News:

Sec. Kerry and Pres. Abbas will meet again in Jordan today. (Xinhua)

Recent developments appear to have complicated Kerry's Middle East peace efforts, especiallynew settlement activity. (New York Times/Xinhua)

Kerry reiterates the US considers new settlement activity "illegitimate." (Xinhua)

Nonetheless, Kerry says he sees some "clarity" emerging from the talks, and is extending his trip. (AP)

Abbas reportedly offers a united Jerusalem administered by a joint "supreme council." (Times of Israel)

A new poll suggests 70% of Palestinians expect the new peace talks to fail. (Ma'an)

Thousands of Palestinians face uncertainty over Israeli home demolition orders in the occupied West Bank. (Ma'an)

Israel begins demolishing another 11 Palestinian homes in occupied East Jerusalem. (Jerusalem Post)

A Swiss report into the remains of the late Pres. Arafat says its findings "moderately support" thetheory he was poisoned. (Institut de Radiophysique/New York Times/AP/Washington Post)

The Swiss scientists are scheduled to hold a news conference on their findings later today. (Reuters)

An Israeli radiation expert calls the findings "completely fabricated." (YNet)

Israel insists it did not poison Arafat and that former PM Sharon ordered he "not be harmed."(Reuters/AFP)

The PLO calls for an international committee to investigate Arafat's death. (AFP)

An Israeli court convicts an Islamist leader in Israel of incitement to violence. (Xinhua/YNet)

Lebanon complains Israel is using border stations to spy on Lebanon. (Xinhua)

Increasing numbers of young men from Gaza are fighting and dying in the conflict in Syria. (AFP)

Nationalist and Islamist rebels meet in Syria in a last-ditch effort to prevent a major split. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

An Obama administration official says the US will ease sanctions on Iran if it halts its nuclear program. (New York Times)

Iran says a nuclear deal, though "very difficult," is possible within a week. (Reuters/Jerusalem Post/Ha'aretz)

An Egyptian court upholds a general ban on the Muslim Brotherhood. (AP/Los Angeles Times)

Commentary:

John Reed looks at the difficult path the Palestinian economy will face to emerge from isolation. (Financial Times)

Bernard Avishai says peace is important to the Israeli economy. (The New Yorker)

Cesar Chelala says Israeli settlement plans are an unnecessary provocation. (The Daily Star)

Sara Miller Llana looks at the potential impact of new allegations about Arafat's death on the peace process. (Christian Science Monitor)

Asmaa al-Ghoul says expectations are now generally low for the Nov. 11 "Tamarod" campaign against Hamas rule in Gaza. (Al Monitor)

Gideon Levy says Israel deserves a Foreign Minister like Lieberman. (Ha'aretz)

Attila Somfalvi asks how Lieberman's return as FM will impact. (YNet)

Akiva Eldar says Lieberman will resume the role of Israel's "bad cop." (Al Monitor)

Aryeh Eldad says not all criticism is "incitement." (Ha'aretz)

Gershon Baskin says public and private atmospherics are crucial to negotiating success. (Jerusalem Post)

Jeffrey Goldberg thinks Sec. Hagel is overestimating the importance of an Israeli-Palestinian agreement to regional stability. (Bloomberg)

Abdulaziz Sager says US-Saudi relations have reached a crucial phase. (Arab News)

Douglas Bloomfield says the Saudi government shouldn't be angry with the US, it should participate on behalf of peace. (Jerusalem Post)

Mark Urban looks at the veracity of reports Saudi Arabia has purchased nuclear weapons from Pakistan for future delivery. (BBC)

Francis Matthew says the US lacks a consistent strategy in either Middle East or Asia. (Gulf News)

Barbara Slavin says, like the Iranians, its P5+1 interlocutors are also looking for quick results. (Al Monitor)

David Kenner says Saudi Arabia has a secret plan, based on Pakistan, to overthrow Pres. Assad. (Foreign Policy)

Michael Weiss asks if the agreement to get Syria to renounce its chemical weapons was a "success," what would failure look like? (Foreign Policy)