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Palestine

May 12, 2026

Ramallah 2:27 am

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Two men stand next to the burned remains of a Palestinian vehicle in the Wadi al-Rakhim area of Susya village in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on May 1, 2026.

EU ministers agree to sanction violent West Bank settlers: What to know

European foreign ministers have agreed to sanction extremist West Bank settlers, but are still discussing the list of names.

An elections employee tapes a poster with instructions to voters ahead of the upcoming municipal elections in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on April 21, 2026.

Feature

Gazans show cautious hope ahead of first local elections in 20 years

The city of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza is set to hold municipal elections for the first time in nearly two decades.

Rasha Abou Jalal

By Rasha Abou Jalal

In Gaza City, reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Women read instructions to voters ahead of the upcoming municipal elections in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on April 21, 2026.

Analysis

On eve of Palestinian local elections, competition in short supply

With many races unopposed and rivals excluded, the vote underscores a calibrated effort to contain dissent and prioritize stability.

Daoud Kuttab

By Daoud Kuttab

In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics

Olmert

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.

Ehud Olmert

Ehud Olmert

Former Israeli prime minister

Latest News

Meloni suspends Italy's military cooperation agreement with Israel

Meloni

'Apartheid': Arab countries including UAE, Jordan decry new Israeli law

MOJAHID NAW/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

Settler violence spike exposes Israeli government rift with military

Israeli settler violence graffiti

Wartime closures at Jerusalem holy sites raise fears of lasting shift among Palestinians

Muslim worshippers break their fast outside the old city walls of Jerusalem on March 17, 2026, as the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound remains closed.

Beatrice Farhat

Associate Editor (Lebanon)

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

Daoud Kuttab

Palestine Columnist

In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics

Rasha Abou Jalal

In Gaza City, reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Abeer Ayyoub

In Istanbul, reporting on Palestine

Naima Morelli

In Rome, reporting on Middle East culture

Fatima AbdulKarim

In Ramallah, reporting on the West Bank

Israel's Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman speaks as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands next to him during a visit to an army base in the West Bank settlement of Beit El near Ramallah January 10, 2017. REUTERS/Baz Ratner - RTX2YAG3

Why Israel will not halt security coordination with PA

Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government threatened to cut ties with the Palestinian Authority following the passing of UN Security Council Resolution 2334, the move seems unlikely as both parties benefit from security coordination.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres delivers remarks during the Security Council meeting at the United Nations in New York City, U.S. January 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith - RTX2YCKQ

How new UN secretary-general plans to advance two-state process

The new UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres greatly believes in collective diplomacy, and intends to imply this concept to advancing a two-state process.

Head of the Palestinian Football Association Jibril Rajoub (2nd R) walks with anti-apartheid activist Tokyo Sexwale (R) past Israel's controversial barrier as they arrive for a news conference in the West Bank town of Al-Ram, near Jerusalem, May 7, 2015. Rajoub reinforced his call for Israel to be suspended from FIFA on Thursday, saying the Israeli Football Association was part of an "apartheid, racist government" that was damaging Palestinian soccer. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman - RTX1BZBF

Why FIFA paid close attention to UN anti-settlement resolution

The dispute within FIFA over the status of the West Bank received a major breakthrough with UN Security Council Resolution 2334. But will Israel heed the decision?

RAMALLAH, WEST-BANK - SEPTEMBER 23: A general view of the city of Ramallah on September 23, 2013 in Ramallah, West-Bank. The West Bank and Gaza Strip are inhabited by an estimated 3.33 million Palestinians who live in a region which has a long history as a crossroads for religion, culture, commerce and politics. (Photo by Ilia Yefimovich/Getty Images)

Ramallah's blacksmiths chisel out niche in modern market

Ramallah's blacksmiths work to preserve their profession and livelihood despite significant competition.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas (R) meets with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh at the Muqataa, the Palestinian Authority headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah on December 28, 2016. / AFP / ABBAS MOMANI (Photo credit should read ABBAS MOMANI/AFP/Getty Images)

Will PA, Jordan seek out closer relations?

A recent meeting of Palestinian Authority and Jordanian officials could set up a path to rapprochement.

Palestinian journalists take part in a protest in front of the Reuters office in Gaza April 22, 208, against the killing of Reuters cameraman Fadel Shana. Shana, a 23-year-old Palestinian, was killed in the Gaza Strip on April 16, 2008 while covering events in the enclave for the international news agency. He had been filming an Israeli tank dug in about 1,000 yards (1 km) away. Gaza doctors said darts sprayed from a controversial missile used by Israel killed Shana. Israeli forces have not said whether one

Palestinian journalists frustrated with inability to cover PA corruption

As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's investigation unfolds next door, Palestinian journalists envy the press freedom to investigate alleged wrong doing in their own country.

Zionist Camp MK's message to the Israeli left

Knesset member Ksenia Svetlova of the Zionist Camp told Al-Monitor in an interview that she still believes a diplomatic agreement with the Palestinians is the only solution and that Israelis must realize that there is no way to totally end terror acts.

Masked Palestinian militants hold their weapons during the funeral of Maysara Abu Hamdeya in the West Bank city of Hebron April 4, 2013. Thousands of mourners turned out on Thursday for the funerals of three Palestinians, including two teenagers killed by Israeli army gunfire in some of the worst violence in the occupied West Bank in years. The upsurge in unrest was triggered on Tuesday by the death of Hamdeya, a 64-year-old prisoner serving a life term in an Israeli jail and suffering from cancer. REUTERS/

Can PA end arms proliferation in West Bank?

The Palestinian Authority has ratified draft legislation on firearms and ammunition licensing fees in a bid to create a monopoly on arms in the West Bank.

Israeli soldier Elor Azaria, who is charged with manslaughter by the Israeli military, sits to hear his verdict in a military court in Tel Aviv, Israel, January 4, 2017. REUTERS/Heidi Levine/Pool - RTX2XHOA

Israeli court’s conviction temporarily fends off ICC

The manslaughter conviction of an Israeli soldier for killing a wounded Palestinian youth has fended off an investigation of that particular crime by the International Criminal Court, but it does not mean Israel is in the clear on allegations of war crimes for other deaths.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, with Palestinian ambassador to Jordan, Atallah Khairy (L), and Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat (C), says goodbye to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (not pictured) after their meeting in Amman June 29, 2013. Kerry extended his Middle East peace mission on Saturday, shuttling between Jerusalem and Amman for more talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders on reviving their stalled negotiations. REUTERS/Jacquelyn Martin/Pool (JORDAN - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX116CH

Is PA on road to reconciliation with Egypt?

Relations between the Palestinian Authority and Egypt have been strained lately, but some are denying the seriousness of this fallout.

Pedestrians walk past the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv August 2, 2013. U.S. embassies that would normally be open this Sunday - including those in Abu Dhabi, Baghdad and Cairo - will be closed that day because of unspecified security concerns, the U.S. State Department said on Thursday. CBS News said U.S. embassies would also be closed in Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. REUTERS/Nir Elias (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX12876

Palestinians ponder possible US Embassy move to Jerusalem

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has written a letter to US President-elect Donald Trump in an attempt to convince him not to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Why Netanyahu rushed to link Jerusalem attack to IS

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to blame the Islamic State for the terror attack in Jerusalem, ignoring that Palestinian assailants are motivated first and foremost by the Israeli occupation.