How much money goes to Israel's settlements each year?

A new report reveals the disparities in government spending between the settlements and the towns in the country’s periphery, reflecting Israel's policy priorities since the 1967 Six Day War.

Palestine

Israeli academics to Netanyahu: accept Arab Initiative

Alex Mintz, director of the Institute for Policy and Strategy at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, explains that accepting the Arab Initiative “with reservations” is needed, as it “would weaken Hamas and the Iranian axis” while opening regional negotiations.

Saudi Arabia

Gaza fishermen say Israel not honoring cease-fire terms

The cease-fire to end the Gaza war included a provision to extend Gaza’s fishing zone, but local fishermen say Israel has yet to implement the new arrangement.

Palestine

Hezbollah parliamentarian: We will defend Lebanon from IS

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayyad said Lebanon was under direct threat from the Islamic State and that Hezbollah stood ready to confront it.

Saudi Arabia

Fatah source: no chance of reconciliation with Hamas

In an interview, a Fatah source in Gaza said that Hamas arrested him and his colleagues during the fighting, and that the rift between Hamas and Fatah was about to explode.

Palestine

US-Iran cooperation on IS makes Israel uneasy

Although Israel is increasingly uneasy about the possibility of US-Iran cooperation in fighting the Islamic State, Israeli security officials say the emergence of a regional Islamic caliphate would be a strategic disaster.

Palestine

Hamas eyes armed resistance from West Bank

Hamas officials have expressed a desire to shift the armed confrontation with Israel to the West Bank, prompting a Palestinian Authority crackdown on Hamas.

Palestine

Expropriation of land reveals Netanyahu's strategy

The expropriation of West Bank land, contrary to his commitment at his 2009 Bar-Ilan speech, reveals the true strategy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of dividing the Palestinians while stalling.

Palestine

Russia focuses on eliminating Middle East terrorist threat

Increased terrorist activity in the Middle East has Russia rethink its foreign policy, and support the Arab League's intention of a "comprehensive treaty of collective security."

Palestine

Relief aid in Gaza failing to reach the most desperate

Palestinians in Gaza are complaining about the chaotic distribution of relief aid entering the Gaza Strip, destined for those most severely afflicted by the recent war with Israel.

Palestine

Adopting Arab Peace Initiative will take time

Though a full implementation of the Arab Peace Initiative is currently unrealistic, gradual progress toward the initiative could help establish a Palestinian state.

Palestine

Ignoring the Arab Peace Initiative could cost Bibi

Unlike Ehud Olmert, Benjamin Netanyahu ignores the Arab League initiative, which will cost Israel its US backing at a crucial moment in the near future.

Palestine