New Palestinian party has ties to Israel, seeks PLO reform

President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party promptly attacked the newly launched Reform and Development Party in the West Bank and warned Palestinians to have nothing to do with it.

Palestine

PA wants to break free from reliance on Israeli electricity

Jordan and the Palestinian Authority are about to sign an agreement under which the kingdom would supply electricity to the West Bank.

Palestine

Can Israel’s Blue and White party get people into the street?

If Benjamin Netanyahu’s fifth government takes steps to keep the prime minister from facing a criminal trial, it will be necessary to bring hundreds of thousands of people to Rabin Square to protest at what is happening to Israel’s democracy.

Israel

Gaza escalation; a prelude to Hamas-Israel war?

The Israeli army has adopted a new approach vis-a-vis Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, with retaliation against rocket fire and targeted killings.

Palestine

Israel, Qatar interests merge on Gaza, West Bank

In order to ameliorate its image in Washington, Qatar is now ready to extract Israel from the complicated situation it got into by withholding money from the Palestinian Authority.

Saudi Arabia

Turkey and Palestine maintain strong ties despite US pressures

Turkey is proving to be a strong ally to Palestine despite being a member of NATO and having a long-standing military relationship with Israel, and Palestinian officials are trying to use this relationship to counterpressure the Trump administration and Israel.

Palestine

Israeli holidays delay deal to reopen Gaza border crossings

Although Israel quickly reversed its decision to stop trucks from entering the Gaza Strip, the delay is shrinking already-strained supplies of essential fuel.

Palestine

Many Palestinians apply, but few get to visit Al-Aqsa for Ramadan

Though Israeli announces measure allowing some Palestinians to visit Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan every year, applicants complain of opaque selection processes and poor odds.

Palestine

Qatar seeks to cement truce between Israel, Gaza factions

Qatar has mediated, along with Egypt and the UN, a cease-fire ending the latest round of hostilities between Israel and Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip, after which it pledged to provide $480 million in support of Palestinians.

Qatar

Likud's Saar declares war of succession

Gideon Saar of Likud has put Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu on notice that he is after his job and might not wait until Netanyahu steps aside before making a play for it.

Israel

Israel at 71, more religious, messianic and extreme

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans on forming the next coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties that in essence do not recognize the Declaration of Independence and Israel’s founding values.

Israel

Local Israeli authorities lose a little freedom on Independence Day

With local governments paying increasingly exorbitant prices for performers to entertain on Independence Day, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri has introduced a cap in pricing to take effect in 2020.

Israel