Apparently, the head of Saudi Arabia's General Intelligence Directorate has been in Israel this week, visiting Israeli and PA officials. What motivated his visit? And what were his objectives?

The Palestinian Authority is pivoting toward Persia while its counterpart in Gaza, Hamas, is pivoting toward ISIS. Not only is the story important in its own right, the details it contains is testimony to the extent of Israeli intelligence. The methods by which it obtained the particulars of this report are an undisclosed but provocative tease. When Israel's enemies secretly meet, their meetings are no so secret as they think.

For 24 years both Israel and Palestinian negotiators have been constrained to one model for peace: a two-state solution. As both sides reject this option, and as Donald J. Trump assumes the office of the US Presidency, there is a unique opportunity to consider other solutions, other paradigms for peace.

Along with President Abbas and his Palestinian Authority, and in a shared disregard of Hamas, the international community shows no interest in Palestinian refugees suffering in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. Why?

If anyone might persuade Mahmoud Abbas to meet with Benjamin Netanyahu, it is Vladimir Putin. If Putin succeeds and regardless the outcome, there will be cause to celebrate. Still, Abbas's intransigence makes it unlikely. Octoberfest - with beer, not vodka - will remain in Europe.