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News:

Pres. Abbas says he wants more negotiations over a proposed Palestinian UN initiative. (AP)

The US says it is prepared to veto the draft Palestinian resolution. (AP)

PM Netanyahu criticizes Abbas over the UN initiative, and FM Lieberman calls it an act of "aggression." (Xinhua)

Netanyahu says PA policy may lead to Hamas' takeover of the West Bank. (Times of Israel)

Palestinian factions meet in Gaza, as thousands march in support of former Fatah leader Dahlan. (Ma'an)

Hamas may be increasing its military preparations. (Ha'aretz/YNet)

The CSM profiles Palestinian peace activist Aziz Abu Sarah. (Christian Science Monitor)

A new poll suggests most Israelis don't want Netanyahu to continue as PM. (Ha'aretz)

The UN seeks to raise billions of dollars for Syrian refugees. (New York Times/Reuters)

Syrian newborns in Lebanon are at risk for stateless status. (AP)

Syrian government forces besiege rebel groups in Aleppo. (Xinhua)

mass grave, attributed to ISIS extremists, is uncovered in Syria. (Los Angeles Times)

Kurdish forces, backed by US air power, make gains against ISIS extremists. (New York Times)

Two senior ISIS leaders are killed as more US troops head for Iraq. (AP)

The United States delays release of a report on its role in the 1953 Iranian coup. (AP)

Saudi Arabia says its oil decisions are not linked to politics. (AP)

Pakistan says it killed 32 militants in an ambush. (Reuters)

Yemeni women fear newly empowered Houthi forces are restricting freedoms. (Reuters)


Commentary:

Colum Lynch says Palestinians are "rolling the dice" at the UN. (Foreign Policy)

Arab League SG Elaraby says international attitudes to Palestinian statehood are changing. (Asharq Al Awsat)

The National says Palestinians are inching closer to achieving their national goals. (The National)

Jack Khoury says the Palestinian UN initiative is no threat to Israel. (Ha'aretz)

Ha'aretz says Israel should welcome the Palestinian UN initiative. (Ha'aretz)

Diana Buttu says Palestinians should focus on tactics to isolate Israel. (Gulf News)

Nahum Barnea says Israeli politicians talk about Judaism, but ignore Israelis. (YNet)

Michael Karpin says Jerusalem was better off when it was divided. (The Forward)

Paula Astih says Lebanon is bracing for attacks from ISIS and the Al-Nusra Front. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Haroon Mustafa Janjua says Pakistan's blasphemy laws often serve as cover for abuse. (Daily Star)

David Kenner says a new report on Syria by Nir Rosen looks like an attempt to whitewash the regime but may be influential anyway. (Foreign Policy)

News:

Jordan formally submits to the UNSC a draft resolution calling for an end to Israel’s occupation by the end of 2017. (Reuters/AP/New York
Times/AFP/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz)

Text of the UNSC draft resolution is released. (Ha’aretz)

Pres. Abbas says he supports further negotiations over the UN draft resolution. (AP/Times of Israel)

FM Lieberman calls the UN Palestinian resolution a “gimmick.” (Reuters/Ha’aretz)

Economy Minister Bennett says Palestinians’ behavior shows they’re “not worthy of a state.” (Jerusalem Post)

EU Foreign Policy Chief Mogherini says Hamas must remain on the terror list. (Times of Israel)

Israeli occupation forces shoot and injure a Palestinian man near Nablus. (Ma’an)

The New York Times looks at why Israeli border police are increasingly becoming the focus of anger. (New York Times)

Israeli naval forces open fire at fishing boats off the coast of Gaza. (Ma’an)

As US fighter jets strike ISIS targets in Syria, Washington's coalition allies appear increasingly absent from the air war.
(Reuters)

The US is penalizing companies for providing fuel to Syrian forces.
(New York Times)

PM al-Abadi orders the withdrawal of all government lawsuits against journalists and media outlets. (AP)

A new constituency law in Egypt sets stage for the long-awaited parliamentary elections. (Reuters)

Commentary:

Mariam Barghouti says a cab ride around Ramallah  reveals a depressed and resentful people. (New York Times)

Raed Omari says Palestinians should postpone their bid at the UN. (Al Arabiya)

Gideon Levy says the US must support the French resolution to the UNSC to bring about an end to the occupation within two years. (Ha’aretz)

Yossi Shain asks if the US will veto the UN Palestinian resolution. (Ynet)

The Daily Star says Sec. Kerry should ensure Israelis recognize and respect international law. (Daily Star)

Don Futterman says Israel should recognize a Palestinian state. (Ha’aretz)

Eytan Gilboa says an American intervention in Israeli elections will achieve the opposite result. (Ynet)

Ha’aretz says DM Ya’alon’s recent statements and decisions prove he is not fit to serve as defense minister. (Ha’aretz)

Asmaa al-Ghoul asks who is targeting the French cultural center in Gaza. (Al-Monitor)

Elizabeth Dickinson asks what happened to Arab liberalism after the Arab Spring. (Politico)

Eyad Abu Shakra looks at the plan for Syria by UN Envoy de Mistura.
(Asharq al-Awsat)

Vali Nasr says a nuclear deal with Iran is the key to an American strategy to resolve the region’s rivalries. (New York Times)

Joyce Karam says Iran is unlikely to be "another Cuba" for Pres. Obama.
(Al Arabiya)

Miriam Awadallah profiles Syrian-American composer Malek Jandali. (Annahar)

News:

FM al-Maliki says an Arab-backed draft resolution on ending Israel's occupation will be submitted later today to the UNSC for a vote. (AP/AFP)

Sec. Kerry reportedly told the Palestinians the US will veto the Palestinian UN resolution. (Ynet)

Kerry says the US is seeking to “carefully calibrate” steps on Palestine’s UN bid. (AFP/JTA/Ha’aretz/The National)

The European Parliament passes a resolution supporting the recognition of the State of Palestine. (AP/Ma’an/PNN/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

An EU court orders the removal of Hamas from its terrorist list. (AP/New York Times/PNN/JTA/Ha’aretz) 

PM Netanyahu demands EU immediately restore Hamas to its terrorism blacklist. (AFP/Times of Israel/Jerusalem Post) 

Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention say international humanitarian law must be followed in areas affected by the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. (AP)

A poll indicates two thirds of Palestinians are afraid to criticize Pres. Abbas. (AP/Times of Israel)

Israeli occupation forces detain eight Palestinians in East Jerusalem. (Ma’an)

The New York Times looks at Israel’s crackdown on Lehava, a group tied to anti-Arab acts. (New York Times)

The Palestinian boycott of Israeli goods is reportedly faltering. (The Media Line)

Iraqi Kurdish forces launch an operation to retake the town of Sinjar. (Reuters/AP)

Germany will send 100 troops to Erbil to train the Iraqi Kurdish forces against ISIS. (AP)

A Chinese newspaper says about 300 Chinese people are fighting alongside ISIS in Iraq and Syria. (Reuters)

Iraq has requested a one-year deferral of $4.6 billion on Gulf War reparations. (Reuters) 

Iran says it backs Russia’s efforts to host a new round of peace talks between Damascus and the Syrian opposition. (Reuters)

Pres. Erdogan says the EU cannot give a “democracy lesson” to Turkey. (AFP)

Commentary:

Matthew Levitt looks at the decision by an EU court to annul Hamas’ terrorist designation. (WINEP)

Peter Beinart says why asking the UN to endorse a Palestinian state is more unilateral than building settlements. (Ha’aretz)

The Jordan Times says Netanyahu continues to show “blatant disregard” for the mandate of the UN and for international law. (Jordan Times)

Osama Al Sharif looks at the Palestinians’ bid at the UN Security Council. (Jordan Times)

Ben Caspit says the US will veto a Palestinian UN bid. (Al-Monitor)

Ahmad Melhem says the PA was all talk and no action on Abu Ein’s death. (Al-Monitor)

Thomas Friedman explains why Israel’s next election matters. (New York Times)

Ron Kampeas asks if Jewish American groups will “pivot” to the left if Labor Party leader Herzog wins. (JTA

Chemi Shalev offers a “sneak peak” at the results for the next Israeli election. (Ha’aretz)

Hassan Hassan looks at the potency of the Syrian jihad’s message around the world and online. (Foreign Policy)

Taylor Luck says Iraq’s Sunni tribes need support from Washington. (The National)

Michael Young says the discussion on Arab democratisation has come a full circle. (The National)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says the Russians will not let go of Pres. Assad. (Al Arabiya)

Raghida Dergham says the GCC has not fragmented. (Al Arabiya) 

News:

FM al-Maliki says the PA may submit a French initiative to the UN on ending Israel's occupation. (Ma’an/Times of Israel)

The PA reportedly does not have the majority needed to approve a UN Security Council resolution. (JTA/Ha’aretz)

Sec. Kerry meets with Palestinian Chief Negotiator Erekat in London(AFP/Ha’aretz/Jerusalem Post)

PM Netanyahu and former Pres. Peres ask Pres. Hollande and FM Fabius to delay any UN resolution on Mideast peace. (Ha’aretz)

Netanyahu says European support for Palestinians “endangers Israel.” (Ynet)

Israeli occupation forces kill a Palestinian man during an arrest raid in a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. (Reuters/AP/Ma’an/JTA/Times of Israel)

Palestine’s UN Amb. Mansour makes his first address to the ICC. (AFP)

Kerry says no one should interfere in Israeli elections. (AP)

Hamas leader Meshaal says Palestinian reconciliation progress is not “satisfying.” (Ma’an)

A poll indicates most Israelis see a crisis in US-Israel relations. (JTA)

An Israeli official says an exercise meant to test an advanced missile defense systemdeveloped with the US has failed. (AP/Ha’aretz)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says  around 100 Syrian soldiers and 80 Islamist fighters were killed during a two-day battle. (Reuters/New York Times)

FM Lavrov says Russia is “optimistic” on Syria peace talks early next year. (Reuters)

Iraq’s government withholds salaries to “ghost soldiers.” (The National)

Spain arrests seven men accused of recruiting women for ISIS. (Reuters)

France arrests 10 people in a series of raids aimed at dismantling a recruitment and transportation network for would-be jihadists wanting to reach Syria. (New York Times)

Iran says bilateral nuclear talks with the US were proceeding in a “good atmosphere.” (Reuters)

Commentary:

Aaron David Miller asks if Pres. Obama and Kerry should try to shape the next Israeli elections. (Foreign Policy)

Akiva Eldar says Europeans are changing the rules of the game on Israeli-Palestinian peace. (Al-Monitor)

Raphael Ahren says the European UN proposal will probably include a reference to Israel as a “Jewish state.” (Times of Israel)

Salman Masalha calls on Palestinian citizens of Israel to boycott the elections. (Ha’aretz)

The Jewish Daily Forward looks at who earns what at America’s biggest Jewish non-profits. (Jewish Daily Forward)

The New York Times says Egypt could receive $1.3 billion in American military aid regardless of whether its government continues with its authoritarian ways. (New York Times)

Ranj Alaaldin says Iraq’s peshmerga must be unified. (New York Times)

Hussein Shobokshi says dealing with Syrian refugees is not a political issue but a moral, humanitarian, and social one. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Khaled Almaeena says Saudi Arabia’s new Cabinet ministers must lead
from the front. (Al Arabiya)

 

News:

Pres. Abbas will push for a UN Security Council vote this week on a resolution setting a November 2016 deadline for ending the Israeli occupation. (AP/AFP/PNN/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Sec. Kerry and PM Netanyahu will meet in Rome to discuss the Palestinian UN statehood bid. (Reuters/New York Times)

Netanyahu says he rejects the Palestinian UN bid. (AFP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel) 

Abbas says the main concern of the Palestinian government is the reconstruction of Gaza. (Ma’an)

The population of Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank has surged during Netanyahu's years in office. (AP/The National)

Portugal’s Parliament passes a non-binding resolution calling for recognition of Palestine. (JTA)

Former American Amb. Kurtzer says the US should ignore Israeli elections and submit a plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace. (Ha’aretz)

Three Israelis are charged with torching an Arab-Jewish school in Jerusalem.(Reuters/Ynet/Jerusalem Post)\

Israeli police says a fire at a West Bank mosque last month was most likely caused by an electrical fault and not the result of arson. (New York Times)

Israel will demolish the home of Mutaz Hijazi, who attempted to assassinate Israeli far-right activist Yehuda Glick. (Ma’an)

Israeli occupation forces detain 13 Palestinians in the occupied territories. (Ma’an)

Hamas flies a drone over Gaza during its anniversary parade. (AFP/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

Israel’s Shin Bet thwarts an alleged planned suicide bomb attack in Tel Aviv. (JTA/Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

The EU backs a UN plan for a truce in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo. (Reuters)

The Syrian army recaptures territory north of Aleppo. (Reuters)

Reuters looks at the challenges facing PM al-Abadi. (Reuters)

ISIS extremists shoot down an Iraqi military helicopter. (AP)

The New York Times looks at how ISIS’  has exerted control over schools and other aspects of society while doing little to provide services in Mosul. (New York Times)

Saudi Prince bin Talal’s pan-Arab news channel Alarab will go live in February. (AP)

Turkish police conduct raids in a dozen cities, arresting journalists and police. (AP/The National)

Egypt denies entry to former American official and Carnegie analyst Michelle Dunne. (New York Times/Washington Post)

The Egyptian gay community suffers a crackdown under Pres. Sissi. (Washington Post) 

Commentary:

Vincent Fean says Israel should see European support for Palestinian statehood as a step toward a peace deal, not a threat. (New York Times)

Avi Issacharoff says the PA is trying to play chess against Netanyahu and the US. (Times of Israel)

Ha’aretz says the US has made it clear that “rhetorical juggling and slogans” are no longer enough to save Israel from the Palestinian initiative. (Ha’aretz)

The Daily Star says US credibility is on the line with regards to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Daily Star)

Amos Harel says Palestinian-Israeli security coordination is a “win-win” situation for both. (Ha’aretz)

The Times of Israel interviews former Mossad chief Efraim Halevy. (Times of Israel)

Uri Savir says, until the Israeli elections, the US and Europe will attempt to balance nonintervention and expressing policy positions relevant to the Palestinian issue. (Al-Monitor)

The Washington Post says a war authorization against ISIS should be Congress’s priority. (Washington Post)

The National says more must be done for helpless Syrian refugees. (The National)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed looks at the recent American plan to train the Syrian opposition against the Assad regime. (Al Arabiya)

Osman Mirghani says Egypt is facing a war on multiple fronts. (Asharq al-Awsat)

H.A. Hellyer looks at the consequences for Egypt for refusing to allow Dunne to enter the country. (Al Arabiya)

Bel Trew says Egypt's new regime is cracking down on the gay community -- with a little help from the media. (Foreign Policy)

Rami Khouri asks if the Middle East can debate torture. (Daily Star)


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