Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump arrives in China with Iran war looming over talks Tehran will closely watch whether Beijing seeks to restrain Washington or quietly aligns with US pressure on Iran’s oil exports and regional role. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Israel’s drone dilemma: Hezbollah’s low-cost threat reshapes Lebanon front While Israeli and Lebanese delegations are set to meet in Washington for the third time, the Israeli military faces a growing threat from Hezbollah’s cheap yet highly lethal drones. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran’s Ghalibaf: US must accept Tehran proposal By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
EU ministers agree to sanction violent West Bank settlers: What to know European foreign ministers have agreed to sanction extremist West Bank settlers, but are still discussing the list of names. Israel
Analysis CIA report on Iran missiles undercuts Netanyahu as war euphoria dissipates By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Hezbollah commanders killed as renewed strikes test Lebanon-Israel talks By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Netanyahu leaves annexation on back burner in talks with Pompeo Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made no mention of annexation in his press conference with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, focusing instead on the pandemic, the US peace plan and Iran. Israel
How a jailhouse letter to Abbas could fast forward Palestinian unity talks It remains unclear whether tentative steps will lead to a genuine unification of the fractured Palestinian national movement. Palestine
Intel: Progressive coalition pushes Biden on Middle East policy More than 50 progressive advocacy groups on Monday sent a letter to former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, urging him to make concessions to the left on Middle East policy. Palestine
Netanyahu appoints senior Likud member as his right-hand man in US Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, appointed to be Israel’s new envoy to both the United States and the UN, is a true Likud ideologist and ardent supporter of annexation. Israel
Israeli soldier killed by rock in West Bank raid An Israeli soldier was killed during a pre-dawn raid near Jenin when a large rock was dropped on his head, the first IDF death during military operations this year. Palestine
As trial nears, Netanyahu’s associates go after attorney general Loyalists of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have ramped up their attacks on the legal system and mudslinging against Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit. Israel
Will EU sanction Israel over annexation plans? European Union foreign ministers might consider threatening Israel with sanctions, in an effort to thwart Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to annex parts of the West Bank. Palestine
UN calls on Israel to release Palestinian children from jails amid coronavirus Three UN officials urge Israeli authorities to free detained Palestinian children to protect them from COVID-19. Palestine
Coronavirus offers Israel opportunity to strengthen ties with Gulf states Despite recent condemnation by Gulf states of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to annex parts of the West Bank this summer, there are signs that Israeli-Gulf ties might benefit from shared concern over COVID-19. Saudi Arabia
Poll: Most Israeli Jews support annexing parts of West Bank The poll for April from the Israel Democracy Institute found differing opinions between the left and right and Jewish and Arab Israelis. Palestine
Netanyahu needs Trump on Syria, Iran, but he needs Putin, too On the anniversary of the end of World War 2 and less than a week before the visit in Israel of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Israel
Pompeo to warn Israel over Chinese involvement in water plant Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to warn Israel on his Wednesday visit against letting a Chinese firm build and operate the biggest seawater desalination plant in the world. Israel