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.
Iran war deepens Gaza crisis as prices soar, aid falters Gazans fear that Israel could exploit the wider regional war to reenter Gaza, especially as buffer zones along the border continue to expand and civilians are targeted to keep them away. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
'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 India's Modi arrives in Israel as fears grow of US-Iran conflict By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Analysis Why Turkey’s exclusion from Gaza force may be a strategic blessing By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Amid Biden-Netanyahu split over Rafah, Pentagon leans on lessons from Iraq As the Biden administration seeks to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe in Rafah, former US commanders told Al-Monitor there are key ways the Israeli military can shape an operation to protect civilians. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
White House: No Rafah invasion until Israeli delegation talks alternatives "We don’t support a major ground operation," White House NSC coordinator John Kirby emphasized on Thursday, as an Israeli delegation is expected to discuss alternatives with top officials in Washington next week. Palestine
State Department staffer resigns over Biden's handling of Gaza Annelle Sheline is the second State Department official to publicly resign since Oct. 7, citing the erosion of US credibility on human rights in the Middle East as a result of the war. Washington Pulse
In latest about-face, Netanyahu agrees to resend canceled US delegation to discuss Rafah The White House said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed for his top aides to travel to Washington to discuss the situation in Rafah after the Israeli leader canceled the delegation Monday. Israel
Palestinian UN mission makes small gains as all eyes on Qatar cease-fire talks By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
Iran reassures Hamas of continued support as Haniyeh visits Tehran The meetings in Tehran were held as Iranian officials celebrated a moment of triumph for Hamas after the United States allowed the UN Security Council to pass a Gaza cease-fire resolution. Iran
Israel confirms Hamas’ Marwan Issa killed in airstrike earlier this month IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari confirmed that Hamas' No. 3 in Gaza, Marwan Issa, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on March 10. Israel
Analysis As Israel's Gallant seeks arms in Washington, Netanyahu picks fight with Biden The Israeli premier's decision to cancel a major diplomatic visit to Washington will add to the distance between his country and the United States, but that may be precisely his plan. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
What we know about alleged Iran weapons plot in West Bank Israel said that Iran’s IRGC was working to smuggle explosives into the Palestinian territory. Israel
Israel’s Gallant kicks off US visit with weapons, Rafah on agenda Washington still seeks to avert an Israeli operation in Rafah, even as Netanyahu cancels a delegation of top advisers over the US abstention on a UN Security Council vote. Israel
Macron warns Netanyahu forced population transfer in Gaza would be war crime French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Paris is against a military operation in Rafah and against any attempt to transfer displaced Gazans. Israel
Hamas' popularity dips 11%, but only 7% of Palestinians blame it for Gaza war A new poll by a Palestinian research institute found discrepancies between the attitudes of West Bank and Gaza Palestinians the current war, Hamas and a two-state solution. Palestine
