This week, the French government, which has long tried to help broker a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians, will launch its latest attempt with an international conference in Paris. The summit has made headlines not because of its substance but because of its unusual format: neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians were invited.

“On the surface, it would seem that Saudi Arabia and Israel would be the worst of enemies — and indeed, they’ve never had diplomatic relations. But beneath the surface, these two old adversaries actually have a lot in common. In fact, in the contemporary Middle East, they’ve become the strangest of bedfellows,” writes Medea Benjamin.

Donald Trump’s comments about remaining “neutral” in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should not be easily dismissed, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said on Thursday.

The Jerusalem neighborhood Kufr Aqab has become no-man’s-land, as Israelis who have sovereignty do not provide services to its residents and the Palestinian Authority is not allowed to enter the area.

“If Liberman truly wants to keep Israelis safe, he will to do whatever he can to ensure that Gaza’s residents can lead normal lives,” writes Noam Rabinovich.

Israel’s restrictions make it almost impossible for Gaza’s Palestinians to visit relatives held in Israeli prisons.