Newsletter: Daily Briefing Israel strikes south Lebanon after 2 soldiers killed Tehran says Iran, Oman agree on Hormuz shipping route; US lifts sanctions on Iraqi airline linked to Iran's IRGC; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Israel-Lebanon talks suspended amid escalation, set to resume Thursday The Israeli delegation asked the American representatives to suspend the direct talks with Lebanon for a few hours over alleged leaks by Beirut. Lebanon
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump says Hormuz to reopen after ‘very good’ Iran talks Turkey submits draft law that would bring PKK peace; UN says Iran executed at least 56 people since March; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Netanyahu’s Gaza double game: Back Trump, reassure Israel’s right Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to both give the impression that Israel retains total freedom of action in Gaza while allowing the Board of Peace to move ahead with President Donald Trump’s peace plan. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis Lacking leverage over Trump, Israel stays quiet on US-Iran talks By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Analysis How strike on Damietta port exposes Egypt's energy infrastructure risks By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis No Iran commitment, no Trump endorsement: Netanyahu leaves US empty-handed By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Labor's new list: young, leftist, social-oriented The primary elections held by the Labor Party produced a list dominated by young left-wing candidates who are identified with the social protests, and excluding Labor's veteran politicians. Israel
Meretz Party: victim of its own convictions The left-wing Meretz Party suffers from a negative image among Jewish voters, but its greatest problem is speaking the truth and daring to criticize the government even at times of military conflict. Israel
Are Israel, Jabhat al-Nusra coordinating on attacks in Syria? Syrian opposition activists in southern Syria say Israel has played a vital role in Jabhat al-Nusra’s recent gains in Quneitra and Daraa. Israel
Israeli political youth movements hope for revival In contrast with veteran Israeli political parties, HaBayit HaYehudi and Yesh Atid devote considerable efforts to building their youth movements, thus cementing a strong electoral base for the future. Israel
Ya'alon: Abbas barely controls Jenin In an interview with Al-Monitor, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon argued that the Gaza war last summer prevented a Hamas takeover of the West Bank: "Mahmoud Abbas does not control Gaza, he barely controls Jenin." Palestine
Closing Jewish tomb in Egypt raises tensions Egypt’s closure of the tomb of Rabbi Abu Hasira and the cancelation of the annual festival celebrating his birth in the Nile Delta have angered Jewish pilgrims and tourists, inciting Tel Aviv to take the matter to UNESCO. Egypt
PA needs Arab safety net to overcome Israeli tax freeze The Palestinian Authority said it would not abandon its efforts to join international treaties, despite Israel's decision to freeze the transfer of tax revenues, a step considered a pressure card by Palestinian officials. Palestine
Will Paris attacks overshadow quest for Palestinian statehood? President Mahmoud Abbas' constant objection to violence earned him a first-row place among world leaders at the Paris march against terror, but won't guarantee that the Palestinian issue remains a top priority. Palestine
Israeli experts: If Europe won't wiretap, they won't know Former Israeli national security adviser Yaakov Amidror, former Mossad official Rami Igra and a former Israeli army intelligence head warn Europe that the only way to combat global jihad is collecting and coordinating intelligence information on its citizens. Israel
Netanyahu fumbles diplomatic process Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could have seized an opportunity at the Paris march to walk alongside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a display of unity against terror, but preferred to ignore him and focus on his electorate. Palestine
Israeli right campaigns on Paris terror attack When calling on Europe to stand by Israel and when calling French Jews to immigrate to Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is harnessing the Paris terror attacks for his electoral needs. Countries
Abbas’ presence at Paris rally boosts Palestinian legitimacy The appearance of President Mahmoud Abbas alongside world leaders at the France unity rally will help his campaign for Palestinian independence. Palestine