Exclusive Rights, faith groups urge Congress to block $2.8B bomb sale to Israel If the Trump administration moves forward with the transfer, dozens of groups are urging lawmakers to seek a joint resolution of disapproval. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
West Bank settlers attack Israeli activists as Netanyahu claims 'hoax' On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attention surrounding settler violence was a “tremendous hoax.” Israel
Israel-UAE flights disrupted as airlines plan rescue flights: What to know Israeli carriers are preparing repatriation flights from Dubai starting on Friday, subject to security approval. United Arab Emirates
Explainer FlyDubai incident recalls decades of Middle East airline hijackings: What to know In 1968, the PFLP hijacked an El Al flight from Rome to Tel Aviv, marking the first political hijacking of an aircraft tied to the Middle East. United Arab Emirates
Exclusive Inside Netanyahu’s relentless push for meeting with UAE’s MBZ By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Beilin calls Obama 'serious disappointment' on peace talks In an interview with Al-Monitor, former Minister Yossi Beilin blames the Americans for insisting on a final status agreement instead of working on interim arrangements like former President George W. Bush’s road map. Palestine
Israel should take Prince Turki's offer on Arab Peace Initiative Prince Turki Al-Faisal Al-Saud spoke in Brussels with retired Gen. Amos Yadlin about the Saudi initiative for ending the conflict, saying, "Israel has nuclear weapons. … The Arabs aren’t crazy. We want to talk peace." Saudi Arabia
Israeli housing minister: 'No more' settlement freezes The day commemorating the reunification of Jerusalem, Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel has announced further construction in East Jerusalem, driving closer the danger of a binational state. Palestine
Secular young Israelis want religious weddings Living in a state which offers no civil marriage, most young Israelis opt for the religious ceremony, mainly because families cherish tradition more than the rabbis who officiate. Israel
Israel is a Jewish state; get over it The Israeli demand that Palestinians recognize the Jewish state does not contradict the two-state solution, but it exposes the Palestinian reluctance to consider the Jews as a people instead of a religion. Palestine
Israel prefers right wing over radical Islam in Europe The shooting at the Jewish Museum in Brussels coupled with the rise of the extreme right in recent EU elections brings the “new anti-Semitism” into Israeli public discourse, though the context of these two events might hide another reality. Israel
Leviathan gas deal may be catalyst for Israel-Turkey reset Is the Turkish court’s decision to indict former Israeli army chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi for the Mavi Marmara flotilla raid part of the reconciliatory diplomatic ballet by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, eyeing the “Leviathan” gas field? Israel
Mofaz: 'Strategic situation worse' on Iran In an interview with Al-Monitor, former Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz argues that US over-involvement in Israeli-Palestinian talks only alienated both sides, and the only feasible solution is a two-stage agreement with the Palestinians, even while talking with Hamas. Palestine
Tzipi Livni in Ehud Barak’s footsteps Five years ago, Tzipi Livni criticized Ehud Barak for being part of a diplomatically stagnating right-wing government but she, too, will soon have to choose: negotiations with a Palestinian unity government, or diplomatic stagnation that will lead to a binational state. Palestine
Israel-Egypt anti-terrorism cooperation at zenith Israel adapts to a new alliance structure based on common security interests, and in anticipation of a nuclear Middle East. Saudi Arabia
Netanyahu tries again to derail Rivlin presidency bid Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rushed into battle against presidential hopeful and Knesset member Reuven Rivlin, all the while offending other potential presidential hopefuls. Israel
The decline of humanities in Israel The faculties of humanities in Israel have failed to adapt to the new digital era, and convince the students why humanities are still relevant in a profit-oriented society. Israel