News:
Pres. Abbas [1] will meet with Pres. Obama to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. [2](Xinhua/Ha’aretz)
On the eve of Chancellor Merkel’s visit, PM Netanyahu says settlements [3] are not the biggest obstacle to peace. [4] (The Jerusalem Post/The Times of Israel)
Merkel and German ministers head to Israel [5] for a landmark visit. (Ynet)
Netanyahu voices his concern [6] 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. [7] (The Jerusalem Post)
A Palestinian official says the PA could address [8] the UN over an Israeli settlement boycott. (Ma’an)
Hamas seeks to privatize [9] Gaza border crossings due to the deteriorating economic situation. [10](AFP/Reuters)
Israeli occupation forces arrest two Palestinians [11] in the West Bank. (Xinhua)
Israeli occupation forces issue eviction orders [12] to 40 Palestinian families in East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)
The destruction of tunnels by Egyptian authorities marks “the end of good times” [13] for Gazan entrepreneurs. (The National)
Israeli gas will be sold [14] to Jordan. (AP)
An Arab professor is elected deputy chairman [15] of the Council for Higher Education at the University of Haifa. (Ha’aretz)
The Palestinian Scouts Association organizes a unified march [16] in three Arab countries to demand the “right of return.” (PNN)
The UN Security Council demands humanitarian aid [17] for all of Syria. [18] (AP/The New York Times)
Syria’s opposition Supreme Military Council is in chaos. [19] (The New York Times)
Syrian regime troops advance near a Golan Heights city. [20](AP)
A Syrian rebel commander is killed by rival Islamists. [21] (Reuters)
An Al-Qaeda linked group claims responsibility [22] for a suicide bombing against Lebanese soldiers. (AP)
Egypt’s [23] military-backed [24] government resigns. [25] (AP/Reuters/The Washington Post)
The Egyptian army kills 14 militants [26] in Sinai. (Xinhua)
Egypt elects the first woman [27], Hala Shukrallah, to head a political party.(The Jerusalem Post)
There are growing concerns over the status of academic freedom [28] in Egypt. (The New York Times)
Chinese FM Yi visits Baghdad. [29] (The National)
Iraqi election officials begin handing out new computerized voter identification cards. [30] (AP)
In Iraq 17 people are killed [31] in bombings and shootings. (Reuters)
Iraq will start building a new oil refinery. [32] (AP)
Commentary:
Amal Moussa [33] 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 [34] says Israel has no choice but to reject the framework proposal of Sec. Kerry. (The Jerusalem Post)
Donniel Hartman [35] 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 [36] says as long as Israel controls East Jerusalem, it must protect the rights of the Palestinians living there. (Ha’aretz)
Oudeh Basharat [37] 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 [38] says those who call for a boycott of Israeli investments in the settlements lack the knowledge of basic economic principles. (Ha’aretz)
Amir Oren [39] says next year Netanyahu will decide if he will move on to the presidency. (Ha’aretz)
Amos Schonfield and Ella Taylor [40] say UK Jewish students are urging their community to use only maps that show Israel in its 1967 borders.(Ha’aretz)
David Benkof [41] says “Palestine denial” rhetoric invalidates Palestinian rights. (The Times of Israel)
Yishai Mishor and Oded Steinberg [42] say there is no difference between Jewish and Palestinian extremists. (Ynet)
Ofra Bengio [43] 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 [44] says the US and Saudi Arabia are finally cooperating on Syria. (Al Arabiya)
The Jordan Times [45] says the adoption of the UN Security Council resolution on humanitarian aid in Syria is a starting point. (The Jordan Times)
The National [46] says the UN resolution on Syria highlights the limited ability of the international community to challenge the Assad regime. (The National)
The Gulf News [47] says there is nothing to celebrate about the UN resolution on Syria.(Gulf News)
Amer Al Sabaileh [48] says the key to current US strategy in Syria is to remove any possible obstacle to a regional settlement. (The Jordan Times)
Sharif Nashashibi [49] 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 [50] says Libya’s oil reserves should be its biggest asset but is its greatest liability. (The National)
The New York Times [51] 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 [52] says Obama’s turnabout on foreign policy is “dizzying.” (The Washington Post)
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed [53] says there is too much conspiracy theory in many interpretations of modern Middle East history. (Al Arabiya)