News:
Sec. Kerry [1] reportedly presents new security ideas [2] to PM Netanyahu and Pres. Abbas. (New York Times/Xinhua)
Kerry meets Netanyahu three times [3] in 24 hours. (AFP)
Kerry praises Abbas [4] for negotiating "despite difficulties." (Times of Israel)
Kerry says the parties are closer [5] on the issues than any time "in years," [6] and chances of peace are good [7]. (YNet/Times of Israel/Washington Post)
Netanyahu says Israel is ready for a "historic peace" [8] with the Palestinians. (UPI)
Israel rules out any compromises [9] on the Jordan Valley. (AFP)
Palestinians reportedly reject Kerry's proposals [10] as "prolonging and maintaining the occupation." [11](Reuters/Ha'aretz)
Abbas, declaring a day of mourning [12], calls the late Nelson Mandela "a symbol of liberation from colonialism and occupation." [13] (Ma'an/AFP)
Jailed Fatah leader Barghouti [14] says of Mandela: "Our Freedom Seems Possible Because You Reached Yours." [15] (PNN/AFP)
Mandela was close to many Jews but resolutely loyal to the Palestinian cause [16]. (Times of Israel)
Palestinians widely praise Mandela [17]. (The National)
Kerry urges Israel and the Palestinians [18] to make peace like Mandela. (Reuters)
Israel clears a soldier [19] in the 2011 killing [20] of a Palestinian protester [21] with a tear-gas canister fired at close range. (Reuters/Ma'an/Ha'aretz)
Palestinian homeowners face eviction [22] in a forgotten corner of East Jerusalem. (Deutsche Welle)
American Christian activists [23] are helping both settlers and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. (USA Today)
Gaza is suffering [24] more than ever as Egypt intensifies its blockade. (Al-Ahram Weekly)
The first planned Palestinian city [25] in the occupied West Bank is a symbol of pride. (AP)
The frontman of Grammy-winning Puerto Rican hip-hop outfit Calle 13 says he identifies with Palestinians [26]. (AP)
A Swiss expert insists [27] the late Pres. Arafat may have been poisoned despite French findings to the contrary. (AFP)
Bethlehem is receiving help from UNESCO [28] in this year's Christmas festivities. (Al Monitor)
An Israeli conference urges the creation of a nuclear-free Middle East [29]. (Ha'aretz)
An Al Qaeda-linked group claims responsibility [30] for the attack on Yemen's Defense Ministry [31] that killed 52. (Reuters/AP)
The US military raises its regional alert [32] status after the Yemen attack. (Reuters)
Smuggling of weapons [33] across the Jordanian-Syrian borders rose by 300 percent in 2013 compared to 2012. (Xinhua)
The Syrian Military Council is reportedly facing waves of defections [34]. (The Media Line)
Sec. Hagel will seek to reassure US Gulf allies [35] on the recent Iran deal. (AP)
Egyptian Salafists urge their supporters to vote yes [36] on the draft new constitution. (Xinhua)
Pres. Rouhani describes Iran's relations with Iraq as "strategic" [37] during a visit by PM al-Maliki. (Xinhua)
Egypt may the considering declaring the Muslim Brotherhood a "terrorist organization." [38] (Jerusalem Post)
UAE President Sheikh Khalifa has accepted an invitation to visit Iran [39] at sometime in the near future. (The National)
Commentary:
Ron Ben-Yishai [40] examines the new American security proposals. (YNet)
Barak Ravid [41] says Americans are starting to understand external intervention is required for progress on peace talks. (Ha'aretz)
Muhammad Shtayyeh [42] asks, if there can be a Geneva conference on Syria, why not on Israel and Palestine. (Ha'aretz)
Rye Druzin [43] as many on both sides believe a two-state solution is inevitable despite how distant it now seems. (The Media Line)
Ha'aretz [44] says, since Netanyahu only makes agreements when pressured, the US becomes indispensable. (Ha'aretz)
Herb Keinon [45] says Kerry needs to regain Israel's trust to make progress. (Jerusalem Post)
Raphael Ahren [46] says Kerry has moved from sticks to carrots in dealing with Israel, but it won't work. (Times of Israel)
Ataollah Mohajerani [47] says, given the regional dynamics, Pres. Obama might actually be able to make a real breakthrough on peace. (Asharq Al Awsat)
Alan Dershowitz [48] says there are reasonable and legitimate grounds for US-Israel disagreement. (Jerusalem Post)
Shaul Arieli [49] says the 1967 war provides the starting point for a peace agreement. (Ha'aretz)
Kevin Connelly [50] looks at how Mandela will be remembered by Israelis and Palestinians. (BBC)
J.J. Goldberg [51] looks at Mandela's relationship with Zionism. (The Forward)
George Hishmeh [52] looks at the new UNRWA exhibit on the history of Palestinian refugees. (Jordan Times)
Yossi Sarid [53] says it's reprehensible Israel would steal land from Bedouin and Druze that serve in their own military. (Ha'aretz)
Ahmad Azem [54] says Israel's forced mass relocation plan for Bedouins is driving Palestinian activism within the country. (Al Monitor)
Mazal Mualem [55] says Israeli leaders are impervious to Europe's clear message on settlements. (Al Monitor)
Ephraim Sneh [56] says the recent Iran deal "validates nuclear blackmail" and makes Israeli-Palestinian peace less likely. (Christian Science Monitor)
Maurice Ostroff [57] asks why Israel is so isolated in objecting to the Iranian nuclear deal. (Jerusalem Post)
Khaled Mattawa [58] says Libyans are finally rising up against abusive, extremist militias. (New York Times)
Khalid bin Sultan Al Nahyan [59] says Iran's overtures to the Gulf present a historic opportunity. (The National)
The National [60] says Gulf states are pondering Iran's purported "new" intentions. (The National)
Samir Salha [61] wonders if Turkey is witnessing the end of the Erdoğan-Gülen Partnership. (Asharq Al Awsat)
Rana Sabbagh [62] says free speech is regressing in the Arab media. (Jordan Times)
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