Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran revises proposal as Trump ramps up warnings Tehran revised its response to the US as Trump warned Iran to “get moving” after a strike on a UAE nuclear plant. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Trump’s Gaza plan stalls as Hamas resists disarmament The militant group appears to be stalling as the mediators push it to accept a US-backed disarmament proposal. United States
Israel's Netanyahu suing New York Times over column on Palestinian rape Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rejected New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof's accusations of systematic sexual abuse and rape of Palestinian prisoners, calling the claims a "blood libel." United States
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
Feature Gazans show cautious hope ahead of first local elections in 20 years By Rasha Abou Jalal In Gaza City, reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Analysis On eve of Palestinian local elections, competition in short supply 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
Israeli right campaigns on Paris terror attack When calling on Europe to stand by Israel and when calling French Jews to immigrate to Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is harnessing the Paris terror attacks for his electoral needs. Countries
Abbas’ presence at Paris rally boosts Palestinian legitimacy The appearance of President Mahmoud Abbas alongside world leaders at the France unity rally will help his campaign for Palestinian independence. Palestine
Dempsey says Iran’s role in Iraq might be 'positive' Americans consider Islamic State, not Iran, as top threat to US in Mideast; terrorists in Syria planning “mass casualty attacks” in West; Salafists in Gaza look to Islamic State. Palestine
Could Russia broker Middle East peace? Though Russia has been often proposed as a mediator for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, there is no indication that Moscow would be able to assure Israel’s security or financial support for the Palestinian Authority. Palestine
Lapid: Abbas can't compromise without Arab support In an interview with Al-Monitor, former Finance Minister Yair Lapid argues that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas needs Arab support to compromise on the Palestinian right of return and on Jerusalem. Palestine
Arab world insists on support of West for Palestinian statehood Egyptian and Palestinian officials stress that it will be easier for Arab countries to cooperate with the United States and Europe on fighting the Islamic State if their people see that the West promotes Palestinian statehood. Palestine
Egypt’s buffer zone expansion hurts Hamas’ arms supplies Egypt’s decision to expand its buffer zone along its border with the Gaza Strip is a sign that relations with Hamas are no closer to improving. Palestine
Hamas leaders prefer Turkish exile to Gaza hardships Following Qatar's ousting of Hamas' political bureau from the emirate, the group is in search of a new home. Qatar
Israelis wonder how Europe will change after Paris attack Many Israelis think that the terror attack in Paris could be a watershed moment, when the Europeans have to change their human rights approach in the face of fighting radical Islamic terrorism. Palestine
Palestinian officials give contradictory media statements Senior Palestinian official Jibril Rajoub contradicted his colleague Saeb Erekat’s statements earlier in the week that the Palestinian Authority could be dissolved, raising questions over the PA’s communication strategy. Palestine
Why US, EU should intervene in Israeli elections The United States and European Union should explain to Israeli voters what is at stake at the international level in the March elections. Palestine
Why Israel's PA tax freeze will backfire Israeli politicians cling to the assumption that punitive measures against the Palestinian Authority will create deterrence and prevent its leadership from diplomatic moves, not realizing that such an approach causes Israel strategic damage. Palestine