News:

The PLO says Israeli occupation forces have killed 56 Palestinians and injured 897 since the resumption of peace talks in July. (Ma’an)

DM Ya’alon apologizes to the US for criticizing Washington. (AP/PNN/Ha’aretz)

Pres. Abbas asks the US to help free jailed Fatah figure Barghouti. (Reuters/AP)

Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Danon says he will resign if more Palestinians are freed. (Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

A poll indicates that most Palestinians are dissatisfied with the peace process. (Xinhua)

Palestinians are looking for more inputs than just the American role in the peace process. (The Media Line)

Palestinians protest at the Temple Mount/Al Aqsa Mosque over right-wing MK Feiglin’s visit.(Ma’an/Ha’aretz/JTA)

Palestinian security forces arrest over 40 members of Hamas in Nablus. (Ma’an)

Former Sec. Clinton tells Jewish Americans Congress should not impose new sanctions on Iran. (Times of Israel)

Pres. Peres sends New Year’s greeting to Iranians. (AP/Jerusalem Post)

Israel’s airstrikes on Syria may be a message for Hezbollah not to approach the occupied Golan Heights. (Ha’aretz)

The UN-OPCW mission says nearly half of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile has been removed. (Reuters/New York Times)

Syrian troops close a border crossing with Lebanon. (AP)

Qatar is reportedly unlikely to abandon its favored Syrian rebels. (Reuters)

Many Egyptian investors believe a Sisi presidency will bring stability. (Reuters)

A suicide attack in a cafe in Baghdad kills 12. (AP)

Commentary:

Ravit Hecht says PM Netanyahu is using the “Jewish state” demand to avoid compromising with the Palestinians. (Ha’aretz)

Peter Beinart says Israel must define the “Jewish state” before asking Abbas to recognize it. (Ha’aretz)

Ari Shavit says there can be no peace if Palestinians don’t do their share. (Ha’aretz)

Gideon Levy says the annexation of Crimea is less problematic than the occupation of the Palestinian territories. (Ha’aretz)

Gershon Baskin proposes a framework for peace. (Jerusalem Post)

Brendan Byers asks if Pres. Obama and Sec. Kerry are working with or against each other, especially on Middle East peace. (NOW)

Yossi Mekelberg says the recent laws passed by the Knesset would leave Israel more fragmented and less pluralistic. (Al Arabiya)

Michael Young says events in Syria have turned in Pres. Assad’s favour. (The National)

Joyce Karam says Lebanon continues to suffer from Syria’s war and Hezbollah’s intervention. (Al Arabiya)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says there are currently two wars in Syria that are barely linked together. (Al Arabiya)

Eyad Abu Shakra says the Syrian revolution is the only real revolution in modern Arab history. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Michael Young says Gen. Aoun is once again a plausible candidate for Lebanon’s next president. (Daily Star)

Gordon Brown says Lebanon provides hope for Syrian children in need of an education. (Daily Star)

William McCants asks why Saudi Arabia has declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization. (Foreign Affairs)

The National says Qatar must explain its foreign policy. (The National)

The New York Times says Egyptians deserve the world’s help in protecting their cultural heritage. (New York Times)

Zeynep Tufekci says the use of social media for political activism is a work in progress. (New York Times)