Was Trump’s call about oil with Saudi leader the start of a reset in relations?

US-Saudi partnership faces both old and new challenges in post-COVID-19 Middle East.

Saudi Arabia

Instead of attacking, Israel now ignores ICC

With the coronavirus spreading, Israel’s political echelon paid no attention to the announcement by ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda about charging Israel for war crimes.

Palestine

Jerusalemites complain about discrimination at airports

The coronavirus appears to have exposed once more the cloudy status of Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem, as the deportation of a professor and the denial of boarding to some has left may worried that the legal status of 350,000 Palestinians is in danger.

Palestine

European ambassadors warn Israel over annexation plans

A group of 11 European ambassadors to Israel has made it clear that West Bank annexation plans will be met with fierce international objection.

Palestine

Arab League slams West Bank annexation plans as ‘war crime’

The pan-Arab organization met to discuss Israeli plans for annexing parts of the territory the Palestinians envision for a future state.

Palestine

Despite cafes opening, Gazans still reluctant to go out

Gaza restaurants are reopening their doors weeks after the lockdown, amid a low turnout of citizens who are still afraid of the coronavirus.

Palestine

Families of missing IDF soldiers call on government to push Hamas deal

According to recent reports, Israel briefed the families of IDF soldiers Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul on advancement in talks over a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.

Palestine

Temple Mount closed to both Jews, Muslims over coronavirus

The Waqf agreed to shut down the Temple Mount to Muslims during the coronavirus crisis, in exchange for a ruling that denies Jews access to the site.

Palestine

Intel: Key Biden adviser slams 'sheer hypocrisy' of Trump gambit to extend Iran arms embargo

The Joe Biden campaign’s chief foreign policy adviser slammed the Donald Trump administration for relying on a mechanism in the 2015 nuclear deal to reinstate multilateral sanctions on Iran should the United Nations fail to extend an arms embargo on Tehran, which is set to expire in October.

Palestine

Netanyahu's annexation plan can't be stopped

Annexation of the Jordan Valley is a long-standing Israeli objective, going back to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

Palestine

200,000 watch Israeli-Palestinian memorial service online

This year's joint Israeli-Palestinian memorial ceremony was streamed online because of the pandemic, but the controversy it raised was nothing new.

Palestine

Palestinian PM's COVID-19 response gets high marks, but will it be enough?

Palestinians are generally very happy with the performance of their prime minister in confronting the coronavirus and can easily see him as president; the harder question is whether there will be a Palestine to be president of.

Palestine