Analysis Europe’s West Bank trade ban fires warning shot at Israel’s economy Weeks before key Israeli elections, a dozen nations announced new trade restrictions targeting settlements in the West Bank, delivering a sharp rebuke to Israel's government that could presage additional international pressure. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis Once Netanyahu’s top challenger, Bennett loses ground to Eisenkot: What to know Facing the popular Gadi Eisenkot, the Together party of former premiers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid is sinking in Israeli opinion polls. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Israel says it destroyed Hezbollah tunnels in Ali al-Taher ridge: What to know The ridge has become a flashpoint in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon due to its extensive tunnel network Israel says is utilized by the Iran-backed group. Israel
Netanyahu threatens to sue Haaretz for reporting UAE warned Israel of Oct. 7 attack The Emirati president reportedly warned that a planned attack could cause bloodshed, destabilize the region and threaten the Abraham Accords. Israel
Analysis Israel braces for Iran attack as Trump’s economic squeeze on Tehran intensifies By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Incitement against Rivlin based in his own Likud Party Despite his indisputable credentials on the Israeli right, President Reuven Rivlin now finds himself the target of an incitement campaign from within his own Likud Party following statements against Jewish terrorism and efforts to build bridges between Israel’s Jewish and Arab societies. Israel
Hamas denies prisoner swap talks In an interview from Doha, Moussa Doudine, a member of Hamas’ political bureau and head of the Palestinian prisoners’ dossier, denied Israeli reports about negotiations being ongoing between Hamas and Israel on a prisoner exchange. Palestine
Hamas denies released detainees are plotting attacks from abroad Israel says, and Hamas denies, that high-ranking military leaders and Hamas cadres are coordinating armed operations against Israel while based in countries such as Turkey, Qatar, Syria and Jordan. Palestine
Time is running out for Israelis, Palestinians Before 2017, Palestinians and Israelis will have to make major decisions that can be condensed into one critical choice: Will both leaderships decide to view their national interests as in convergence or in conflict? Palestine
Gaza struggles with shortage of medical supplies As companies struggle to restart production of medicines in Gaza, Palestinians face a pharmaceutical crisis stemming from war, Palestinian political division, Israel's blockade and Egypt's closure of the Rafah crossing. Palestine
Former Rabin associate says incitement in Israel now worse than lead-up to assassination Shimon Sheves, a close associate of late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, tells Al-Monitor that incitement, hatred and lack of rule of law in Israel nowadays are even worse than in the days before the assassination of Rabin. Israel
Israel's proposed 2016 budget fails to deliver on promised social reforms Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon promised reforms in banking, cost of living, housing prices and more, but the 2016 budget that he presented to the government carries no extraordinary social vision. Israel
Netanyahu's double standards on administrative detention The detention of suspects without indictment or trial, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposed solution to Jewish terror, is neither new nor democratic and avoids implementing the most effective solution, two states for two peoples. Palestine
For one Palestinian, no money can compensate for lost land A Palestinian man is celebrating his victory in Israel's Supreme Court after a three-decade battle for land he still can't use — and won't sell. Palestine
American Palestinians speak out about denied entry to Israel American Palestinians traveling to Israel's Ben Gurion Airport are increasingly detained and sent back, and told they should contact the Palestinian Authority to have their Palestinian IDs revoked, which would allow them entry to Israel. Palestine
Ultra-Orthodox grapple over response to parade attack The majority of Israel's ultra-Orthodox community appears to hold Yishai Schlissel alone responsible for the death of Shira Banki, who was stabbed at a gay pride parade, claiming it is not the fault of his religion. Israel
Has Israel returned to days of Jewish Underground? Ex-Shin Bet chief Avi Dichter tells Al-Monitor that despite the tragic consequences of the attack in Douma, this current manifestation of Jewish terrorism is not as well armed or well organized as that of the 1980s at the time of the Jewish Underground. Palestine