Analysis Why Netanyahu is distancing himself from Trump ahead of Israeli election No meeting has been announced between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly summit in New York. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
UAE's Gargash expects 'prolonged' war, calls for Iran-Gulf security talks "We need a new mindset that these sort of discussions ... can happen at an Iranian-American level, it should also take place at an Iranian-Arab level," Gargash told Al-Monitor. United Arab Emirates
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 How Netanyahu is leveraging Houthi threat in secret Saudi normalization push Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to capitalize on Riyadh's need for intelligence assistance to make normalization headway ahead of the October elections. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Israel’s Meretz party giving up on Arabs Despite the support it gained in the September elections within the Israeli-Arab communities, the Meretz party list will not include an Arab candidate in a realistic slot. Israel
Small West Bank school holds firm despite settler attacks To get an education, the students in Yanoun, a Palestinian village near Nablus, must deal with attacks by Israeli settlers on the way to school and even in their homes. Palestine
Israel’s economy victim of political gridlock Without a new state budget, without new senior officials and without new reforms, Israel’s economy is one of the biggest victims of the current political chaos. Israel
Hamas intensifies Western dialogues to break political isolation Hamas has stepped up its meetings with US and EU officials in an attempt to break its isolation and emerge on the international diplomatic scene. Palestine
Will Israel get Republican/Democrat-style big parties? The fate of Israel’s next elections will be determined within the next few days by the alliances forged or not forged between the parties on Israel’s political right and left. Israel
Hamas must choose: Egypt or Iran? Angered that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh broke an agreement not to visit Iran, Egypt will make Hamas understand that it must choose sides and break with Iran if the movement hopes to survive. Palestine
Jordan feels Soleimani side effects The assassination of Iran’s top commander, Qasem Soleimani, has raised concerns in Jordan, with analysts fearing retaliation against US military assets in the kingdom. Iraq
Why Israel must end chief rabbi’s monopoly on Judaism The State of Israel must put a stop to the monopoly held by the Chief Rabbi on deciding who is Jewish, who can marry who and who can immigrate to the country. Israel
Israel’s defense minister not focused on defense Defense Minister Naftali Bennett has made several controversial decisions that evidently serve his political agenda but not Israel’s security. Israel
Netanyahu suddenly facing effective opposition The possibility of lifting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's immunity after the Knesset was dissolved is exactly the sort of move that an effective opposition is expected to promote. Israel
Hamas unfazed by Israel warnings As Israel is making economic concessions in the Gaza Strip, sporadic rockets continue to be launched from the enclave, prompting Israel to threaten to end all concessions. Palestine
Incitement against Russian-Israelis resurges in election campaign As the elections approach, ultra-Orthodox leaders are accusing Israelis who immigrated from Russia and Ukraine of coming to the country to weaken their political force. Israel