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Opinions & Analysis

US President Barack Obama talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call

A triple-crown achievement for Obama’s Middle East policies

From Washington’s point of view, Wednesday’s cease-fire cements Egypt’s moderate role and improves relations with Israel but most importantly – averts the catastrophe of an Israeli ground incursion.

By Chemi Shalev | Nov 22, 2012 | 12:02 AM | 10

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators stand next to candles at protest against Israeli offensive in Ga

Gaza diary: Countdown to a cease-fire

Gaza journalist describes the treacherous last 24 hours before Hamas and Israel agreed to halt fire; 10,000 Gazans already been displaced.

By Abeer Ayyoub | Nov 21, 2012 | 10:30 PM | 13

Palestinian ambassador tells Israeli counterpart: Hamas must go

Palestinian from Gaza tells Israeli that the offices destroyed by IDF operation are not important. 'The real offices are the mosques which are connected to a widespread network of tunnels. Everything happens underground.'

By Barak Ravid | Nov 21, 2012 | 08:13 PM | 25

An artillery unit firing at Gaza. One war for men, another for women.

A cease-fire that could have come earlier

Netanyahu and Barak will find it difficult to explain why the right moment for a cease-fire was missed – before the last and sharpest memory of the week of Operation Pillar of Defense became the memory of the bus on Shaul Hamelekh Street.

By Amir Oren | Nov 21, 2012 | 07:19 PM | 22

Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby (L) sits next to a Hamas official in Gaza Strip

U.S. must engage with the Arab League peace initiative

If Obama wants to go beyond crisis management of the Israel-Palestine conflict, he should not turn to Abbas but to the peace initiative, which offers Israel recognition, full diplomatic relations and normalization with all members of the Arab League in return for a full retreat to the 1967 borders.

By Carlo Strenger | Nov 21, 2012 | 03:55 PM | 13

Israel braced for Iranian efforts to arm Gaza

Palestinian terrorist groups in Gaza don’t hide Iran’s role in arming them with missiles, and will clearly try to smuggle more into Gaza once a cease-fire is reached.

By Amos Harel | Nov 21, 2012 | 12:52 PM | 20

A resident clearing away debris after an Israeli air strike on a Gaza City sporting center

The Jewish necessity to question the Israel-Gaza conflict

We must distinguish between the end of peace and the means of war, for just as Israeli children have the right to a normal, peaceful life, Jewish principles affirm that Palestinian children do, too.

By Arie Hasit and Rabbi Michael Knopf | Nov 21, 2012 | 09:51 AM | 35

Israeli man walking in the rubble of a house hit by a rocket

Netanyahu's alibi for 'conceding' to Hamas

Although the exit strategy from Pillar of Defense is almost identical to the one from Cast Lead, the balance of power it leaves between Israel and Hamas is worse.

By Barak Ravid | Nov 21, 2012 | 04:17 AM | 9

A Hamas policeman looks at an unexploded missile - Reuters - November 17, 2012.

Neither Israel nor Hamas thinks a truce would last forever

The hope is for a couple of years of quiet, diplomats said Tuesday night. To the people on the ground, that sounds a bit optimistic.

By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff | Nov 21, 2012 | 04:17 AM | 7

The limits of Israel's online hasbara

With the Israeli offensive in Gaza, the generals of Israel's public relations say they are 'ruling Facebook' and 'winning on Twitter.' Deserting the Internet is not an option, but Israel has to acknowledge its limitations. Hasbara can achieve at most a tie.

By Anshel Pfeffer | Nov 20, 2012 | 04:27 PM | 15

News

After latest Israel-Gaza conflict, Hamas has gained major political strength

By Avi Issacharoff | 08:27 AM | 24

Kadima crumbling: Prominent MKs quit, only one-third remain

By Revital Hovel | 03:26 PM | 5

Is Labor chief Yacimovich's fiscal plan too good to be true?

By Sami Peretz | 04:45 AM

Lieberman unveils his list for Likud Beiteinu ticket

By Barak Ravid, Jonathan Lis | 11:19 PM

Lieberman ousts Deputy FM Danny Ayalon from Yisrael Beiteinu list

By Barak Ravid, Haaretz | 07:49 PM

Diplomacy & Defense

Gaza rockets slam southern Israel during Obama visit

By Amos Harel, Barak Ravid | 09:50 AM | 40

U.S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at their joint news conference

Full transcript of Obama-Netanyahu joint press conference

By Haaretz | 11:00 PM | 4

U.S. President Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu speak at a news conference in Jerusalem, March 2

LIVE BLOG: Barack Obama visits Israel: Day one

By Haaretz | 09:41 PM | 150