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Palestine

May 12, 2026

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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

What are European Union’s plans if Trump fails on Mideast peace?

If US President Donald Trump fails to advance his Middle East conference initiative, the European Union will advance its own initiative for a third Paris conference.

Palestinians flock to first Palestinian bank in Jerusalem

The National Bank opened its branch in the Dahiat al-Barid neighborhood in Jerusalem on April 17, allowing Palestinians to fulfill their banking needs in Israel without having to cross into the West Bank.

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as they deliver an statement at the White House in Washington D.C., U.S., May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTS1502B

Why Trump-Abbas meeting has rattled Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is concerned that the US president's inviting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for a meeting in the White house, well before many other important world leaders, reflects a determination to advance a two-state deal.

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S. May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst - RTS14ZJL

Trump, Abbas vow to prove skeptics wrong on reaching peace deal

In upbeat White House visit May 3, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and US President Donald Trump expressed themselves optimistic they can reach an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal that nobody thinks they will reach.

How one Palestinian couple hopes to bring back mosaic art

Journalist Said al-Ghazali from Jerusalem turned his house into a museum to revive the art of mosaic that disappeared in the Palestinian territories.

West Bank walking trail highlights Palestinian heritage, culture

A walking trail across several villages in the West Bank aims to boost local and foreign tourism, in a bid to show the world that Palestinians have a rich cultural and archaeological heritage.

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal gestures as he announces a new policy document in Doha, Qatar, May 1, 2017. REUTERS/Naseem Zeitoon - RTS14OSP

Hamas defies charter, recognizes 1967 borders

Hamas' recognition of the Israeli borders established in 1967 is part of outgoing political chief Khaled Meshaal's legacy of pragmatism, but Israel won't be easily soothed.

Netanyahu’s old friend becomes Trump’s new ally

Much to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s chagrin, Jewish billionaire Ronald Lauder is encouraging US President Donald Trump to advance the two-state solution.

Jordan's King Abdullah II welcomes Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (L) during a reception ceremony at the Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan March 28, 2017. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed - RTX336DK

Jordan and Egypt key to Abbas' Washington visit

With the support of Egypt and Jordan, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is hoping that he can slightly change the balance of forces in favor of a fair process in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict ahead of his visit to the United States.

A boy watches the Israeli Air Force Aerobatic team fly over the Mediterranean Sea during an aerial show as part of the celebrations for Israel's Independence Day marking the 69th anniversary of the creation of the state in Tel Aviv, Israel May 2, 2017. REUTERS/Ammar Awad TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTS14S3B

Israelis celebrate 69 years, ignore occupation

Israelis prefer to focus on celebrating their country’s 69th anniversary, while ignoring 50 years of occupation and suffering in the West Bank.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C), Israeli President Shimon Peres (R) and Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon attend a ceremony for the laying of the foundation stone of the mount Herzl Memorial Hall for soldiers who have fallen in Israel's wars on April 30, 2014 in Jerusalem. Next week Israel will commemorate all Israel's fallen soldiers followed by celebrations for the anniversary of Israeli Independence Day on May 6 marking 66 years since the founding of the Jewish State in 1948 according

After 69 years of independence, Israel more prosperous and divided than ever

The 1967 Six-Day War with the occupation of the West Bank marks a watershed in Israel’s history; Israel has since turned into a prosperous, developed country, albeit with a divided society with elements that lean to extremes.

A Palestinian man walks during power cut at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City April 25, 2017. Picture taken April 25, 2017. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem - RTS14596

Much more than power at stake in Israel-Hamas electricity standoff

With Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announcing that he will stop financing Gaza's electricity needs, Israel must decide whether to save Gaza's residents and the Hamas regime with them.