Newsletter: Palestine Palestine elections chief: Vote ‘transparent’ despite war, restrictions In an exclusive interview, Rami Hamdallah defended the transparency of recent Palestinian local elections while outlining the political and logistical barriers to voting in Gaza and East Jerusalem. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
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
Feature Gazans show cautious hope ahead of first local elections in 20 years The city of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza is set to hold municipal elections for the first time in nearly two decades. By Rasha Abou Jalal In Gaza City, reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Analysis On eve of Palestinian local elections, competition in short supply With many races unopposed and rivals excluded, the vote underscores a calibrated effort to contain dissent and prioritize stability. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
Interview Olmert: Only Israel-Lebanon deal can curb Hezbollah, occupation 'unviable' Ehud Olmert Former Israeli prime minister
How the occupation seeped into Israel's judicial system Case 4000 has exposed the use of detention by Israeli police and court officers in Israel to pressure suspects into breaking, a tactic typically used by the Shin Bet on Palestinians in the occupied territories. Palestine
Graduates of Gaza universities demand jobs, degree recognition Gaza university students and graduates are calling on the Ramallah government to restore the accreditation of their schools while a committee sounds the alarm about soaring unemployment rates. Palestine
Israeli justice minister's stealthy plan to annex the West Bank Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked is trying to erase the legal separation between Israeli settlers and Palestinians on the West Bank, which would amount to annexation of the occupied territory. Palestine
Unpaid Gaza employees lash out at Qatari ambassador Some hospital maintenance workers who haven't been paid in months expressed their frustration while the Qatari ambassador was visiting the Gaza Strip. Qatar
Gazans sneaking into Israel dodge both IDF, Hamas forces The Palestinian security forces in Gaza are just as tough as the Israelis on the youths who try to cross the border looking for work. Palestine
How Israel treats Palestinian detainees Israel often detains Palestinians and keeps them in custody for several days or weeks without meeting a lawyer. Palestine
New Israeli education law angers Palestinians Palestinians believe that recent legislation from the Knesset that applies Israeli education law to academic institutions in settlements in the West Bank is a step closer toward annexation. Palestine
Palestinians fear political instability in Israel Palestinians worry that investigations against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will push him to adopt an even more settlement-friendly policy. Palestine
Will the crisis in Gaza finally force Israel to lift its siege? Qatar and the UAE have donated money to ease the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, but such assistance will likely only postpone an implosion in the absence of arriving at a solution to the enclave's isolation and lifting of the Israeli blockade. United Arab Emirates
Palestinians determined to reopen West Bank mushroom farm Local Palestinian agricultural products are a powerful way to resist economic dependency on Israel, but barriers have plagued the West Bank's first mushroom farm. Palestine
Umm al-Fahm: Where the streets have no name Israeli authorities are refusing to approve street names selected by the city of Umm al-Fahm to acknowledge and honor Palestinian figures and history. Palestine
Palestinian press applauds coverage of Netanyahu investigations While Palestinian journalists have appreciated the Israeli media's reports on the police investigations into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the journalists are sharply critical when it comes to Israeli media coverage of the occupation of Palestinian territories. Palestine
