Obama says no plans to remove Assad

Obama says no for now to regime change in Syria; Dark backs ‘freeze’ in divided Aleppo; Syrian opposition holds its own in south; Israel, Palestinians fear religious war; Is Egypt winning battle against IS-linked group?

Palestine

Will terror attacks revive issue of splitting Jerusalem?

The Israeli right has long accused the left of intending to divide Jerusalem in a future agreement with the Palestinians, but with continuing unrest in the city the ruling right wing must also face the possibility of a separation.

Palestine

Hamas threatens vote of no confidence in Abbas

Hamas called and then postponed a Palestinian Legislative Council session to push for a vote of no confidence in the current consensus government.

Palestine

Israeli security defends Abbas

Israeli security apparatus agrees with the political echelon that Mahmoud Abbas incites the Palestinian street over Temple Mount, but argues that Abbas maintains security cooperation with Israel and condemns terror attacks.

Palestine

Islamic State in Sinai poses threat to Hamas

Despite Hamas denials, Islamic State cells exist in the Gaza Strip, and its declaration of a state in the Sinai may accelerate its expansion as Hamas’ grip on Gaza loosens.

Palestine

Could Israel’s policies pave way for an intifada?

Israel’s systematic marginalization of Palestinian residents in Jerusalem and its separation of them from the Palestinian Authority are recreating the ingredients for an uprising.

Palestine

Jews, Arabs use religion as tool to escalate conflict

The murders at the Bnei Torah Kehillat Yaakov synagogue in Jerusalem are yet another sign of both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict adding religious elements to the territorial dispute.

Palestine

Gaza’s civil servants strike over unpaid wages

The pay dispute concerning Gaza’s public servants continues, with the consensus government refusing to pay for security and military employees hired by the previous Hamas government.

Palestine

Following synagogue attack, Netanyahu, Abbas must meet

With the latest wave of suicide attacks in Jerusalem, Israel faces a security situation that cannot be solved by building fences like the separation wall.

Palestine

3,500 Palestinians stuck outside Gaza

The author interviews several Gazans stuck in Egypt and other countries, herself included, who are unable to return to the Gaza Strip following the terrorist attack in Sinai and the subsequent closure of the Rafah crossing.

Palestine

Jerusalem terror attack shatters brief remission

This morning's terror attack on a synagogue in Jerusalem indicates that the latest measures of lifting age restrictions for Muslim prayers at the Temple Mount failed at preventing further escalation.

Palestine

Kerry finds a way to Temple Mount compromise

In Amman, US Secretary of State John Kerry achieved a compromise on Muslim Temple Mount prayers, showing that a firm US stance must be taken to resolve the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Palestine