News:
The PLO says Israeli occupation forces have killed 56 Palestinians and injured 897 [1] since the resumption of peace talks in July. (Ma’an)
DM Ya’alon [2] apologizes to the US [3] for criticizing Washington. [4] (AP/PNN/Ha’aretz)
Pres. Abbas asks [5] the US to help free jailed Fatah figure Barghouti [6]. (Reuters/AP)
Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Danon [7] says he will resign [8] if more Palestinians are freed. (Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)
A poll indicates that most Palestinians are dissatisfied [9] with the peace process. (Xinhua)
Palestinians are looking [10] for more inputs than just the American role in the peace process. (The Media Line)
Palestinians protest [11] at the Temple Mount/Al Aqsa Mosque [12] over right-wing MK Feiglin’s visit. [13](Ma’an/Ha’aretz/JTA)
Palestinian security forces arrest over 40 members of Hamas [14] in Nablus. (Ma’an)
Former Sec. Clinton tells Jewish Americans [15] Congress should not impose new sanctions on Iran. (Times of Israel)
Pres. Peres sends [16] New Year’s greeting to Iranians [17]. (AP/Jerusalem Post)
Israel’s airstrikes on Syria may be a message for Hezbollah [18] not to approach the occupied Golan Heights. (Ha’aretz)
The UN-OPCW mission [19] says nearly half of Syria’s chemical weapons [20] stockpile has been removed. (Reuters/New York Times)
Syrian troops close a border crossing [21] with Lebanon. (AP)
Qatar is reportedly unlikely to abandon [22] its favored Syrian rebels. (Reuters)
Many Egyptian investors believe [23] a Sisi presidency will bring stability. (Reuters)
A suicide attack [24] in a cafe in Baghdad kills 12. (AP)
Commentary:
Ravit Hecht [25] says PM Netanyahu is using the “Jewish state” demand to avoid compromising with the Palestinians. (Ha’aretz)
Peter Beinart [26] says Israel must define the “Jewish state” before asking Abbas to recognize it. (Ha’aretz)
Ari Shavit [27] says there can be no peace if Palestinians don’t do their share. (Ha’aretz)
Gideon Levy [28] says the annexation of Crimea is less problematic than the occupation of the Palestinian territories. (Ha’aretz)
Gershon Baskin [29] proposes a framework for peace. (Jerusalem Post)
Brendan Byers [30] asks if Pres. Obama and Sec. Kerry are working with or against each other, especially on Middle East peace. (NOW)
Yossi Mekelberg [31] says the recent laws passed by the Knesset would leave Israel more fragmented and less pluralistic. (Al Arabiya)
Michael Young [32] says events in Syria have turned in Pres. Assad’s favour. (The National)
Joyce Karam [33] says Lebanon continues to suffer from Syria’s war and Hezbollah’s intervention. (Al Arabiya)
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed [34] says there are currently two wars in Syria that are barely linked together. (Al Arabiya)
Eyad Abu Shakra [35] says the Syrian revolution is the only real revolution in modern Arab history. (Asharq Al Awsat)
Michael Young [36] says Gen. Aoun is once again a plausible candidate for Lebanon’s next president. (Daily Star)
Gordon Brown [37] says Lebanon provides hope for Syrian children in need of an education. (Daily Star)
William McCants [38] asks why Saudi Arabia has declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization. (Foreign Affairs)
The National [39] says Qatar must explain its foreign policy. (The National)
The New York Times [40] says Egyptians deserve the world’s help in protecting their cultural heritage. (New York Times)
Zeynep Tufekci [41] says the use of social media for political activism is a work in progress. (New York Times)
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