News:
Sec. Kerry and Pres. Abbas will meet again [1] in Jordan today. (Xinhua)
Recent developments appear to have complicated Kerry's Middle East peace efforts [2], especiallynew settlement activity [3]. (New York Times/Xinhua)
Kerry reiterates the US considers new settlement activity "illegitimate." [4] (Xinhua)
Nonetheless, Kerry says he sees some "clarity" [5] emerging from the talks, and is extending his trip [6]. (AP)
Abbas reportedly offers a united Jerusalem [7] administered by a joint "supreme council." (Times of Israel)
A new poll suggests 70% of Palestinians [8] expect the new peace talks to fail. (Ma'an)
Thousands of Palestinians face uncertainty [9] over Israeli home demolition orders in the occupied West Bank. (Ma'an)
Israel begins demolishing another 11 Palestinian homes [10] in occupied East Jerusalem. (Jerusalem Post)
A Swiss report [11] into the remains of the late Pres. Arafat [12] says its findings "moderately support" [13] thetheory he was poisoned [14]. (Institut de Radiophysique/New York Times/AP/Washington Post)
The Swiss scientists are scheduled to hold a news conference [15] on their findings later today. (Reuters)
An Israeli radiation expert calls the findings "completely fabricated." [16] (YNet)
Israel insists it did not poison Arafat [17] and that former PM Sharon ordered he "not be harmed." [18](Reuters/AFP)
The PLO calls for an international committee to investigate [19] Arafat's death. (AFP)
An Israeli court convicts an Islamist leader [20] in Israel of incitement [21] to violence. (Xinhua/YNet)
Lebanon complains Israel is using border stations to spy [22] on Lebanon. (Xinhua)
Increasing numbers of young men from Gaza [23] are fighting and dying in the conflict in Syria. (AFP)
Nationalist and Islamist rebels meet in Syria [24] 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 [25]. (New York Times)
Iran says a nuclear deal [26], though "very difficult," [27] is possible within a week [28]. (Reuters/Jerusalem Post/Ha'aretz)
An Egyptian court upholds a general ban [29] on the Muslim Brotherhood [30]. (AP/Los Angeles Times)
Commentary:
John Reed [31] looks at the difficult path the Palestinian economy will face to emerge from isolation. (Financial Times)
Bernard Avishai [32] says peace is important to the Israeli economy. (The New Yorker)
Cesar Chelala [33] says Israeli settlement plans are an unnecessary provocation. (The Daily Star)
Sara Miller Llana [34] looks at the potential impact of new allegations about Arafat's death on the peace process. (Christian Science Monitor)
Asmaa al-Ghoul [35] says expectations are now generally low for the Nov. 11 "Tamarod" campaign against Hamas rule in Gaza. (Al Monitor)
Gideon Levy [36] says Israel deserves a Foreign Minister like Lieberman. (Ha'aretz)
Attila Somfalvi [37] asks how Lieberman's return as FM will impact. (YNet)
Akiva Eldar [38] says Lieberman will resume the role of Israel's "bad cop." (Al Monitor)
Aryeh Eldad [39] says not all criticism is "incitement." (Ha'aretz)
Gershon Baskin [40] says public and private atmospherics are crucial to negotiating success. (Jerusalem Post)
Jeffrey Goldberg [41] thinks Sec. Hagel is overestimating the importance of an Israeli-Palestinian agreement to regional stability. (Bloomberg)
Abdulaziz Sager [42] says US-Saudi relations have reached a crucial phase. (Arab News)
Douglas Bloomfield [43] says the Saudi government shouldn't be angry with the US, it should participate on behalf of peace. (Jerusalem Post)
Mark Urban [44] looks at the veracity of reports Saudi Arabia has purchased nuclear weapons from Pakistan for future delivery. (BBC)
Francis Matthew [45] says the US lacks a consistent strategy in either Middle East or Asia. (Gulf News)
Barbara Slavin [46] says, like the Iranians, its P5+1 interlocutors are also looking for quick results. (Al Monitor)
David Kenner [47] says Saudi Arabia has a secret plan, based on Pakistan, to overthrow Pres. Assad. (Foreign Policy)
Michael Weiss [48] asks if the agreement to get Syria to renounce its chemical weapons was a "success," what would failure look like? (Foreign Policy)