'Apartheid': Arab countries including UAE, Jordan decry new Israeli law A group of foreign ministers struck out at a new Israeli law requiring the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of terrorism in military courts. Palestine
Settler violence spike exposes Israeli government rift with military Knesset member Ram Ben-Barak of centrist Yesh Atid told Al-Monitor that the government must permit the use of administrative detention for extremist settlers to curb the violence. Israel
Wartime closures at Jerusalem holy sites raise fears of lasting shift among Palestinians Palestinians say sweeping restrictions during Ramadan and ahead of Eid reflect security concerns, but there is concern they could ultimately reshape access to worship in the Old City. Palestine
Analysis Hamas sits out Iran war as Gaza, Gulf interests take priority Hamas has so far stayed out of the escalating Iran war, despite its longstanding alliance with Tehran, reflecting a cautious strategic calculation. By Abeer Ayyoub In Istanbul, reporting on Palestine
Analysis Why Turkey’s exclusion from Gaza force may be a strategic blessing By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Iran ups rhetoric with talk of training Palestinian fighters Iran has been supporting and instructing Palestinian resistance factions for years on the down low, but now it's bragging about it. Palestine
Kuwait breaks from GCC on warming up to Israel While Kuwait is joining its fellow GCC nations in terms of supporting Syria's return to the Arab League, Kuwaiti officials want nothing to do with Israel. Legacy: Gulf
Netanyahu’s Golan statement ignores new Syria reality For Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu partnering with the far-right and proclaiming sovereignty over the Golan Heights is more important than aspiring to regional alliances with Muslim and Arab countries. United Arab Emirates
Israeli politicians cower before Jewish terror The political outcry over settler youths arrested for causing the death of a Palestinian woman reflects the Israeli leadership's fear of the settlers’ political power. Palestine
The Palestinians' new third-party option Leftist Palestinian political factions have joined forces with civil society groups to form a third stream in Palestinian politics as an alternative to the Fatah-Hamas duopoly. Palestine
Will Abbas go through with legislative elections without Hamas? Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas plans to hold legislative elections within six months, the first since the last Palestinian parliamentary elections in 2006, to the dismay of Hamas. Palestine
Hebron's only Orthodox church quiet on Christmas Hebron's once vibrant Russian Orthodox Monastery of the Holy Trinity and Holy Forefathers Church will host few visitors this Orthodox Christmas Eve on Jan. 6. Palestine
Abbas attacks Netanyahu for letting Qatari funds into Gaza Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says Israel is aiding attacks on its own people by acting as a conduit for money to reach Hamas. Qatar
Israel’s dangerous game on conditions of Palestinian prisoners The declaration by Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan about worsening Palestinian prisoners’ conditions would only generate unrest in prisons and on the Palestinian street. Palestine
Israel’s ‘shooting routine’ on Gaza border Israel must re-examine the army’s open-fire orders that result in Palestinians shot to death during Friday protests near the Gaza border; one such gunshot killed Gaza volunteer paramedic Rouzan al-Najjar in 2018. Palestine
Will Palestinians get caught in Israeli election cross fire? Palestinians will be closely following the run-up to Israeli elections in April, as many are already debating the possibility of a politically motivated attack on Gaza to drum up right-wing votes. Palestine
