USAID Administrator Henrietta H. Fore makes a pledge at ATFP’s Third Annual Gala to transfer $550 million to the Palestinian Authority (1). The Wall Street Journal covers Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s recent trip to Washington and the business investments made for the West Bank (2). The BBC reports on the network of smuggling tunnels servicing the Gaza strip via Egypt (3). Palestinian-Israel security forces cooperate in the destruction of a recently discovered tunnel running under the West Bank town of Hebron (8).

The Department of State releases Secretary Rice’s remarks at yesterday’s Palestinian Business and Investment Forum (1). Haaretz reports on the pledge made in those remarks to continue work towards a Middle East peace deal (2). The Washington post reports about increased radicalism among settlers in the West Bank (3). Rami Khouri lauds the leadership of Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad (5).Israeli officials are meeting to discuss the future of the Arab citizens of Acre displaced from their homes following several days of clashes in the city (10).

The Middle East Times reports on the address given by Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad at ATFP's Third Annual Gala (1). Leaders from both Hamas and Fatah call for reconciliation in separate speeches given over the weekend (2). Israel bars entry from the West Bank for the weeklong Sukkot holiday (3). Tzipi Livni continues work towards building a coalition government (4). Shimon Peres appeals for tolerance following four days of clashes in the city of Acre between Arabs and Jews in Israel (7).

Tzipi Livni, Israeli Prime Minister-delegate, warns that time is running out for a peace agreement as extremists continue to gain strength (1). Amira Hass analyzes how the fractured Palestinian leadership is complicating prospects for a peace agreement with Israel (2). An op-ed by Danny Rothschild in Ynet News criticizes Tzipi Livni’s pledge to take Jerusalem off the negotiating table (4). The IDF works with the Palestinian Authority to coordinate security for Palestinians during the olive harvest (5).

Egyptian police block a convoy of activist groups attempting to deliver medical supplies to the Gaza Strip (1). The Christian Science Monitor reports on the first attempt at high school integration in Israel (2). Member of Hamas’ parliament announce that they will not recognize Mahmoud Abbas as president after his term expires on January 8th (4). Israeli Prime Minister designate Tzipi Livni is expected to meet with party leaders in an attempt to form a coalition government (5). Israel agrees to the deployment of Palestinian security forces in the West Bank town of Hebron (9).

Zeev Sternhell, an Israeli academic who was the target of a recent pipe bomb attack, tells the Daily Telegraph that Israel is threatened as much by Jewish terrorism as Palestinian militancy (1). Activists from Rabbis for Human Rights, who were attempting to protect Palestininans during the olive harvest in the West Bank, clash with Jewish settlers (2) (4). Breaking the Silence, an Israeli organization, attempts to expose the misconduct of Israeli occupation soldiers in the Palestinian territories (3).

Israel’s top general in the West Bank acknowledges that ‘hundreds’ of settlers in the area have engaged in violence against Palestinians and Israeli soldiers (1) (5). Israeli Professor Zeev Sternhell blames “Jewish terrorists” for the recent pipe bomb attack on his home (2). Results from a new poll by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion show Palestinians continuing to favor current president Mahmoud Abbas for another term over Hamas’ Ismail Haniyeh (3). The IDF evacuates a settlement in the northern West Bank (6) (9).

Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s remarks on withdrawing from the West Bank and East Jerusalem continue to draw commentary (1). The behavior of Israeli settlers is questioned in articles by the Washington Post and the Christian Science Monitor (2) (3). Bahrain’s foreign minister proposes a Middle East Forum to address the regions problems (6). The UN finds that the number of Israeli road blocks in the West Bank is increasing (8).