Netanyahu unruffled by critical UN envoy report

Neither criticism by UN Middle East envoy Nikolay Mladenov over settlement expansion nor a ruling by Israel's own Supreme Court against the construction of illegal outposts have ruffled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's insistence on portraying Israel as the victim of international persecution.

Palestine

What it would cost Abbas to reconcile with Dahlan

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is being pressured by a group of Arab states to reconcile with former Fatah member Mohammed Dahlan and by Qatar not to do so.

Qatar

Hamas looks to Algeria

Algeria’s approval to open a Hamas office in the country may prompt regional and international pressure against it.

Palestine

Increased demands from within Fatah to dismiss Hamdallah

Tension prevailed over ties between some Fatah members and Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, particularly since Ahmed Halawa was beaten to death by security forces in Nablus, which prompted many Fatah leaders to demand that Hamdallah be dismissed from his post.

Palestine

Why Is Jordan refusing entry to Gaza Palestinians?

More than 50,000 Gazans living in the West Bank are essentially trapped there, unable to cross into Jordan or go to Gaza.

Palestine

Hamas, Fatah exchange accusations of threats to electoral candidates

The Central Elections Commission and rights organizations have received several complaints of threats against electoral lists and candidates in the Palestinian territories, shattering the Palestinians’ hope for smooth local elections.

Palestine

Is Fatah reconciliation underway ahead of local elections?

Along with a number of Arab countries, Egypt has been making recent efforts to achieve reconciliation between President Mahmoud Abbas and dismissed Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan in conjunction with the Palestinian preparations for local elections.

Palestine

How both Israel and Turkey exploit Gaza's suffering

With the reconciliation agreement now signed between Israel and Turkey, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has practically forgotten his demands to lift the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip.

Palestine

100 global intellectuals to gather in Palestine

The Witness Center for Citizen’s Rights and Social Development launched an initiative to invite renowned thinkers from around the world to come to Palestine in support of the Palestinian cause.

Palestine

Have Egypt-Hamas relations reached point of no return?

Already-tenuous relations between Egypt and Hamas recently worsened with the release of a photo showing two of Hamas’ men who were abducted in Sinai a year ago in an Egyptian cell.

Palestine

What are Netanyahu and Putin plotting?

A rumored Israeli-Palestinian summit in Moscow may be a maneuver by Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu to try to thwart a new US initiative.

Palestine

Can election observers boost confidence among Palestinian voters?

The Palestinian Central Elections Commission is registering local and international monitors for October's municipal elections, a move favored by the Palestinian factions in light of the Fatah-Hamas division.

Palestine