Israel's Netanyahu suing New York Times over column on Palestinian rape Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rejected New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof's accusations of systematic sexual abuse and rape of Palestinian prisoners, calling the claims a "blood libel." United States
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump arrives in China with Iran war looming over talks Tehran will closely watch whether Beijing seeks to restrain Washington or quietly aligns with US pressure on Iran’s oil exports and regional role. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Israel’s drone dilemma: Hezbollah’s low-cost threat reshapes Lebanon front While Israeli and Lebanese delegations are set to meet in Washington for the third time, the Israeli military faces a growing threat from Hezbollah’s cheap yet highly lethal drones. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran’s Ghalibaf: US must accept Tehran proposal By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis CIA report on Iran missiles undercuts Netanyahu as war euphoria dissipates By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Hezbollah commanders killed as renewed strikes test Lebanon-Israel talks By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Jerusalem recognition serves mainly Trump, Netanyahu The Trump administration claims that recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital is just the beginning of a larger strategy for peace, but the US president's complex diplomatic plan may be more of a mirage. Palestine
Iran hard-liners welcome Trump decision on Jerusalem Some Iranian media outlets believe that Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital will make forming resistance groups easier. Palestine
Washington’s attempt to impose Mideast peace will backfire US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and other recent measures suggest that he thinks he can bludgeon Palestinians into accepting an unjust peace deal. Palestine
Netanyahu left without any cards to play Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated several times the principle of reciprocity in talks with Palestinians, yet he himself is willing to offer them nothing. Palestine
Iran reacts to Trump's 'very dangerous' Jerusalem decision In reaction to Trump’s move to declare recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Iranian leaders warned that they won’t tolerate aggression against holy sites. Palestine
Fear of Netanyahu paralyzes Likud leadership Some senior Likud politicians may feel that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must quit over the ongoing investigations, but no one is brave enough to say it aloud. Israel
Can Hamas agree to prisoner swap with Israel? Egypt pushes Hamas to send Israel some signs, signaling that it is ready for a prisoner-exchange deal. Palestine
Palestinians cancel Capitol Hill Christmas over Trump remarks The Palestinian mission in Washington abandoned attempts to court the White House and Congress with the mission's first-ever Christmas party on Capitol Hill after it was announced that President Donald Trump would make a major statement on the status of Jerusalem on Wednesday. Palestine
Israeli tech puts Iranian ride-hailing startups in bind Drivers for Iranian ride-hailing companies have been using an Israeli navigation app, causing conflict between the relatively new businesses and judicial authorities. Israel
Erdogan draws red line over US Embassy's move to Jerusalem Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is threatening to sever ties with Israel if the United States moves its embassy to Jerusalem, positioning himself as a global defender of Islam at the risk of further tension with the West. Israel
Netanyahu on damage control after right-hand man interrogated Now that coalition chair David Bitan has been grilled by the police in the course of their investigation into the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu will have to find another strongman to rein in his coalition. Israel
Could settlers stay in a future Palestinian state? The violence by settlers against Palestinian farmers indicates why settlers cannot stay and live inside a future Palestinian state. Palestine