Explainer What does Hamas' move to dissolve its Gaza government mean? Hamas has agreed to hand civilian administration over to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, but the committee is not yet in Gaza and may not deploy until Hamas’ disarmament is resolved. Palestine
Interview Ayman Odeh says Arab parties could back Bennett or Eisenkot to block Netanyahu In an interview with Al-Monitor, head of the Arab-Israeli Hadash-Ta'al Knesset faction, Ayman Odeh, said his party is prepared to make difficult decisions to topple Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. Ayman Odeh Head of the Knesset's Hadash-Ta'al faction
Who is Melat Kiros, the pro-Palestinian who unseated a longtime Democrat? Kiros has taken a hard stance against Israel and opposes all aid to the country as pro-Palestinian candidates make further inroads in the party. United States
Amnesty International accuses Israel of state-led ethnic cleansing in West Bank In a new report, Amnesty International said that the escalating forced displacement and settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank is part of a state-led campaign to control the Palestinian territory. Palestine
Were Saudis behind Abbas-MEK meeting? A meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Mujahedeen-e-Khalq leader Maryam Rajavi in Paris has sparked both Iranian and Palestinian suspicion about Saudi Arabia's ties to the Palestinian Authority. Saudi Arabia
Is Abbas overstepping his authority with decision to form new court? The Palestinian government is working on establishing a High Criminal Court and amending the penal code enforced in the West Bank, in a move that many view as an encroachment of the legislative authority by the executive branch. Palestine
Diaspora Palestinians called to invest in homeland With the Palestinian economy in crisis, Palestinian leaders and businessmen are coordinating to maximize external support from the Palestinian diaspora. Palestine
Bookmobile speed-reads through Gaza neighborhoods In response to the acute shortage of public libraries in the Gaza Strip, the French-German Cultural Center in Ramallah has sent its mobile library on its second mission to encourage Gaza’s children to read. Palestine
Al-Qaeda affiliate’s desperate 'switch' validates US Syria policy Fear of US and Russian airstrikes on eve of Syrian offensive a sign that Jabhat al-Nusra may be feeling the heat; Turkey’s de-Gulenification campaign in context; retired Saudi general probes Israeli commitment to peace settlement. Saudi Arabia
Will upcoming Palestinian local elections pave way for general elections? The Oct. 8 municipal elections, which will take place throughout Gaza and the West Bank, will be an indicator of which direction the Palestinians want to take; but all eyes will be on Gaza whose residents have not had a voice about their future leadership since 2006. Palestine
Gazans rejoice as Qatar vows to pay one month of full salaries Qatar has announced that it will provide about $31 million to the Gaza Strip, enough to cover one month's salary for Gaza's civil servants, who hope the aid will bypass the banks to avoid deductions for outstanding debts. Qatar
Can PLO help protect Palestinian refugees in Syria? The slaughter of a Palestinian child by the Nureddin Zengi Brigade in Syria put the spotlight on the PLO’s role and its failure to protect Palestinian refugees in Syria. Palestine
Is Israel already a binational state? Palestinians believe that calling for a binational state will force the international community to engage in a realistic two-state solution in 2017 and force the Israeli public to see the necessity of Palestinian statehood. Palestine
Will Hamas accept new Egypt-brokered deal with Israel? Egypt is making efforts in sealing an exchange deal between Israel and Hamas, yet observers question whether Hamas will accept it given the strained ties between the movement and Cairo. Palestine
What Saudi Arabia can offer Israel The unofficial visit by a retired Saudi general to Israel was a quiet overture that indicated Riyadh is willing to explore normalization with Israel in return for advancing the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. Saudi Arabia
Are IDF soldiers shooting Palestinians against orders? The trial of IDF soldier Elor Azaria, who is suspected of shooting a Palestinian assailant on the ground, must bring back to the spotlight other cases where IDF soldiers shot Palestinians who didn't threaten their lives. Palestine
