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Palestine

May 12, 2026

Ramallah 7:00 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

Will Liberman's Palestinian sanctions cost Israeli lives?

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman ordered the military unit coordinating activities on the West Bank to sever civilian ties with the Palestinian Authority while maintaining security cooperation, but the two are inseparable.

Why UN anti-settlement resolution won't make a difference

UN efforts to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have failed miserably, as Israel is unmoved by its resolutions over the years.

Is Netanyahu sacrificing Israel on his crusade against Obama?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knows that Israel will pay, diplomatically and politically, for its over-the-top response to the anti-settlement UN Security Council resolution, but it seems he doesn't care.

A friend of Marwan Shahwan, 55, displays relics from his collection stored in the basement of a relative's house in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis on March 2, 2014. Shahwan has been collecting artifacts over the past 30 years, which includes more than 10,000 ancient items representing various eras and civilizations. AFP PHOTO/ SAID KHATIB (Photo credit should read SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images)

How one Gazan is preserving Palestinian heritage in his basement

To protect Palestine's archaeological history, Marwan Shahwan has converted the basement of a Gaza house into a museum to hold the tens of thousands of artifacts he has been collecting for decades.

Fatah leader speaks out on Abbas' exclusive congress

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Abdel-Hakim Awad, a member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council who was excluded from the movement's seventh congress, talks about Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' political failures, his exclusionary policies and his collusion with Israel.

Can soccer help kids kick cancer?

The Champions Academy for soccer is launching a section for children with cancer in an attempt to help them overcome their illness and boost their morale.

Gaza to hear appeal of woman’s death sentence

A woman who says her husband beat her is appealing her death sentence with the support of more than a dozen rights groups.

Why is Israel allowing armored jeeps into the West Bank?

After a four-year ban, Israel has now agreed to allow the Palestinian Authority to import armored vehicles in light of the deteriorating internal security situation in the West Bank, which worries the PA.

Questions arise about large Palestinian security budget

The budget of the Palestinian security forces is being questioned, and attempts are being made by the United States to cut it back.

How serious is Israel about allowing return of Gaza workers?

Israel's decision to allow workers from the Gaza Strip to hold jobs in adjacent towns is a positive step that, if implemented, will improve the economic situation in Gaza.

Is Abbas turning his back on Egypt?

Despite lukewarm relations between Palestine and Egypt, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not turn his back on Cairo.

How Gaza's female first responders are saving lives, breaking stereotypes

In a patriarchal society such as the Gaza Strip, a group of female first-aid workers created controversy when they headed to a football stadium to help male players.