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)

News:

The UN warns the ongoing fuel crisis in Gaza could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe. (Xinhua)

Palestinians fear Israeli military exercises in the Jordan Valley will mean permanent evacuation from their homes. (Christian Science Monitor)

Jews and Arabs were told to use separate lanes at West Bank checkpoints, but this will no longer apply to Israeli citizens. (Ha'aretz)

Israel says it has resolved its dispute with the EU over new occupation guidelines. (AP/AFP/Ha'aretz)

Palestinian human rights groups call on the EU to take a stronger stance on settler violence. (Ma'an)

Israeli occupation forces kill four suspected Salafist militants in the West Bank. (New York Times/Xinhua/Jerusalem Post)

Salafist extremists are reportedly a growing presence in the occupied West Bank. (Ha'aretz)

Palestinians accuse Israel of torturing women prisoners. (PNN)

Palestinians condemn Israel's latest settlement expansion announcement. (Xinhua)

Palestinians say they are preparing efforts to join more UN agencies. (Ma'an)

Palestinians participate for the first time in Global Entrepreneurship Week. (The Media Line)

Israel's intelligence services reportedly think the country's strategic position in the region has improved. (YNet)

The annual meeting of the American Studies Association reflects broad support for a boycott of Israel. (JTA)

The Israeli military simulates a major ground offensive in Gaza to stop rocket fire. (Jerusalem Post)

Egypt claims it has uncovered a major Israeli spy ring. (Times of Israel)

Iran says Israel has isolated itself by its negative reaction to the recent interim nuclear deal. (AP)

Iran may have found a loophole in the agreement to continue construction at its heavy water plutonium plant near Arak. (Reuters)

Egyptian riot police clash with unarmed protesters in Cairo. (New York Times/Washington Post)

24 Egyptians are arrested for protesting. (AP)

Suicide bombers kill 18 Iraqi security personnel. (New York Times)

At least 20 people are killed in a series of attacks across Iraq. (Reuters)

A suicide bombing in Damascus kills 15 people. (Xinhua)

Turkey says 500 Turks are involved in fighting Syria. (Xinhua)

A new report says women are being raped, used as shields and kidnapped by both sides in Syria. (The National)

The Libyan army again clashes with Islamist militias in Benghazi. (Reuters)
 

Commentary:

Ha'aretz says the EU has taught Israel there is a price for "deception and apartheid." (Ha'aretz)

Jonathan Cook says PM Netanyahu's purported overtures to Pres. Abbas are designed to extract concessions. (The National)

Hussein Ibish says the nuclear deal with Iran was predictable, but the questions it raises are not. (NOW)

Rami Khouri says the Iran agreement could completely reshape the Middle East. (The Daily Star)

Osama Al Sharif agrees the deal could portend a "geopolitical shift" in the region. (Jordan Times)

The Daily Star says under the Obama administration the US is shirking its responsibilities in the Middle East. (The Daily Star)

Abdulateef Al-Mulhim says reports of a budding Israeli-Saudi alliance against Iran are "the joke of the century." (Arab News)

Asmaa al-Ghoul says Hamas is divided on its reaction to the Iran agreement. (Al Monitor)

Ben Caspit says the Israeli military doesn't share Netanyahu's alarm over the Iran agreement. (Al Monitor)

Alon Pinkas says Israel should regard the Iran agreement as a victory. (YNet)

Amos Harel says Israel finds itself with no good options. (Foreign Policy)

Zvi Bar'el says the US and Iran are changing, but not Netanyahu. (Ha'aretz)

Tod Robberson says Israel should see the connection between the Iran issue and resolving the conflict with the Palestinians. (Dallas Morning News)

Nathan Guttman says Jewish-American groups are shying away from an all out fight over the Iran agreement. (The Forward)

Eugene Robinson says comparisons between the Iran nuclear deal and Munich are "lazy." (Washington Post)

Jacob Plitman and Rachel Cohen urge Jewish-American student groups to engage in more two-state activism. (Daily Beast/Open Zion)

The New York Times interviews Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef. (New York Times)

Waleed Abulkhair says there is little justice in Saudi Arabia's legal system. (Washington Post)

Anas El Gomati says demagoguery by Libyan politicians is deepening the crisis in the country. (The National)

News:

Palestinians are trying to end the bloodshed in the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus. (Ma’an)

Palestinians see the international community's deal with Iran as a template for talks with Israel. (New York Times/PNN)

The GlobalPost looks at how the Iran agreement affects the Palestinians. (GlobalPost)

Israel's negotiations with the Palestinians may now languish after the Iran agreement. (Bloomberg)

Jordan vows to protect religious sites in occupied East Jerusalem. (Xinhua)

Hamas is trying to end the chronic electricity crisis in Gaza. (Ma’an)

PM Hamdallah is reaching out to Qatar to try to end the electricity crisis in Gaza. (Ma’an)

Settlers deep in the occupied territories attack Palestinian lands and destroy olive trees. (Ma’an)

Settlers attack a Palestinian home in Nablus with Molotov cocktails. (Ma’an/Jerusalem Post)7

Garbage and sewage collection and Gaza is now reduced to donkey services. (Ma’an)

"Arab Idol" Mohammed Assaf advocates for Palestinian refugees at the UN. (Times of Israel)

Israeli ministers meet to discuss their predicament with the EU over the occupation. (AP)

The film "5 Broken Cameras" wins a major international film award. (Ha'aretz)

Pres. Obama defends the Iran agreement against critics. (AP)

The Iran agreement shakes up the Middle East strategic landscape. (Los Angeles Times)

PM Netanyahu is sending a team of experts to Washington to discuss the Iran agreement. (Xinhua/Jerusalem Post)

International powers are expressing frustration with Israel's complaints. (Ha'aretz)

The US-Saudi relationship, though still close, grows more strained. (New York Times)

Experts say Saudi and other Arab unease with the Iran arrangement runs deep. (Jerusalem Post)

Israel's chief negotiator Livni points out that a deal with the Palestinians would strengthen Israel's hand vis-à-vis Iran. (Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)

Israel resumes its diplomatic campaign against Iran. (AP)

Iranian dissidents are split on how to view the nuclear deal. (Daily Beast)

Obama shows a marked preference for diplomacy over military force in international relations. (New York Times)

Extremist militias flee Benghazi. (New York Times)

The US expresses concern about a new Egyptian law limiting protests. (Reuters)

Egypt's new government is facing increasing dissent. (New York Times)

Egypt says its military has killed a leading "Jihadist" rebel in Sinai. (AP)

The Turkish FM is going to Iran to discuss Syria. (Xinhua)

Iran's FM says it's ready to join Syrian peace talks, if invited. (Reuters)

Iraq executes 11 prisoners charged with terrorism. (Xinhua)

Commentary:

Chaim Levinson looks at how occupation officials approve settlement outposts but not Palestinian building. (Ha'aretz)

Michael Brull says Australia's about-face on settlements is "shameful." (The Guardian)

Human Rights Watch complains about the abuse and harassment of activists by Hamas in Gaza. (Human Rights Watch)

Rasha Abou Jalal says divorce Palestinian women face discrimination and stigmas. (Al Monitor)

Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed says the international agreement with Iran won't affect the "Syrian revolution." (Arab News)

Nathan Guttman says Israel's new ambassador to the US faces significant challenges. (The Forward)

Oudeh Basharat denounces Israel's planned forced mass relocation of Bedouin citizens. (Ha'aretz)

David Albright outlines the difficult problems facing any final agreement between the international community and Iran. (Washington Post)

David Ignatius looks at the "secret diplomacy" behind the deal with Iran. (Washington Post)

Haleh Esfandiari says the Arab states have little to fear from the new Iran nuclear deal. (New York Times)

Adam Gonn says US-Israeli relations are strained but not broken over the Iran deal. (Xinhua)

Eugene Robinson says the Iran deal is a huge success for the United States. (Washington Post)

Sen. Cruz says Obama blew the Iran deal and sold out Israel. (Foreign Policy)

David Rothkopf says hawks should love the Iran deal, but doves should be worried. (Foreign Policy)

Matthew Bunn says Netanyahu is wrong about the Iran agreement. (Christian Science Monitor)

Akiva Eldar says Netanyahu is risking international isolation over Iran. (Al Monitor)

Neri Zilber says Israelis are now more convinced than ever they are alone in the world. (Foreign Policy)

Ben Sales asks what Netanyahu's next move on Iran is going to be. (JTA)

Micah Zenko says Israel has the means to prevent Iran from going nuclear. (Foreign Policy)

Hassan Barari looks of the growing rift between the US and Israel over Iran. (Jordan Times)

Moshe Arens says the US-Israel relationship will survive any disagreement. (Ha'aretz)

The Jerusalem Post says new Labor Party leader Herzog can be a welcome addition to Israeli politics. (Jerusalem Post)

News:

Israel says it's pushing forward with 800 new settlement housing units in the occupied West Bank. (AP)

Palestinians condemn the new settlement activity. (WAFA)

Negotiations between the EU and Israel over the occupation hit a new impasse. (Ha'aretz)

The UAE reaffirms its solidarity with the Palestinian people. (Gulf News)

Saudi Arabia exempts Palestinians from tough new ex-pat labor laws. (Arab News)

Palestinian women in Gaza protest to end the political Hamas-Fatah split. (Al Monitor)

The Israeli and US air forces hold their biggest ever joint drill. (YNet)

Settlers accuse Palestinians of "illegal building" in the controversial E1 corridor. (PNN)

Israeli occupation forces detain 3 Palestinians trying to enter the Al-Aqsa mosque. (Ma'an)

An Israeli court indicts a Palestinian resident of occupied East Jerusalem for fundraising for Hamas. (Jerusalem Post)

Palestinians estimate that about one in 10 of their population lives in occupied East Jerusalem. (PNN)

Palestinians note an increase in exports and a decrease in imports in September. (PNN)

Unlike Brandeis and Syracuse universities, Bard College is maintaining its partnership with Al QudsUniversity. (Jerusalem Post)

Palestinians say Israeli occupation forces uprooted 60 olive trees near Bethlehem. (Ma'an)

The PA denounces the Beirut Iranian embassy bombing and says a Palestinian who may have been involved represented no one. (Ma'an)

The international community signs an interim agreement with Iran on its nuclear program. (AP/Reuters)

Months of secret meetings set the stage for the talks. (Los Angeles Times/Christian Science Monitor/Al Monitor)

The agreement could affect talks on Palestine and Syria. (AP)

A longer-term agreement will be much more challenging, and the short-term progress is modest. (New York Times)

The agreement opens diplomatic possibilities for the West in the Middle East. (New York Times)

Israel denounces the agreement. (New York Times/Xinhua)

Some prominent Saudis are also very critical of the agreement. (Times of Israel/Bloomberg)

Canada says it is deeply skeptical about the deal. (Globe and Mail)/

The UAE, Bahrain, the IAEA, Turkey, Algeria, Lebanon, Syria, and Qatar welcome the agreement, and Saudi Arabia say it "cautiously welcomes" it . (The National/Xinhua/AP)

The agreement may lower the price of oil. (AP)

Experts expect Europe to benefit from the agreement economically. (Jerusalem Post)

Egypt and Turkey downgrade diplomatic relations after harsh comments by PM Erdogan against the new Egyptian government. (AFP)

Five Iraqi soldiers are killed in a suicide bomb attack. (New York Times)

160 are killed in fighting between Syrian rebels and government forces near Damascus. (AP/Xinhua)

Syrian rebels seize control of major oil field in the country. (New York Times)

A study shows 11,000 Syrian children have been killed in the country's conflict. (Reuters)

Syria is facing a critical shortage of medicines due to the conflict. (Xinhua)

Some victims of the conflict in Syria are quietly finding medical care in Israel. (BBC)

The UN confirms Syrian peace talks will be held on January 22. (AP/Reuters)

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait say they're going to tighten control of clerics in their countries. (New York Times)

Nine are killed in clashes between Islamist militias and the Libyan military. (Reuters/BBC)

Six more Iraqis are killed in a string of attacks in Baghdad. (Xinhua)

Commentary:

Pres. Obama makes a statement on the P5+1 agreement with Iran. (White House)

The White House issues a fact sheet on the agreement. (White House)

The New York Times welcomes the agreement with Iran. (New York Times)

Ha'aretz says the agreement with Iran must be given a chance. (Ha'aretz)

The Forward calls the agreement with Iran "a worthy leap of faith." (The Forward)

Aaron David Miller says it's too early to celebrate the deal with Iran. (Politico)

Michael Doran says there are "hidden costs" in the agreement. (Brookings)

The Daily Star says the agreement will help Iran if its nuclear intentions are peaceful, but otherwise not. (The Daily Star)

Dina Esfandiary says, while not perfect, the agreement is the best achievable arrangement for all parties. (The National)

Amos Harel says the agreement makes it almost impossible for Israel to attack Iran now. (Ha'aretz)

Steven Spiegel and Thomas Friedman both separately say US Middle East allies need reassurance following the agreement with Iran. (New York Times)

Robert Einhorn says Israel and the US should remember they agree neither wants Iran to have a nuclear weapon. (Ha'aretz)

Roger Cohen says the agreement must force Israel to rethink many policies. (New York Times)

Chemi Shalev says pushing for more sanctions now could hurt Israel more than Iran. (Ha'aretz)

The Jerusalem Post has grave misgivings about the Iran deal. (Jerusalem Post)

Shoula Romano Horing calls the agreement a "total, unmitigated defeat" for both the US and Israel. (YNet)

David Horovitz says "the US let Iran off the hook" in the agreement. (Times of Israel)

Avi Issacharoff says Supreme Leader Khamenei and Obama are the big winners, while PM Netanyahu is the big loser. (Times of Israel)

Raphael Ahren asks if there's any way for Netanyahu to turn a short-term defeat into a long-term success. (Times of Israel)

Shashank Joshi says Israel and the Gulf states are united in alarm about the agreement with Iran. (BBC)

Nathan Jeffay compares and contrasts different Israeli and Palestinian versions of a "one-state solution." (The Forward)

David Schenker looks at provocative fatawa on Egypt by Qatar-based Muslim Brotherhood cleric Qaradawi. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Rami Khouri says violence in Lebanon is more than just a "spillover" from Syria. (The Daily Star)

Nasouh Majali says the UN needs to play a larger role in Syria. (Jordan Times)

Hussein Ibish says the battle for the Qalamoun mountains may be a decisive turning point in Syria. (The National)

Samir Salha says Erdoğan’s best defense on the Kurdish issue is a good offense. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Husam Itani says maybe only a large, federal state in the whole Levant region can maintain stability and protect minorities. (Al Hayat)

News:

The UN says the humanitarian situation in Gaza is deteriorating gravely. (AFP/The Guardian)

Unemployment is increasing in both the West Bank and Gaza. (Ha'aretz)

Israeli field intelligence keeps a close eye on Hamas activities in Gaza. (Jerusalem Post)

Two lion cubs born in Gaza quickly die. (New York Times/The Media Line)

Palestinian negotiator Shtayyeh will reportedly not take part in future talks with Israel. (Ma'an/Jerusalem Post)

Over 200 Israeli settlers demonstrate near Jenin under army protection. (Ma'an)

A Palestinian citizen of Israel complains about extremely humiliating treatment at the airport. (YNet)

An Israeli court extends the detention of a Negev activist protesting Bedouin mass relocation plans. (Ma'an)

Israel's opposition Labor Party picks a new leader. (AP/New York Times)

Ha'aretz profiles the new Labor Party Chairman, Isaac Herzog. (Ha'aretz)

International negotiations with Iran are described as "substantial," but have yielded no results yet. (New York Times)

Diplomats seem less optimistic about an agreement with Iran, as lack of trust becomes clear. (Washington Post)

Israel's military takes a different view than its political leadership about Iran's nuclear program. (Christian Science Monitor)

Six leading Islamist, non-Al Qaeda, factions in Syria announce a merger. (Reuters)

Lebanon is still not completely in the grip of the Syrian Civil War. (AP)

Saudi Arabia urges all its citizens to leave Lebanon immediately. (AP/Xinhua)

Dozens of Americans are reported to have joined the conflict in Syria. (New York Times)

24 rebels are killed in a fierce battle over an army base in Syria. (AP)

Turkey says northern Iraq oil belongs to all Iraqi people. (Xinhua)

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood condemns comments by Sec. Kerry that they "stole" the Egyptian revolution. (AP)

Egypt's ambassador to Palestine condemns Hamas for an attack in Sinai against Egyptian troops. (AP/Times of Israel)

Syrian and Palestinian refugees in Egypt begin a hunger strike to protest bad treatment. (Reuters)

The EU criticizes conditions for migrant workers in Qatar preparing for the 2022 World Cup. (AP)

Tripoli residents celebrate the withdrawal of militias from Libya's capital. (BBC)

Commentary:

Ali Jarbawi says, if the US is serious about revising the Palestinian economy, it must allow it to operate in "Area C." (New York Times)

Yolande Knell says, a year after the last round of violence, tensions between Israel and Hamas are running high. (BBC)

David Landau says if the new Labor Party chief in Israel wants to make history, he should emphasize peace. (Ha'aretz)

Shlomi Eldar says mistrust between the parties is hampering Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. (Al Monitor)

Raphael Cohen-Almagor suggests possible ways forward towards a two-state solution. (Sharnoff's Global Views)

Gil Hoffman calls Labor a "party of political cannibals." (Jerusalem Post)

Haviv Rettig Gur looks at the long road back to political relevance facing the Labor Party. (Times of Israel)

Naomi Darom says non-Jewish spouses of Jewish Israelis are routinely discriminated against. (Ha'aretz)

Ariela Ringel-Hoffman says, by refusing to allow officials to testify in a US terrorism civil lawsuit in order to protect China, Israel has lost moral credibility. (YNet)

The Jerusalem Post says convincing Iran it may face military attack helps diplomacy succeed. (Jerusalem Post)

Ari Shavit blames former Pres. Bush for letting Iran get this close to a nuclear weapon. (New York Times)

Alan Phillips says history shows Iran is capable of compromising on occasion. (The National)

Adel El-Adawy says Egypt remains confused by US policy. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Wael Nawara looks at the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood's "bankrupt" strategical vision. (Al Monitor)

Hassan Haidar says the Lebanese really don't have any independence to celebrate. (Al Hayat)

The Daily Star says Lebanese independence needs national unity and "intensive care." (The Daily Star)

Hazem Saghieh says the origins of the bombing of the Iranian Embassy in Beirut begin with a similar attack on the US Embassy 30 years ago. (Al Hayat)

Sirwan Kajjo says, if Kurds can put aside their differences, they face a "golden opportunity" in northern Syria. (The Daily Star)

News:

The PLO says existing policy negotiators will continue to "oversee the talks" until a new team is formed. (Ma'an)

Gaza's streets are flooded with rainwater and sewage, and electricity is running low. (New York Times)

USAID is reportedly halting key aid programs in Gaza. (Al Monitor)

Islamic Jihad warns the Gaza ceasefire could come to an end, citing Israeli "violations." (Ma'an)

Palestinian anti-corruption officials say complaints quintupled in 2013. (Ma'an)

The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics says at least 100,000 Palestinians from the occupied territories work in Israel. (Ma'an)

An Israeli soldier is arrested for suspected "price tag" vigilante attacks. (Xinhua)

Some Israeli settlers routinely reach out to pro-Palestinian tour groups in the occupied territories. (Christian Science Monitor)

UNSG Ban appoints Pierre Krähenbühl to be the new Commissioner-General of UNRWA. (Ma'an)

Jibril Rajoub reportedly suggests the "fool" former Pres. Bush" colluded what he alleges was Israel's assassination of the late Pres. Arafat. (Times of Israel)

Sec. Kerry is taking innovative approaches to a range of long-standing, tough problems. (New York Times)

Observers think an interim deal with Iran might be nearing as new talks begin. (New York Times)

Iran says difficult differences remain to be overcome. (AP)

Iran is demanding the removal of oil and banking sanctions in even a short-term deal. (Xinhua)

The US assures its allies of "caution" as new talks begin, while Iran insists it won't back down. (Los Angeles Times)

Israeli officials say they are "frustrated" not to be familiar with any details about the talks. (YNet)

Iran holds a military drill near the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz. (AP)

Israel and Gulf states appear to be forming a "strange" alliance against Iran. (AP)

Syrians continue to flood into Lebanon, fleeing the conflict in their country. (AP/BBC/The National)

Palestinian refugees fleeing Syria face terrible difficulties in Egypt and Lebanon. (Reuters/Huffington Post)

Seven are killed in a mortar attack in the Syrian city of Homs. (Xinhua)

An Iraqi Shiite militia says it has fired six mortar rounds into Saudi Arabia as a warning against "interference." (Reuters)

Kuwait's national airline resumes Iraq flights in another sign of continuing improved relations. (Reuters)

An Egyptian police officer is killed in an operation to arrest wanted militants. (Reuters)

Egyptian army chief Sisi does not rule out a presidential bid. (Reuters)

A truck bomb kills 27 people at an outdoor market in northeast Iraq. (AP)

Commentary:

Mohammed Dajani Daoudi explains the importance of teaching the Holocaust in Palestine. (Sharnoff's Global Views)

The ICG looks at Israel's "national religious groups" and the future of the conflict. (International Crisis Group)

Hazem Balousha says Palestinians in Gaza are distinctly unimpressed with Hamas' military parades. (Al Monitor)

Michael Oren tries to explain PM Netanyahu's hard-line policies. (Los Angeles Times)

Shlomi Eldar says the Israeli public is generally standing with Netanyahu on the question of Iran. (Al Monitor)

George Hishmeh says on both Iran and Israel, major "serious arm-twisting by the major powers" is required. (Gulf News)

Carlo Strenger says "Netanyahu is paying a steep price for fanning fear and hatred." (Ha'aretz)

Zvi Bar'el says Israeli society is hiding the occupation behind euphemisms and doublespeak. (Ha'aretz)

Salman Masalha says Israelis are yearning for a "Palestinian Ben-Gurion" because they can't have another of their own. (Ha'aretz)

Amira Hass notes that in the tally of violence throughout the decades, Palestinians have paid a much steeper price than Israelis. (Ha'aretz)

Ronald Lauder says both Palestinian and Jewish refugee claims must be redressed. (JTA)

David Ignatius says Egyptians are making a good-faith effort to really try to build a democracy. (Washington Post)

Michael Weiss profiles Russian mercenaries in Syria. (Foreign Policy)

Ghassan Charbel says, because of the Syrian conflict, Lebanon has never been so divided and its future is threatened. (Al Hayat)

Abdullah Iskandar says terrorism in Lebanon doesn't help the Syrian opposition, it helps the Damascus dictatorship. (Al Hayat)

The Daily Star says, unfortunately, the Lebanese can't expect their elected officials to prevent more such bombings. (The Daily Star)

Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid worries Beirut could turn into another Baghdad. (Arab News)

FM Zarif says Iran's neighbors are its priority. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Diana Moukalled says Hezbollah is scared of satire. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Omar Alvi says Ennahda finds itself at a crossroads in Tunisian politics which will determine its future. (The Daily Star)