Palestinians ponder reasons for punishing US measures

Washington keeps heaping injuries and insults onto Palestinians, who have various theories about the motivation behind the measures.

Palestine

Jerusalem mayoral race heating up

After Elkin missed out on the ultra-Orthodox deal, it’s not clear that Netanyahu would go out of his way to support him – he’ll certainly prefer his personal interests with the ultra-Orthodox. If residents of East Jerusalem would vote, they would decide who the next mayor would be.

Israel

Friction heats up between Russia, Israel over downed aircraft

Jerusalem is worried that the conflict with Moscow caused by the downing of a Russian jet in Syria will paralyze IDF activities and enable Iran to transfer arms to Hezbollah.

Israel

Israeli culture scene target of domestic censorship, international boycotts

Major Israeli film festivals are operating under an impossible Catch-22: on one front, Culture Minister Miri Regev threatens to slash funds of works that contradict her right-wing worldview, and on another front, Israeli cultural institutions are viewed as part and parcel of an occupying government uninterested in peace.

Palestine

For Abbas, it’s not too late to negotiate

Israel’s next prime minister should not give up on meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and reaching a peace agreement, even if it means a limited one to be implemented only in the West Bank.

Palestine

Meet the woman who could lead Israel’s right-wing camp

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, seen as the person who would replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the leader of Israel's right wing, comes under major fire from the center-left.

Israel

How Israeli right lays claim to religion

The recently adopted nationality law is only the latest example of a long string of efforts to exploit and pressure Israelis by linking political views to religious beliefs.

Israel

Plane shot down over Syria puts Russia-Israel relations to the test

A Russian plane downed by Syrian missiles responding to an Israeli strike has strained relations between Moscow and Tel Aviv and sent both sides into crisis-management mode.

Israel

Palestine steps up efforts against Eurovision 2019 in Israel

Following an open letter of international artists to The Guardian against the holding of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Israel, Palestine steps up rhetoric against the song contest.

Palestine

Jordan takes steps to support Jerusalem’s Palestinians

Palestinian Jerusalemites hope that Jordan's announcement of a reduction in passport fees for them, and an easier application process, signal an effort by Amman to become more involved in defending their rights.

Palestine

Israel’s two judicial systems

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman suspended the appointment of an IDF advisory committee for examining parole requests by Palestinian convicted assailants.

Palestine

The Paul Manafort affair: the Israeli connection

Israeli politicians are demanding investigations into which 'senior Israeli official' appears to have close ties to the Kremlin and was apparently involved in an effort by the former American lobbyist Paul Manafort to smear a Ukrainian politician as anti-Semitic.

Israel