EU decision boosts Russian, UN diplomacy on Syria

Russia, the United Nations and Iran lead diplomatic initiative in Syria; Iran and Turkey discuss counterterrorism; al-Qaeda-linked group advances in Syria; Aleppo’s radicalization; Hamas seeks to rebuild ties with Iran.

Israel

US, Europe try to preserve Israeli-Palestinian security cooperation

While Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas promotes his UN bid, the US and Europe stick to the well-known old formula: Anti-terror cooperation in the region depends on progress on the Palestinian statehood issue.

Palestine

Can Israel, Palestine exist in one space?

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Dan Goldenblatt, co-CEO of the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information, presents his vision of two states in one space, arguing that this proposed solution could be accepted by both the Israeli right and the Palestinians.

Palestine

Hamas scores diplomatic victory in Europe

Senior Hamas officials run a department in Gaza whose sole mission is to have the movement removed from terror lists.

Palestine

Netanyahu’s electoral strategy: Demonize Europe

While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is using the series of European resolutions against Israel to advance his election campaign, his political rivals are silent, aware that the public is mostly interested in its economic hardships.

Israel

Hamas official confirms Qassam rocket tests

Hamas' testing of Qassam rockets points to the movement's failure to draw the right conclusions or lessons from its last confrontation with Israel.

Palestine

Netanyahu plays on US partisan politics

The Palestinians should suggest a diplomatic initiative that is hard to refuse, instead of a one-sided Palestinian overture to the UN, just as the Republicans and Democrats should show unity condemning the Israeli occupation so that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could not play on this seeming divide.

Palestine

A united Israeli-Arab party could force Netanyahu out

Polls indicate that if the Israeli-Arab parties unite they could become a real political power, but ideological and personal issues remain.

Israel

US will veto Palestinian UN bid

The US debated which course of action would distance Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the most from another term in office, especially in view of the Palestinian bid in its most “extreme draft” to the UN and the American veto power.

Palestine

Israeli ultra-Orthodox party locked in internal battle

Ahead of Israeli elections, the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party leader Aryeh Deri is determined to drive away former Shas Chairman Eli Yishai, despite the political price to be paid by an already declining party.

Israel

Israeli attack intensifies Syrian anger, despair

Syrians on social media mock “right to respond”; US says Syrian rebels will not overthrow Assad; Syrian patriarch pleads for peace; Russia steps up diplomacy; Jumblatt sees no future for Assad; Turkey’s shadow government; Qatar and Turkey draw congressional ire over support for Hamas.

Qatar

Washington, Europe will wait to see if Bibi stays or goes

Until the March 2015 elections in Israel, the United States and Europe will attempt to balance nonintervention and expressing policy positions relevant to the Palestinian issue.

Palestine