Newsletter: Daily Briefing Lebanon becomes first Arab country to abolish death penalty Hormuz shipping traffic falls to one-week low amid hostilities; Netanyahu rejects Trump’s Gaza plan while quietly implementing it; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Netanyahu rejects Trump’s Gaza plan while quietly implementing it Even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that he rejects US President Donald Trump’s Gaza reconstruction plan, Israel is advancing its implementation. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Syria, Russia reach deal on Russian bases Iran says no reason to fear Pakistan-Turkey-Saudi security pact; Yemeni military reports 7 killed in Houthi attack; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump says Hormuz to reopen after ‘very good’ Iran talks Turkey submits draft law that would bring PKK peace; UN says Iran executed at least 56 people since March; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Netanyahu’s Gaza double game: Back Trump, reassure Israel’s right By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis How Hamas disarmament deal may test Iran's regional strategy By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Hamas says Israel must withdraw first after Trump announces Gaza deal By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Will Salafi groups trigger Israel-Hamas clash? Salafi groups have adopted the tactic of firing rockets at Israel in an attempt to weaken Hamas by pushing it into a military confrontation with Israel. Palestine
Has Israel’s defense minister given up on toppling Hamas? Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman seems to have realized that attacking Hamas targets in retaliation for rocket fire from rogue groups could damage the organization’s efforts to contain those elements. Palestine
Hamas leader speaks out after controversy In an interview with Al-Monitor, Hamas official Ahmad Yousef discusses why the movement issued a statement preventing the press from dealing with him as its spokesperson. Palestine
Assessing the aftermath of postponed Palestinian elections Resolving the problems that caused the suspension of the Palestinian local elections is crucial to solving internal Palestinian problems through ballot boxes. Palestine
How this new Palestinian coalition intends to fight climate change The Palestinian Coalition for Climate Justice was recently formed to address the climate change issue and raise awareness about its repercussions in Palestinian society. Palestine
Will PA wait for US elections to submit new UN resolution? Palestinians are not convinced by the Palestinian Authority's justifications for delaying a UN Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity. Palestine
How Palestinians hope to increase exports Earlier in September, the Palestine Trade Center announced the Palestine Exporter Award for 2016, a national recognition to promote an export culture among Palestinian firms, encourage diversification in exports and support access to new markets in a bid to achieve national economic development. Palestine
Birzeit protest ends as students strike tuition deal A heavy budget deficit — though lighter than those of other Palestinian universities — led Birzeit University to call for a tuition hike, sparking a protest movement by the student council that closed the school's gates for a month. Palestine
Abbas unfazed by criticism of participation in Peres' funeral Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ participation in former Israeli President Shimon Peres' funeral brought out raw anger against Abbas, but he remains adamant in his pursuit of peace through negotiations. Palestine
Will Fatah’s seventh conference unite its ranks? Fatah’s Central Committee announced the holding of the movement’s seventh conference after a seven-year absence, which would help unite Fatah’s ranks and prepare it for any future elections. Palestine
Speeches and eulogies won’t advance Israeli-Palestinian peace American presidents have made historic speeches about the Middle East, and have delivered inspiring eulogies at the funerals of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and President Shimon Peres — but all that has not brought peace any closer. Palestine
Who could replace Peres? The late President Shimon Peres is irreplaceable, but one of three people — his son Chemi Peres, former Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi or former Chief of Staff Benny Gantz — could go on from where Peres left off. Palestine