'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
Hamas warns West Bank arrests could derail reconciliation Hamas is accusing the Palestinian security services in the West Bank of continued political arrests against its members despite the reconciliation agreement with Fatah. Palestine
Palestinians cancel Capitol Hill Christmas over Trump remarks The Palestinian mission in Washington abandoned attempts to court the White House and Congress with the mission's first-ever Christmas party on Capitol Hill after it was announced that President Donald Trump would make a major statement on the status of Jerusalem on Wednesday. Palestine
Could settlers stay in a future Palestinian state? The violence by settlers against Palestinian farmers indicates why settlers cannot stay and live inside a future Palestinian state. Palestine
Russia investigation casts shadow over Kushner's Mideast peace push In a rare public appearance, the president's senior adviser Jared Kushner discussed the Trump administration's "ultimate deal" for Palestinian and Israeli peace. Saudi Arabia
Will Trump recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital? The Palestinians rushed to send Intelligence Chief Majid Faraj to Washington for fear that President Trump would declare Jerusalem to be Israel’s capital city. Palestine
Smuggling from Israel plagues Palestinian poultry farmers The Palestinian government has formed a new task force to protect the Palestinian poultry sector from the effects of smuggling. Palestine
Why Egypt is now getting involved in South Sudan Egypt oversaw the successful signing of a deal to unify the Sudan People's Liberation Movement after it achieved similar foreign policy successes in neighboring countries such as Palestine and Libya. Palestine
Is Trump's Mideast initiative one-sided? Palestinians worry that US President Donald Trump is pressuring the pragmatic Sunni leadership to accept an American plan that would be closer to the Israeli position than to the Palestinian one. Saudi Arabia
Palestinian youth on the way to political empowerment The Palestinian Youth Advocacy Network and the House of Wisdom Institute organized a conference to prepare youth to become involved in the Palestinian political landscape. Palestine
Gaza's dismal tourist sector sees hope in reconciliation Tourism officials in Palestine's national consensus government are planning to revive the Gaza Strip's ailing tourist sector — once they have permission to start work. Palestine
Hamas stands with Hezbollah, says Arab League ignores Israeli terror After an Arab League summit including delegates from the Palestinian Authority produced a statement denouncing Hezbollah as a terrorist entity, Hamas and other Palestinian groups responded with defiance. Palestine
Secret amendment of Israeli order could cost 300 Palestinians their homes Two years ago, Israel quietly amended a 2003 directive banning the construction of unauthorized settler outposts to include Palestinian homes and is now working to enforce it. Palestine
