Newsletter: Palestine Palestine elections chief: Vote ‘transparent’ despite war, restrictions In an exclusive interview, Rami Hamdallah defended the transparency of recent Palestinian local elections while outlining the political and logistical barriers to voting in Gaza and East Jerusalem. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
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. Israel
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. By Rasha Abou Jalal In Gaza City, reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
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. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
Interview Olmert: Only Israel-Lebanon deal can curb Hezbollah, occupation 'unviable' Ehud Olmert Former Israeli prime minister
Why more Israelis are shying away from interaction with Palestinians A new survey by the Israeli Democracy Institute reveals that Jewish Israelis perceive the violent conflict with the Palestinians as unrelated to the occupation. Palestine
Struggle for Jerusalem takes on new form The Israeli Ministry of Tourism has released a map of Jerusalem’s Old City that omits many Christian and Muslim sites, fueling claims that Israel is trying to politicize tourism in the holy city. Palestine
Some Gazans fear Turkish generosity may come at high price Turkey’s crucial humanitarian aid and booming economic projects in Gaza could have hidden political motives. Palestine
Will Israel’s power cuts leave West Bank towns in the dark? Israel will start cutting power in the Palestinian towns of Bethlehem and Jericho due to electricity debts owed by the PA, which Palestinian officials say they "don't even dream of being able to pay back." Palestine
Hamas' call for more taxes gets Gazans fired up Gazans are questioning Hamas’ decision to impose additional taxes, as they are still plagued by poverty, unemployment and insecurity, with no plans for development on the horizon. Palestine
Will Palestinian interaction with Israel be stopped? Criticism of the Committee for Interaction with Israeli Society has grown louder after a Palestinian delegation offered condolences for the death of an Israeli officer. Palestine
Is Egypt the key to a Hamas, Fatah reconciliation? Although optimism prevails in Hamas and Fatah circles, many observers believe no reconciliation agreement can be expected without Egyptian sponsorship. Palestine
Why Israel needs a two-state solution Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's view of Islamic State terror as a clash of civilizations paints Israel as the "good guy," absolving it of resolving the conflict with the Palestinians. Palestine
Hamas finds itself between a rock and a hard place Hamas seems likely to accept Egypt’s demand that it sever ties with the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, even though the relationship formed the basis for its ideology. Palestine
Will a two-state solution be announced in November? The US administration is discreetly testing Israeli and Palestinian reactions to three options it is currently contemplating to advance the two-state solution. Palestine
Will Fatah split? A new current has emerged within the Fatah movement with the objective of bringing about reforms, which raises questions on whether or not its founders plan to defect from Fatah’s main branch. Palestine
Nowhere to run: Palestine marathoners race on short track In Bethlehem’s fourth annual marathon, thousands of Palestinian and international runners competed on a half-marathon track in a stark illustration of the tight restrictions on Palestinian movement. Palestine