Analysis Trump's Board of Peace faces first test: Disarming Hamas President Donald Trump’s plan for a Gaza Strip lined with beachfront resorts and glitzy high-rises hinges on Hamas' disarmament. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Putin offers $1B in frozen assets for Gaza Board of Peace — will US unfreeze them? It remains unclear how such an arrangement could be implemented, since any contribution from frozen assets would require formal unblocking by the US government. Palestine
Middle East leaders join Trump’s Board of Peace despite mandate concerns Foreign officials are scrambling to understand the board’s expansive mandate ahead of a signing ceremony Thursday. Palestine
Russia to host PA’s Abbas as Putin mulls joining Trump's Gaza Board of Peace President Mahmoud Abbas’ visit will coincide with the signing ceremony of the Trump administration's Board of Peace charter on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday. Palestine
Analysis Turkey casts Israel’s Somaliland move as overreach, but Somalia’s fragility poses risks By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis In 2025, Netanyahu saved his coalition but stalled on Gaza, Iran, Lebanon By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Netanyahu's strategy to avoid negotiations Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu exploits the Hamas-Fatah reconciliation in order to set impossible conditions for resuming talks with the Palestinians. Palestine
Israeli Labor chief rules out alliance with Israeli-Arab party Israeli Labor Chairman Avi Gabbay surprised his party members when he announced that there was no possibility of forming a coalition with Arab Joint List party members, something that could restrict Labor's political prospects. Palestine
Israel may regret hasty UNESCO exit Israel reacted quickly to the US announcement that it was pulling out of UNESCO with one of its own, potentially forfeiting an opportunity to shore up its international presence. Qatar
How will Hamas’ new deputy head influence events? The election of Saleh al-Arouri as deputy head of Hamas’ political bureau reflects a shift in the movement toward leaders with strong local ties in the Palestinian territories. Palestine
Israel should practice what it preaches to the Palestinians Instead of risking a three-front war with its current policy of settlement expansion, Israel would do better if its leaders followed through on previous peace initiatives and the commitments it has made in negotiations with the Palestinians. Palestine
Hamas, Fatah ignore elephant in the room, for now Egypt believes that building trust between Hamas and Fatah should precede clarifying the remaining difficult issues between them, such as what to do about Hamas’ military wing. Palestine
Trump’s policies radicalize Israeli, Palestinian stances President Donald Trump’s shift toward more radical policy positions on the Middle East is generating a radicalization in the tactical positions of both Israelis and Palestinians. Palestine
Exploiting Palestinian workers is not ‘economic peace’ Palestinians increasingly depend on Israel’s goodwill to open its gates for poor West Bank workers. Palestine
Why Hamas should thank Netanyahu The Netanyahu government has done its fair share to strengthen Hamas as part of its efforts to weaken Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and distance the possibility of peacefully resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestine
Was Abbas' endorsement of one-state solution plea or ploy? Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ended his UN speech with an assurance that the "inevitable" freedom coming for Palestinians may take the form of a single-state solution. Palestine
Can Israel live with Lebanon-inspired Palestinian state? Israel fears that a Palestinian unity government would actually allow Hamas to preserve its armed forces. Palestine
Israel bets against Palestinian unity Israel's intelligence community does not think a Fatah-Hamas reconciliation will last in the long run, and the current Israeli government hopes it is right. Palestine
