Gaza cease-fire boosts Hamas-Egypt ties

Hamas is pushing to improve its relations with Egypt after the Gaza war, accepting the new status quo with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo.

Palestine

Kerry's three Israel-Palestinian options

The Obama administration objects to the Palestinian plan of turning to the UN for recognizing Palestine, thus hesitating between two options: a new outline based on former negotiations or a series of gestures and negotiations without a deadline.

Palestine

Has Israel accepted the Palestinian unity government?

Israel has allowed trucks with goods to enter Gaza, thus cooperating with the same Fatah-Hamas government it refused to recognize four months ago.

Palestine

What it's like to fight for Hamas

Abu Abdel Rahman, a fighter with Hamas’ Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, still dreams of fighting against Israeli forces in the last Gaza war.

Palestine

Will Gaza donors conference encourage multilateral talks?

The Gaza donors conference, the third of its kind, is different from the two previous meetings in that the host has called on Israel to embrace the Arab Peace Initiative and join a multilateral negotiation track.

Palestine

Former Israeli defense minister says conflict looms with Hamas

In an interview with Al-Monitor, former Defense Minister Moshe Arens contends that Israeli politicians depict a false picture of deteriorating Israeli-US ties, especially in regard to Congress, saying that ''relations are very stable."

Palestine

Can Israel, Palestine exist as parallel states on same land?

Contrary to what politicians on both sides are willing to admit, the Israeli and Palestinian people can live together side by side, and might accept an idea of having two parallel, “overlapping” states established on the same land.

Palestine

Hamas plays down Cabinet meeting in Gaza

The Palestinian national unity government held its first Cabinet meeting in Gaza last week, but Hamas is still cautious about allowing the new government to expand its presence in Gaza.

Palestine

Netanyahu prefers right-wing electorate to new Middle East

While preparing early primaries for the Likud Party, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prefers strengthening his right-wing leader image to seizing a historic opportunity to promote a changed regional order in the Middle East.

Palestine

Hamas, IS share neither goal nor methods

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that Hamas and the Islamic State are fruits of the same tree, but there are significant ideological and methodological differences between the two groups.

Palestine

Can P5+1 formula work for Israel, Palestinians?

While Palestinian officials partially welcome the idea of a P5+1 framework for multilateral negotiations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's associates count on the Americans to nip this idea in the bud.

Palestine

Is Abbas one vote from Security Council majority?

Faced with a diplomatic stalemate unprecedented since the Oslo Accord, the Palestinians have given up on negotiating with Israel, opting instead to go to the UN Security Council, where they appear on the verge of securing a majority.

Palestine