News:

Pres. Abbas will meet with Pres. Obama to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.(Xinhua/Ha’aretz)

On the eve of Chancellor Merkel’s visit, PM Netanyahu says settlements are not the biggest obstacle to peace. (The Jerusalem Post/The Times of Israel)

Merkel and German ministers head to Israel for a landmark visit. (Ynet)

Netanyahu voices his concern over the Iranian nuclear program amid the Geneva talks.(Xinhua)

Former Fatah official Dahlan accuses Abbas of taking part in negotiations with Israel for his own political and financial benefit. (The Jerusalem Post)

A Palestinian official says the PA could address the UN over an Israeli settlement boycott. (Ma’an)

Hamas seeks to privatize Gaza border crossings due to the deteriorating economic situation.(AFP/Reuters)

Israeli occupation forces arrest two Palestinians in the West Bank. (Xinhua)

Israeli occupation forces issue eviction orders to 40 Palestinian families in East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)

The destruction of tunnels by Egyptian authorities marks “the end of good times” for Gazan entrepreneurs. (The National)

Israeli gas will be sold to Jordan. (AP)

An Arab professor is elected deputy chairman of the Council for Higher Education at the University of Haifa. (Ha’aretz)

The Palestinian Scouts Association organizes a unified march in three Arab countries to demand the “right of return.” (PNN)

The UN Security Council demands humanitarian aid for all of Syria. (AP/The New York Times)

Syria’s opposition Supreme Military Council is in chaos. (The New York Times)

Syrian regime troops advance near a Golan Heights city.(AP)

A Syrian rebel commander is killed by rival Islamists. (Reuters)

An Al-Qaeda linked group claims responsibility for a suicide bombing against Lebanese soldiers. (AP)

Egypt’s military-backed government resigns. (AP/Reuters/The Washington Post)

The Egyptian army kills 14 militants in Sinai. (Xinhua)

Egypt elects the first woman, Hala Shukrallah, to head a political party.(The Jerusalem Post)

There are growing concerns over the status of academic freedom in Egypt. (The New York Times)

Chinese FM Yi visits Baghdad. (The National)

Iraqi election officials begin handing out new computerized voter identification cards. (AP) 

In Iraq 17 people are killed in bombings and shootings. (Reuters)

Iraq will start building a new oil refinery. (AP) 

Commentary:

Amal Moussa says the Palestinian issue has become more complicated because it has lost both its position and prominence among Arab nations. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Danny Danon says Israel has no choice but to reject the framework proposal of Sec. Kerry. (The Jerusalem Post)

Donniel Hartman says negotiations with the Palestinians do not only require a coalition in the Knesset but also need to be supported in the streets. (The Times of Israel)

Ha’aretz says as long as Israel controls East Jerusalem, it must protect the rights of the Palestinians living there. (Ha’aretz)

Oudeh Basharat says if the Israeli government intends to try to draft Christian Arabs into the army, it should start building more prisons. (Ha’aretz)

Moshe Arens says those who call for a boycott of Israeli investments in the settlements lack the knowledge of basic economic principles. (Ha’aretz)

Amir Oren says next year Netanyahu will decide if he will move on to the presidency. (Ha’aretz)

Amos Schonfield and Ella Taylor say UK Jewish students are urging their community to use only maps that show Israel in its 1967 borders.(Ha’aretz)

David Benkof says “Palestine denial” rhetoric invalidates Palestinian rights. (The Times of Israel)

Yishai Mishor and Oded Steinberg say there is no difference between Jewish and Palestinian extremists. (Ynet)

Ofra Bengio says the “Shiite threat” in the Middle East has helped form a “virtual alliance” between some Sunni states and Israel. (The Jerusalem Post)

Theodore Karasik says the US and Saudi Arabia are finally cooperating on Syria. (Al Arabiya)

The Jordan Times says the adoption of the UN Security Council resolution on humanitarian aid in Syria is a starting point. (The Jordan Times)

The National says the UN resolution on Syria highlights the limited ability of the international community to challenge the Assad regime. (The National)

The Gulf News says there is nothing to celebrate about the UN resolution on Syria.(Gulf News)

Amer Al Sabaileh says the key to current US strategy in Syria is to remove any possible obstacle to a regional settlement. (The Jordan Times)

Sharif Nashashibi says the grievances of Sinai residents are long-running, and many have little to do with former Pres. Morsi and Islam. (The National)

Hussein Ibish says Libya’s oil reserves should be its biggest asset but is its greatest liability. (The National)

The New York Times says Turkey’s new law that tightens government control of the internet is the latest blow to its democracy. (The New York Times)

Fred Hiatt says Obama’s turnabout on foreign policy is “dizzying.” (The Washington Post)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says there is too much conspiracy theory in many interpretations of modern Middle East history. (Al Arabiya)