On secret UAE visit, Netanyahu asked MBZ to deny pre-Oct. 7 warnings During his trip to Abu Dhabi, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked President Mohamed bin Zayed to deny reports that he had been warned ahead of the Oct. 7 attack that Hamas was preparing a major assault. Israel
Analysis After France's settlement ban, Israel sees no warming of ties with Macron government Israeli diplomats say France’s decision to ban imports from West Bank settlements has brought bilateral relations to an unprecedented low point. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Analysis Europe’s West Bank trade ban fires warning shot at Israel’s economy Weeks before key Israeli elections, a dozen nations announced new trade restrictions targeting settlements in the West Bank, delivering a sharp rebuke to Israel's government that could presage additional international pressure. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Netanyahu threatens to sue Haaretz for reporting UAE warned Israel of Oct. 7 attack The Emirati president reportedly warned that a planned attack could cause bloodshed, destabilize the region and threaten the Abraham Accords. Israel
Analysis LORA missile test reveals limits of Germany’s Gaza criticism of Israel By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
US Not Considering Arms To Syrian Rebels The Obama administration resists congressional pressure for military aid to the Syrian rebels; Al-Monitor writers take on the case of Fazil Say and the resignation of Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. Palestine
Playing with Fire On the Temple Mount Provocative visits to the Temple Mount by Knesset members and ministers from the right could prove costly, writes Nadav Perry. Palestine
Palestinian Refugees in Egypt Palestinian refugees in Egypt still face many challenges and discrimination, writes Mahmoud Omar. Palestine
Israeli Students Show Little Interest In Learning Arabic In contrast to the revival of Hebrew studies in Gaza, Israeli students are reluctant to learn Arabic, writes Shlomi Eldar. Palestine
The Gaza Doctor’s Story On Israeli Stage The best-seller “I Shall Not Hate,” depicting the life of Ezzeldeen Abu al-Aish, "the doctor from Gaza" and bereaved Palestinian father, has been adapted for the stage at Habima national theater, Michal Aharoni reports. Palestine
Do the US and Arab StatesSee Eye to Eye on Palestine? The United States has failed to change its approach to the Middle East conflict, but Arab states are consolidating alliances with the divided Palestinian political establishment, writes Ahmad Azem. Palestine
Economic Peace Before a Political Solution in Israel, Palestine Following dismayed reactions to Secretary of State John Kerry’s Israel/West Bank visit, both sides debate prioritizing economic peace, writes Adnan Abu Amer. Palestine
Israel Fears Hamas PlanningArmed Action in West Bank Israel and the Palestinian Authority are growing increasingly concerned that Hamas is seeking to renew armed operations in the West Bank, Adnan Abu Amer writes. Palestine
Inside the Israeli Settlement Enterprise The illegal outpost Adei Ad in the West Bank illustrates the methods used by settlers, backed by the state, to take over Palestinian lands, writes Akiva Eldar. Palestine
'Church of Nativity' Exiles Still Waiting to Return Israel has continued to block the return of Palestinians who were forcibly removed from Bethlehem 11 years ago to end the siege of the Church of the Nativity, writes Khaled Kraizim. Palestine
Gaza Schoolchildren Receive Military Training From Hamas The Hamas government in Gaza has begun a program to provide military training for boys, and soon for girls, to prepare them for any future confrontation with Israel, writes Hazem Balousha. Palestine
The Palestinian Time Warp Geoffrey Aronson writes that "new" US plans for resuscitating Palestinian economic growth sound a lot like old ones that failed to foster independence. Palestine