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 the PA wants to stay on good terms with Qatar The Qatari ambassador to Palestine stayed in the Gaza Strip for three weeks, holding banquets, visiting various institutions and making donations, with mixed reactions from Palestinian factions. Qatar
Freedom of the press: Palestine's journalists call for action Although President Mahmoud Abbas recently reiterated that freedom of the press is absolute in Palestine, the executive branch has carried on with its abuses against journalists, in a flagrant contradiction between what's being said and what's actually happening. Palestine
Is North Korea supplying arms to Palestinian factions? The Palestinian resistance factions are seeking to conclude weapons deals with Russia, North Korea and China through the black market, yet some say a recent display of weapons was merely for propaganda purposes. Palestine
Why were 3,000 Gazans excluded from Qatari grant to pay salaries? Hamas is accusing the Ramallah government of tampering with the list of Gazan government workers who were supposed to receive payment as part of a recent grant from Qatar. Qatar
11 years on, have Gazans failed to invest in liberated areas? More than a decade after Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip, the liberated lands remain mostly empty, with analysts urging the Palestinian Land Authority to optimize the use and cultivation of these lands. Palestine
Gaza takes pineapple test Gaza's Union of Agricultural Work Committees announced that it will try to grow pineapples for the first time in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, within the scope of the project to promote sustainable development through the most profitable crops. Palestine
Knesset plans lobby for return of Palestinians to their villages An effort to create a majority lobby to force the Israeli government to allow Palestinian citizens of Israel to return to their villages is being advocated. Palestine
Is Israel planning all-out war on Hamas? There has been a lot of talk lately about Israel launching one last war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to annihilate the group, and Hamas is preparing for this possibility. Palestine
Israelis split over floating harbor off Gaza Israeli officials announced their opposition to building a floating harbor off the Gaza coast, which Hamas condemned and considered to be another measure to tighten the siege on the Gaza Strip. Palestine
Is EU giving up on Israel-Palestine conflict? With the US preoccupied by elections, Egypt not committed, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas politically weak and Israel reluctant, the European Union is about to give up on the two-state solution process. Palestine
Fresh dismissals threaten already weakened Fatah Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas dismissed six leaders of the movement for their alleged allegiance to his rival Mohammed Dahlan. Palestine
How real-life tragedies have revived theater in Gaza Theater in the Gaza Strip has been revived in the past few months, as actors and directors worked hard to offer theater plays that reflect the difficult living and political conditions in Gaza. Palestine