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
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
Majority of Palestinians lose trust in Hamas and Fatah, new poll finds A recent poll by a Palestinian survey center found that trust in Palestinian factions has declined, amid stalled efforts to implement the Gaza peace plan and escalating settler violence in the West Bank. Palestine
12 countries including France, UK, Canada end trade with West Bank settlements The decision comes against the backdrop of an escalation in settler violence and settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. Israel
Analysis LORA missile test reveals limits of Germany’s Gaza criticism of Israel By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Analysis As Israeli settler attacks mount, Trump avoids public pressure on Netanyahu By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Analysis Why Palestinians see success of Trump talks as contingent on Israeli elections By Mohammed Najib
Why does Hamas, Fatah reconciliation keep failing? Despite talks, Palestinians expect strategic differences and foreign interference to once more thwart a Fatah-Hamas reconciliation agreement. Qatar
Are Israel's Arabs losing hope for peace? The Pew Research Center found in a survey conducted at the end of 2014 and in early 2015 that Israeli Arabs are much more religious than Jews, while most of those polled share the view that a two-state solution is slipping away. Palestine
Are Israeli Jews racist? Two surveys published recently find a link between Jewish-Orthodox identity and discriminatory opinions against Israeli-Palestinians. Palestine
Why more and more of Gaza's parents are sending their kids to private schools Despite the difficult economic conditions in the Gaza Strip, parents are still enrolling their children in high-cost private schools, which indicates the value they place on quality education. Palestine
Is free speech a crime in Palestine? The Palestinian government needs to rewrite the law on defamation, making it a civil matter, not a criminal offense. Palestine
Will expelling families of Palestinian attackers to Gaza stop terror? A proposal to expel the families of Palestinians who attack Israelis to Gaza could motivate relatives remaining in the West Bank to commit revenge attacks. Palestine
Is Israeli-Palestinian two-state solution almost dead? Iran poised to exploit the declining fortunes of the Palestinian Authority as Israel expands West Bank settlements; Syrian government forces prepare for a showdown in Raqqa; The Washington Post refers to Jaish al-Islam as a "rebel" group; Al-Monitor Syria Timeline includes commentary from Ambassador Ryan Crocker and others. Palestine
What's behind Israel's call for 'economic peace'? The "economic peace" proposed by Israel to the Palestinians resembles more economic colonialism than economic ties between equal partners. Palestine
Why Palestinians prefer Clinton over Trump As Trump and Clinton move closer to winning their parties' nominations, Palestinians seem to favor Clinton, although they don't have high hopes that any president would resolve their conflict with Israel. Palestine
Why is Israel detaining a clown? Circus artists around the world are protesting the arrest and detention of Palestinian performer Mohammad Abu Sakha. Palestine
Historical, pampered bath in Gaza draws visitors from afar The majestic Hammam al-Sammara, the only bathhouse left standing in Gaza City, is an architectural masterpiece that has survived many hundreds of years. Palestine
How serious is the French proposal on Middle East peace? It is still unclear whether the international community will support the French initiative to hold a July conference in an effort to restart progress toward a two-state solution. Palestine
