Netanyahu's pro-settler allies force annexation into campaign agenda

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement that he aspires to maintain his current coalition after the April elections means that Israelis can expect to see ideas like annexation and a binational state increasingly normalized.

Palestine

Is this the downfall of Egyptian-brokered truce?

The Egyptian-brokered cease-fire agreement between the Gaza Strip and Israel is now threatened by resistance attacks in the West Bank.

Palestine

Historic Jerusalem district threatened by settler group

The houses of several Palestinian families in East Jerusalem are threatened with destruction or expropriation by a powerful Israeli organization working to expand the settlements.

Palestine

Palestinian left-wing factions forge new alliance

Five Palestinian left-wing factions have announced a new democratic alliance aimed at breaking the political hegemony of Fatah and Hamas, but not everyone seems optimistic about it.

Palestine

Israel’s early elections could trigger new Gaza violence

With early elections approaching in Israel, Hamas is wary of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu withdrawing from the Gaza arrangement and might opt for another wave of violence.

Palestine

Qatar deal expected to boost Palestinian trade

As part of Doha's continued efforts to boost the Palestinian economy, the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed a cooperation agreement with the Palestinian Trade Center in a bid to strengthen their partnerships.

Qatar

What Israel’s election should actually be about

The issues of ending the occupation, the democratic nature of Israel and relations with American Jewry should dominate the election campaign no less than the character of the political actors seeking office, but they likely will not.

Palestine

Can Russia succeed with Palestinians where Egypt has failed?

Moscow has expressed its interest in facilitating an intra-Palestinian reconciliation as well as furthering Palestinian-Israeli relations, but Israel remains wary of such efforts.

Palestine

IDF in West Bank refrains from arresting Jews

Despite a dramatic increase in Jewish nationalist crimes, such as slashing tires, throwing stones, and cutting down olive trees in Palestinian settlements even within the Green Line, Israeli security forces have been remarkably helpless.

Palestine

Education minister held secret meetings with settler leaders ahead of elections

The Israeli settlers are exploiting their political leverage in this pre-campaign period to legalize West Bank outposts and push for the expulsion of family members of Palestinian assailants.

Palestine

Russia eyes greater Palestinian role

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced its readiness to hold Fatah-Hamas talks to overcome the obstacles impeding internal reconciliation, amid an expected visit by head of the Hamas political bureau Ismail Haniyeh to Moscow.

Palestine

Gaza's Christians blocked from travel to Bethlehem

Israeli authorities have refused to grant many Christians in the Gaza Strip exit permits to celebrate the Christmas holidays in Bethlehem in the West Bank.

Palestine