Newsletter: Daily Briefing Israel's Oct. 7 accountability debate Houthis strike Yemen airport, claim new attacks on Saudi Arabia; How language barriers are bringing Syria’s Kurds and Arabs closer; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Why Netanyahu still resists an independent probe 3 years after Oct. 7 Alongside official memorial ceremonies taking place across Israel on Monday, civil society groups are holding protests calling on Prime Minister Netanyahu to take responsibility for the Oct. 7 attacks. Israel
West Bank olive harvest begins amid settler attacks on Palestinians, groves Between 80,000 and 100,000 Palestinian families in the West Bank rely on the olive harvest for primary or secondary sources of income, according to the United Nations. Palestine
Analysis Three years after Oct. 7, Hamas’ grip on Gaza tests Netanyahu’s ‘total victory’ Israeli intelligence assessments indicate that Hamas remains active, with the group estimated to have about 30,000 armed fighters, roughly the same as its estimated strength before the attack. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis How Netanyahu is capitalizing on MBZ meeting, FlyDubai attack to gain in election polls By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Analysis How FlyDubai attack exposes gaps in Israel-UAE security ties By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Exclusive Rights, faith groups urge Congress to block $2.8B bomb sale to Israel By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Israel's US envoy Michael Oren to step down Israel's ambassador to the United States Michael Oren will step down in the fall after four years in the post; he may be replaced by Ron Dermer Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's political advisor. Israel
Is Hamas' tunnel network still intact? Hamas officials tell Al-Monitor that while Israel inflicted a blow to the tunnel network along the border, their main strategic tunnels are still operational. Palestine
Time for Obama to justify his Nobel Peace Prize Once November’s elections for Congress are over, the Obama administration will begin its final governing quarter, which would be the last term for the president to pressure Israel and the Palestinians back into negotiations, and earn his Nobel Prize. Palestine
In their own words: IDF reservists on war, politics Four IDF reserve soldiers speak to Al-Monitor about going to war as adults, with families to worry about and with more complex political and societal views than those of many young regular soldiers. Israel
Without Hamas, Israelis and Palestinians can find peace It was terrorist attacks by Hamas from the 1990s until today that ruined any chance of reconciliation with Israel. Thus, only when the Palestinian people come out against Hamas will it be possible to talk about peace. Palestine
Obama misses the mark on Netanyahu Barack Obama’s statement about Benjamin Netanyahu’s internal political strength shows how much Americans fail to understand Israeli politics, with Israel's prime minister at an unprecedented political low point following the Gaza war. Palestine
Former Shin Bet chief calls for regional conference In an interview with Al-Monitor, former Shin Bet head and current Science Minister Yaakov Peri calls to seize this moment after the Gaza war for a regional diplomatic move involving the Palestinians, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Palestine
Israel accused of using illegal weapons in Gaza war Doctors in the Gaza Strip say they have evidence that shows the Israeli military used internationally prohibited Dense Inert Metal Explosives against civilians during Operation Protective Edge. Palestine
Israel names Ron Dermer next envoy to Washington Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has named his political advisor, the American-born Ron Dermer, to replace Michael Oren as Israel's next ambassador to the US. Israel
Israel bristles at EU measure as Kerry arrives in Amman to push peace talks Netanyahu has criticized the European Union's directive to curtail financial ties with Jewish settlements built outside Israel's 1967 borders. Palestine
The Closer: Why Ron Dermer may be Bibi’s perfect peace envoy Israel’s next envoy to the United States Ron Dermer, may use his ties to the GOP to sell peace to the American right if Netanyahu decides to get serious about negotiations. Palestine
An inside look at IDF's 'faith-driven' warriors The IDF and Israeli society as a whole must cope with religious-Zionist commanders, who perceive fighting terrorism in Gaza as a divine decree, thus reshaping the military ethos. Israel