Analysis As Trump prioritizes Hormuz, Israel fears Iran rebuilding nuclear program while preserving ballistic missile threat Israel is worried that the United States is centering the Strait of Hormuz, deprioritizing the threat of a nuclear Iran. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran strikes tankers, US bases as Gulf conflict escalates Lebanon, Israel hold talks in Rome; Iraqi PM Zaidi to meet Trump; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Explainer Israel's next election: Who's leading in polls and what's at stake? After months of negotiations and speculations, the coalition announced that general elections will take place on Oct. 27. Israel
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran keeps Hormuz closed as US attacks intensify Qatar begins mourning after burial of emir’s father; Israel sets Oct. 27 election date; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis As US-Iran fighting resumes, Israel weighs 3 options with restraint winning, for now By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran hits Gulf, warns Hormuz will reopen on its terms By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Liberman: Israel's 'bad cop' returns The return of Avigdor Liberman as foreign minister spells trouble for the peace talks. Israel
Levant Christians consider threats to their communities During a gathering of Christian representatives from various Near East countries in Beirut, participants were divided when it came to determining their main enemy and strategies for the future. Yemen
The tragedy of Palestinian revisionism The author responds to Linah Alsaafin, who called Acre a “city in northern Palestine.” Palestine
Kerry's Palestinian economic plan another dead end? The details and process for US Secretary of State John Kerry's $4 billion economic plan to date are discouraging. Palestine
Playing Umm Kulthoum for Israelis Sami Khsheibun, creator of the “Queen of the Nile” — a tribute concert to Egyptian singer Umm Kulthoum — is building musical bridges between the worlds of oriental classical music and Western classical. Palestine
Prisoner-settlement exchange means no free lunch Negotiations are slated to last nine months, but if by the end of the year no progress is made, the Obama administration will present an American final status agreement draft. Palestine
How Netanyahu pushed Erekat into a corner The resignation of Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat reflects the disappointment within Palestinian public opinion following Israel's decision to continue settlement construction. Palestine
Netanyahu's coalition stable — with or without Liberman Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu feels confident about the stability of his coalition, whatever the outcome in Avigdor Liberman's trial or Labor Party primaries. Israel
Israel traps Palestinians in negotiations with prisoner card Israel is using the release of Palestinian prisoners as a means to keep the Palestinians in peace talks that are going nowhere. Palestine
Gaza-Israel Clashes Unlikely to Escalate Israel and Hamas are both preoccupied with other more pressing regional concerns, and have no interest in flaring a crisis of their own. Palestine
The Al-Monitor Debate on Gulf Cities The Wall Street Journal reports on the Al-Monitor debate on Gulf cities; former Israeli, Palestinian negotiators differ on whether Palestinians should recognize Israel as a Jewish state; hope for Syrian bishops' release; a new Al-Monitor design. Palestine