)

Ben Sales looks at the unlikely coalition opposing forced mass Bedouin relocation in Israel. (JTA)

Dan Diker says a plausible alternative to a two-state solution is a three-way confederation with Jordan. (Jerusalem Post)

The Gulf News says Hamas shouldn't look to Iran for support. (Gulf News)

Bradley Burston says it's becoming difficult for Jewish Americans to love and Israel with warped values. (Ha'aretz)

Melanie Ward says nothing that happens in occupied Hebron makes any rational sense. (Ha'aretz)

Rami Khouri praises the American Studies Association support for boycotting Israel, but The Forward calls it hypocritical. (The Daily Star/The Forward)

Graham Liddell interviews Palestinian filmmaker Mais Darwazah. (Ma'an)

Nasser Chararah notes that Hezbollah is escalating its rhetoric against Saudi Arabia. (Al Monitor)

Anthony Cordesman says more Gulf cooperation is needed to protect vulnerable assets. (The National)

News:

Sec. Kerry reportedly presents new security ideas to PM Netanyahu and Pres. Abbas. (New York Times/Xinhua)

Kerry meets Netanyahu three times in 24 hours. (AFP)

Kerry praises Abbas for negotiating "despite difficulties." (Times of Israel)

Kerry says the parties are closer on the issues than any time "in years," and chances of peace are good. (YNet/Times of Israel/Washington Post)

Netanyahu says Israel is ready for a "historic peace" with the Palestinians. (UPI)

Israel rules out any compromises on the Jordan Valley. (AFP)

Palestinians reportedly reject Kerry's proposals as "prolonging and maintaining the occupation."(Reuters/Ha'aretz)

Abbas, declaring a day of mourning, calls the late Nelson Mandela "a symbol of liberation from colonialism and occupation." (Ma'an/AFP)

Jailed Fatah leader Barghouti says of Mandela: "Our Freedom Seems Possible Because You Reached Yours." (PNN/AFP)

Mandela was close to many Jews but resolutely loyal to the Palestinian cause. (Times of Israel)

Palestinians widely praise Mandela. (The National)

Kerry urges Israel and the Palestinians to make peace like Mandela. (Reuters)

Israel clears a soldier in the 2011 killing of a Palestinian protester with a tear-gas canister fired at close range. (Reuters/Ma'an/Ha'aretz)

Palestinian homeowners face eviction in a forgotten corner of East Jerusalem. (Deutsche Welle)

American Christian activists are helping both settlers and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. (USA Today)

Gaza is suffering more than ever as Egypt intensifies its blockade. (Al-Ahram Weekly)

The first planned Palestinian city in the occupied West Bank is a symbol of pride. (AP)

The frontman of Grammy-winning Puerto Rican hip-hop outfit Calle 13 says he identifies with Palestinians. (AP)

A Swiss expert insists the late Pres. Arafat may have been poisoned despite French findings to the contrary. (AFP)

Bethlehem is receiving help from UNESCO in this year's Christmas festivities. (Al Monitor)

An Israeli conference urges the creation of a nuclear-free Middle East. (Ha'aretz)

An Al Qaeda-linked group claims responsibility for the attack on Yemen's Defense Ministry that killed 52. (Reuters/AP)

The US military raises its regional alert status after the Yemen attack. (Reuters)

Smuggling of weapons across the Jordanian-Syrian borders rose by 300 percent in 2013 compared to 2012. (Xinhua)

The Syrian Military Council is reportedly facing waves of defections. (The Media Line)

Sec. Hagel will seek to reassure US Gulf allies on the recent Iran deal. (AP)

Egyptian Salafists urge their supporters to vote yes on the draft new constitution. (Xinhua)

Pres. Rouhani describes Iran's relations with Iraq as "strategic" during a visit by PM al-Maliki. (Xinhua)

Egypt may the considering declaring the Muslim Brotherhood a "terrorist organization." (Jerusalem Post)

UAE President Sheikh Khalifa has accepted an invitation to visit Iran at sometime in the near future. (The National)

Commentary:

Ron Ben-Yishai examines the new American security proposals. (YNet)

Barak Ravid says Americans are starting to understand external intervention is required for progress on peace talks. (Ha'aretz)

Muhammad Shtayyeh asks, if there can be a Geneva conference on Syria, why not on Israel and Palestine. (Ha'aretz)

Rye Druzin as many on both sides believe a two-state solution is inevitable despite how distant it now seems. (The Media Line)

Ha'aretz says, since Netanyahu only makes agreements when pressured, the US becomes indispensable. (Ha'aretz)

Herb Keinon says Kerry needs to regain Israel's trust to make progress. (Jerusalem Post)

Raphael Ahren says Kerry has moved from sticks to carrots in dealing with Israel, but it won't work. (Times of Israel)

Ataollah Mohajerani says, given the regional dynamics, Pres. Obama might actually be able to make a real breakthrough on peace. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Alan Dershowitz says there are reasonable and legitimate grounds for US-Israel disagreement. (Jerusalem Post)

Shaul Arieli says the 1967 war provides the starting point for a peace agreement. (Ha'aretz)

Kevin Connelly looks at how Mandela will be remembered by Israelis and Palestinians. (BBC)

J.J. Goldberg looks at Mandela's relationship with Zionism. (The Forward)

George Hishmeh looks at the new UNRWA exhibit on the history of Palestinian refugees. (Jordan Times)

Yossi Sarid says it's reprehensible Israel would steal land from Bedouin and Druze that serve in their own military. (Ha'aretz)

Ahmad Azem says Israel's forced mass relocation plan for Bedouins is driving Palestinian activism within the country. (Al Monitor)

Mazal Mualem says Israeli leaders are impervious to Europe's clear message on settlements. (Al Monitor)

Ephraim Sneh says the recent Iran deal "validates nuclear blackmail" and makes Israeli-Palestinian peace less likely. (Christian Science Monitor)

Maurice Ostroff asks why Israel is so isolated in objecting to the Iranian nuclear deal. (Jerusalem Post)

Khaled Mattawa says Libyans are finally rising up against abusive, extremist militias. (New York Times)

Khalid bin Sultan Al Nahyan says Iran's overtures to the Gulf present a historic opportunity. (The National)

The National says Gulf states are pondering Iran's purported "new" intentions. (The National)

Samir Salha wonders if Turkey is witnessing the end of the Erdoğan-Gülen Partnership. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Rana Sabbagh says free speech is regressing in the Arab media. (Jordan Times)

News:

Controversy continues to swirl around the death of the late Pres. Arafat amid fading allegations he was murdered. (Buzzfeed/AFP)

After meeting PM Netanyahu yesterday, Sec. Kerry is due to meet Pres. Abbas today. (Xinhua/Ha'aretz/AFP)

Kerry insists there has been "some progress" in peace talks. (Ha'aretz)

Expectations are low for Kerry's visit, as Palestinians urge him to "save the talks" with Israel. (YNet)

Arab MKs in Israel ask Kerry to intervene in Israeli Bedouin mass resettlement plan. (YNet)

Hamas authorities summon a leading women's rights advocate in Gaza. (Al Monitor)

The EU is providing €11 Million for the PA's November payroll. (PNN)

The Palestinian teachers union says it will end its strike on Monday. (Ma'an)

A former Fatah leader claims Israel once agreed to accept the return of 200,000 Palestinian refugees. (Times of Israel)

The American Studies Association agrees terms of a boycott of Israeli universities, but has yet to announce a formal boycott. (The Forward)

Accusations continue to swirl about the assassination of a major Hezbollah leader. (New York Times)

The assassination seems tried to growing Middle East regional tensions. (Washington Post)

AP looks at possible culprits in the killing. (AP)

Hezbollah's memorial to the slain leader links him directly to the conflict in Syria. (New York Times)

Militants launch a two-pronged attack on the Yemeni Defense Ministry, killing at least 20. (New York Times/Reuters/BBC)

Attacks in northern Iraq kill 11 and injure 70. (Reuters/Xinhua)

Egyptian activists will be tried for protesting without permission. (Reuters)

The West is helping to rebuild Libya's armed forces. (Reuters)

An American teacher in Benghazi has reportedly been shot and killed. (Reuters)

A new poll shows Turkey's standing in the Middle East greatly diminished. (The National)

Commentary:

The National says Arafat murder talk shows the allure of conspiracy theories. (The National)

Mishaal Al Gergawi says it will be difficult, but not impossible, for the Gulf states to move beyond their alliance with the US. (Gulf News)

Ephraim Sneh says Israel can build an alliance with Gulf states but dealing with the Palestinians is a prerequisite. (YNet)

Gershon Baskin says peace must be build on effective movement of goods and people between Israel and Palestine. (Jerusalem Post)

Lazar Berman claims Jordan is supporting Israel's demand for a long-term military presence in the Jordan Valley. (Times of Israel)

Mitch Ginsburg says the debate over land-for-peace with Palestinians has begun again in Israel. (Times of Israel)

Shmuel Rosner calls Israel's forced Bedouin resettlement plan a version of "land for peace." (New York Times)

Akiva Eldar says Israel is exploiting nature and archaeology to advance its settlement agenda. (Al Monitor)

Ilene Prusher says those who think Palestinian schools preach violence should visit the Jerusalem School of Beit Hanina. (Ha'aretz)

Gideon Levy profiles a young Palestinian worker, Antar Shibli al-Aqraa, he says was "shot like a dog" by Israeli police. (Ha'aretz)

Nicholas Blanford says Hezbollah is preparing for another conflict with Israel. (Christian Science Monitor)

Amos Harel says the new Hezbollah assassination is the biggest blow to the group since the Mughniyeh killing. (Ha'aretz)

Ariel Ben Solomon asks who killed the Hezbollah leader. (Jerusalem Post)

Ronen Bergman says Israel has an assassination list and plan. (Foreign Policy)

The Daily Star says Hezbollah leader Nasrallah sounds desperate. (The Daily Star)

Michael Young says the fighting in Tripoli is a consequence of the city’s neglect by the Lebanese state. (The Daily Star)

George Will says the US faces two stark choices on Iran: war, or agreements that amount to containment. (Washington Post)

Amos Harel looks at the good and bad news from the Iran nuclear deal. (Ha'aretz)

Douglas Bloomfield says the US-Israel rift over Iran is spreading into the Jewish-American community. (Jerusalem Post)

Jay Michaelson asks if the Iran deal "forces Jewish Americans to choose between dual loyalties." (The Forward)

Bassem Sabry lists 29 things "you need to know" about Egypt's new draft constitution. (Al Monitor)

The New York Times is very skeptical about Egypt's new draft constitution. (New York Times)

Mohannad Sabry says Al Qaeda is starting to take root not just in Sinai, but other parts of Egypt. (Al Monitor)

Asharq Al-Awsat interviews deputy Egyptian PM Ziad Bahaa El-Din. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Vali Nasr thinks Iran can be persuaded that its economic future depends on a final nuclear deal. (New York Times)

Michael Young says Pres. Assad enters Geneva peace talks in his strongest position in three years. (The National)

Haley Bobseine looks at the struggle of the gay Syrian community to survive amid conflict. (Foreign Policy)

Hussein Ibish reviews Ahdaf Soueif’s new book, "Cairo," about the recent upheavals in Egypt. (BookForum)

News:

Sec. Kerry will arrive in Israel today for more talks on negotiations with the Palestinians. (Xinhua)

Kerry will reportedly present Israel with a plan for security arrangements with a future Palestinian state. (Ha'aretz)

Palestinian and Israeli negotiators hold another round of talks before Kerry's visit. (Xinhua)

A resigned Palestinian negotiator says a deal with Israel under present circumstances is"impossible." (AP)

The EU says it may consider ending all aid to the PA if peace talks fail. (Ha'aretz)

The EU says half it states support clearly labeling Israeli settlement products. (Jerusalem Post)

Israel reportedly clears West Bank land for new settlement housing units. (PNN)

Reports suggest Israel is planning to transfer a parcel of land to the PA from "Area C." (Ma'an)

The Israeli government says it won't be able to enforce Israeli labor laws for Palestinian workers in spite of a court order. (Jerusalem Post)

French scientists say they don't see any evidence the late Pres. Arafat was poisoned. (New York Times/CNN/AP/Los Angeles times)

Palestinians say they haven't yet received the French report on Arafat's death. (Xinhua/Ma'an)

A Hezbollah leader is assassinated in southern Beirut, and the group blames Israel which denies all responsibility. (New York Times/AP/AFP/Xinhua)

Hezbollah blames Saudi Arabia for the recent bombing of its embassy in Beirut. (AP)

One person is killed and four injured in a blast at a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon. (Xinhua)

Poverty exacerbates challenges faced by disabled Palestinians in Gaza. (Xinhua)

Palestinian teachers say they will continue a strike despite a court ruling it is illegal. (Ma'an)

Jordan is set to import more coal from Israel due to the closure of its border with Syria. (Ha'aretz)

Western counterterrorism officials are afraid that Al Qaeda may take advantage of chaos in Syria and other Middle Eastern states to establish bases that could threaten the West and its interests. (New York Times)

Hezbollah fighters may be gaining valuable experience in combat in Syria. (Christian Science Monitor)

The UN says the Syrian humanitarian crisis is intensifying. (New York Times)

Israel says it is providing humanitarian aid for Syrians. (Xinhua)

Iran's top diplomat holds talks with senior UAE officials. (AP)

Iraq's Prime Minister is visiting Iran to discuss Syria. (AP)

A US court orders Iran to pay $9 million to victims of a 1997 bombing in Jerusalem. (Jerusalem Post)

The Libyan government is enforcing a ban on militias in Benghazi. (Xinhua)

Libya expects to be back at full oil production within two weeks. (Reuters)

Egypt says it is expecting more Gulf aid. (Reuters)
 

Commentary:

ATFP Executive Director Ghaith Al-Omari looks at questions arising from the Iran nuclear deal. (The Forward)

Thomas Friedman says PM Netanyahu and Pres. Obama have a counterintuitive moment of opportunity to achieve great things. (New York Times)

Yehuda Ben-Meir says right-wing Israeli opposition to the Iran nuclear deal is "unfair and foolish." (Ha'aretz)

Jeffrey Goldberg lists six reasons to be worried about the Iran agreement. (Bloomberg)

Noam Neusner says Democrats in Congress are strangely silent about the Iranian agreement. (The Forward)

The National says apartheid-like conditions in the Galilee show how silly utopian dreams of a one-state solution really are. (The National)

Maysoon Zayid says it's time for Pres. Abbas to retire. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

Avi Issacharoff asks who had most to gain from the assassination of Hezbollah's military chief. (Times of Israel)

Elie Friedman says Netanyahu demands Palestinian recognition of Jewish rights but doesn't recognize the Palestinian people. (YNet)

Barak Ravid says Israel's ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer, is being met with "smiles and suspicion." (Ha'aretz)

Ben Caspit interviews newly reinstated Israeli FM Lieberman on many issues. (Al Monitor)

Boaz Okon says non-Jews in Israel often face discrimination on false grounds of "security." (YNet)

Rawia Aburabia demands to know if Bedouins and other non-Jews are citizens of Israel or not. (Jerusalem Post)

Rafique Ganga profiles the Gypsy population in occupied East Jerusalem. (Gulf News)

Rye Druzin says Mount Scopus in occupied East Jerusalem is starting to look like a battlefield. (The Media Line)

Hassan Hassan says the formation of the "Islamic Front" in Syria is bad news for Al Qaeda. (The National)

Osama Al Sharif says the outcome of Geneva II peace talks will be decided on Syria's battlefields. (Jordan Times)

Sahar Aziz and Shahira Abouelleil say the right to protest Egypt is indispensable. (New York Times)

Orla Guerin says police brutality in Egypt is continuing "unchecked." (BBC)

News:

Israel's current DM approved 3,000 new settler homes in the occupied territories in his first four months in office.(Ha'aretz)

Palestinian and Israeli negotiators reportedly met last week despite purported resignations. (Ma'an)

A leading Labor Party MK says he was "surprised" by Pres. Abbas' "practical" stance on security questions. (Jerusalem Post)

FM Lieberman will meet Sec. Kerry for the first time since his reinstatement. (Ha'aretz)

Jewish activists are increasingly demanding access to what are now Muslim holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem. (Washington Post)

An new Dutch government business initiative includes Israeli companies in the occupied West Bank. (Ha'aretz)

Israeli occupation forces arrested 110 Palestinians in Hebron in November. (Ma'an)

Israeli occupation forces demolish water wells and tents in the Jordan Valley. (Ma'an)

Israel will allow construction materials into Gaza, but only under the auspices of international aid programs. (Ha'aretz)

CNN looks at the complexities of Palestinians doing business in the occupied West Bank. (CNN)

Amnesty International demands Israel "immediately" lift the Gaza blockade. (Ma'an)

Palestinians share their checkpoint frustrations on Facebook. (Christian Science Monitor)

Hundreds of Israeli settlers escorted by Israeli troops visit "Joseph's Tomb." (Ma'an)

PA security forces defend the recent crackdown against fugitives. (Ma'an)

Islamic Jihad accuses the PA of "collusion" with Israel. (Al Monitor)

A Palestinian investigator says he is about to release names of those he believes were involved in the purported assassination of the late Pres. Arafat. (Reuters)

The new polls suggest a majority of Israelis distrust the Iran nuclear deal. (AP)

The US rejects Israeli criticism of the Iran nuclear deal, but finds it "frustrating." (Ha'aretz)

"Colorful" diminutive names, like Bibi, dominate Israeli politics. (AP)

Rock star Roger Waters defends his use of religious symbols in performances critical of Israeli occupation policies. (AP)

Outgoing New York Mayor Bloomberg is dedicating his $1M Genesis Prize to boosting Israeli-Palestinian trade. (The Forward)

Artisanal Palestinian beer making in the occupied territories continues to develop. (The Media Line)

Turkey and Iran appeared to be coordinating more closely on Syria. (Ha'aretz)

The top UN official links Pres. al-Assad to war crimes in Syria. (New York Times)

Syrian army airstrikes kill at least 15 near Aleppo. (AP)

12 nuns are reportedly abducted by Syrian rebels. (AP)

State media says a suicide bombing in Damascus has killed four Syrians. (Reuters/Xinhua)

The UN said it said it fed 3.4 million Syrians last month but many were still out of reach. (Reuters)

Egypt says former Pres. Morsi is being investigated for ties to extremists and Sinai insurgents. (AP)

A noted Egyptian blogger has been arrested in an ongoing crackdown against dissent. (Reuters/Los Angeles Times)

Protests in Egypt seem to be intensifying. (Al Monitor)

Egypt's best known satirical poet, Ahmed Fouad Negm, has died at 84. (AP)

Libya begins voter registration for constituent assembly elections. (Xinhua)


Commentary:

Hussein Ibish argues ATFP has shown how to talk to Israel and its friends with mutual respect and dignity. (NOW)

Ibrahim Sharqieh asks if the Iran deal can be a template for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. (Brookings)

Avi Issacharoff says Israeli-Palestinian negotiations are barely limping along. (Times of Israel)

Matthew Kalman profiles efforts by Yosef Jabareen to aid Palestinian students in Israel. (Chronicle of Higher Education)

David Landau says, if he wants to invoke them, PM Netanyahu should learn from the Maccabees how to deal with the superpower of the moment. (Ha'aretz)

Ron Ben-Yishai says Israel fears Pres. Obama is leading the Middle East towards catastrophe, especially regarding Iran. (YNet)

Michael Sfard says settlers are carrying out "an unending pogrom" against Palestinians in the occupied territories. (Ha'aretz)

The Jerusalem Post says Palestinian should stop complaining about Israeli settlement activity. (Jerusalem Post)

Meirav Arlosoroff argues Israel's Bedouin should see their forced mass relocation as an opportunity. (Ha'aretz)

Haviv Rettig Gur says the forced Bedouin relocation is more complicated than it first seems. (Times of Israel)

Shlomi Eldar says Israel should just stop the forced Bedouin mass relocation project. (Al Monitor)

Rasha Abou Jalal says Turkish culture is becoming more popular in Gaza. (Al Monitor)

David Ignatius says the Syrian people face two enemies: the Assad dictatorship and Al Qaeda. (Washington Post)

Ariel Ben Solomon says Syrian peace talks are doomed before they even begin. (Jerusalem Post)

The Daily Star says Iran's Arab Gulf neighbors need to be very cautious henceforth. (The Daily Star)

Malik Al-Abdeh says Syria's Muslim Brotherhood is doomed to repeat past errors. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Diana Moukalled says the sentencing of 14 young Egyptian girls to long prison sentences was an injustice. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Ali Salem insists Egypt did, in fact, experience a revolution against Mubarak. (Asharq Al Awsat)

The Times of Israel interviews Simon Sebag Montefiore about Jerusalem. (Times of Israel)

News:

Palestinians are appealing for international help as peace talks appear at an impasse. (Xinhua)

Palestinian negotiators suggest the US and Russia hold "Geneva talks" on the Israeli-Palestinian question. (Ha'aretz)

Pres. Peres reportedly recently addressed 29 Arab foreign ministers. (YNet)

With four Israelis and 24 Palestinians killed recently, a surge in West Bank violence is being called "individual." (Washington Post)

A Palestinian citizen of Israel pleads guilty to planting a bomb on a bus last year. (Reuters)

The Foreign Press Association accuses Israeli occupation forces of "deliberately targeting"journalists. (AFP)

Bedouin citizens of Israel protest forced mass relocation plans. (New York Times/AP/Los Angeles Times)

The Israeli government claims 80% of Bedouins have agreed to the plan. (Ha'aretz)

Palestinian citizens of Israel react with anger to proposals to "Judaize" the Galilee. (Ha'aretz)

Israeli police say one of their volunteers killed a Palestinian inside Israel during a raid. (AP/Xinhua)

An exhibit of photographs in Jerusalem tells the long story of Palestinian history. (New York Times/BBC/AFP)

Hamas cancels its annual anniversary celebration in Gaza due to deepening economic woes. (AP/The Guardian)

Egypt is continuing to revoke the citizenship of Hamas leaders. (Jerusalem Post)

Israel's new Labor Party leader Herzog meets with Pres. Abbas. (AP/Xinhua/Jerusalem Post)

Christmas season in Bethlehem gets an early start this year. (AP)

PA police arrest 20 Salafists affiliated with Al Qaeda in the occupied West Bank. (AFP)

Israeli occupation forces arrest 15 Palestinians in the West Bank. (Ma'an)

The Palestinian Teachers' Union says it will strike in the West Bank on Monday. (Ma'an)

Newly reinstated Israeli FM Lieberman seems to have toned down his political style somewhat. (New York Times)

PM Netanyahu is once again under fire for extravagant expenses. (AP)

Former PM Olmert says Netanyahu has severely damaged relations with the US, including byinterfering in American elections. (AP/Ha'aretz)

The Palestinian ambassador to Nigeria calls for economic sanctions against Israel. (Xinhua)

Israel is reportedly trying to identify Iranian violations of its recent nuclear agreement. (Xinhua)

659 people were killed in Iraq in November. (Xinhua)

Iraqi café owners begin to get seminars on how to stop suicide bombers. (AFP)

Blasts kill at Least 12 mourners at the funeral of an Iraq Sunni leader. (New York Times)

18 Sunnis kidnapped in Iraq are found shot. (AP)

Nine are killed in sectarian clashes in northern Lebanon. (AP)

Egypt's draft new constitution enshrines greater rights but promises little change from traditional government. (AP/New York Times)

As it pushes for a tougher foreign policy, Saudi Arabia seems to have few options. (Reuters)

Commentary:

Former PM Fayyad discusses justice, Palestinian rights and the legacy of Nelson Mandela. (New York Times)

Hussein Ibish says core of the Palestinian struggle is one for basic human equality. (The National)

Akiva Eldar says negotiators must begin to treat Israeli settlements as obstacles to peace. (Al Monitor)

Samih Shabib says Palestinians shouldn't withdraw from negotiations, but Khalil Shaheen says they should. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Alon Tal and Yousef Abu-Mayla say there is no reason or excuse for Gaza to be turned into a sewer. (New York Times)

The Economist looks at the plight of Palestinian refugees fleeing Syria. (The Economist)

Yossi Shain says the weakened US position in the Middle East means Israel must push harder for peace. (YNet)

Oudeh Basharat says the mass relocation of Israel's Bedouins is typical of the present government's racism. (Ha'aretz)

Sami Michael says the silencing of protests against the planned mass relocation of Israeli Bedouins is unconscionable. (YNet)

Joel Golovensky says the Bedouins are Israeli citizens with a particular culture and bitter experience. (Jerusalem Post)

The Jerusalem Post says Israel must impose "law and order" on the Bedouins. (Jerusalem Post)

Ha'aretz says the plan for "Judaization" of the Galilee means racism. (Ha'aretz)

Ma'an interviews Cecilia Baeza on the history of Palestinian immigration to Latin America. (Ma'an)

Norman Solomon and Abba A. Solomon say Israel is trying to wreck the nuclear agreement with Iran. (The Daily Star)

John Hannah says the Iran nuclear agreement is likely to start an arms race in the Middle East. (Foreign Policy)

Hassan Barari says there hasn't really been an actual nuclear deal with Iran yet. (Arab News)

Shlomi Eldar says Israel's Foreign Ministry is continuing to lose relevance. (Al Monitor)

Bruce Riedel says an Israeli-Saudi axis against Iran is unlikely. (Al Monitor)

Fred Hiatt says Syria could prove to be Pres. Obama's "Rwanda." (Washington Post)

Rami Khouri says Egypt is the harbinger for the future of much of the Arab world. (The Daily Star)

The National says the draft Egyptian Constitution is getting a surprisingly warm welcome from the public. (The National)