Interview Olmert: Only Israel-Lebanon deal can curb Hezbollah, occupation 'unviable' Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told Al-Monitor that Israel will only be able to defang Hezbollah if it reaches an agreement with the Lebanese government.
Meloni suspends Italy's military cooperation agreement with Israel Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced her country's military cooperation agreement with Israel will no longer be automatically renewed. Israel
'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
Analysis Hamas sits out Iran war as Gaza, Gulf interests take priority By Abeer Ayyoub In Istanbul, reporting on Palestine
Why Is Jordan refusing entry to Gaza Palestinians? More than 50,000 Gazans living in the West Bank are essentially trapped there, unable to cross into Jordan or go to Gaza. Palestine
Hamas, Fatah exchange accusations of threats to electoral candidates The Central Elections Commission and rights organizations have received several complaints of threats against electoral lists and candidates in the Palestinian territories, shattering the Palestinians’ hope for smooth local elections. Palestine
Is Fatah reconciliation underway ahead of local elections? Along with a number of Arab countries, Egypt has been making recent efforts to achieve reconciliation between President Mahmoud Abbas and dismissed Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan in conjunction with the Palestinian preparations for local elections. Palestine
How both Israel and Turkey exploit Gaza's suffering With the reconciliation agreement now signed between Israel and Turkey, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has practically forgotten his demands to lift the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip. Palestine
100 global intellectuals to gather in Palestine The Witness Center for Citizen’s Rights and Social Development launched an initiative to invite renowned thinkers from around the world to come to Palestine in support of the Palestinian cause. Palestine
Have Egypt-Hamas relations reached point of no return? Already-tenuous relations between Egypt and Hamas recently worsened with the release of a photo showing two of Hamas’ men who were abducted in Sinai a year ago in an Egyptian cell. Palestine
What are Netanyahu and Putin plotting? A rumored Israeli-Palestinian summit in Moscow may be a maneuver by Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu to try to thwart a new US initiative. Palestine
Can election observers boost confidence among Palestinian voters? The Palestinian Central Elections Commission is registering local and international monitors for October's municipal elections, a move favored by the Palestinian factions in light of the Fatah-Hamas division. Palestine
Will Palestine’s upcoming local elections be worth the cost? A lot of money is being poured into the local Palestinian elections, but some fear the funds will go to waste when the vote proves divisive and the results are contested. Palestine
Ethnic demons revived at eulogy for late Israeli defense minister Ugly comments about late Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer reflect some Labor Party members' long-held attitude toward leaders of Mizrahi origin. Palestine
Palestinians say no to cultural monopoly A Palestinian Foreign Ministry memo favoring the selection of one particular dance troupe for international performances has become a scandal. Palestine
Has Israeli defense minister changed IDF's West Bank strategy? The Israel Defense Forces have been carrying out regular operations in the Dheisheh refugee camp and the villages of Hebron governorate, all inside West Bank's Area A and ostensibly under full Palestinian control. Palestine
