Gaza
Israel begins work on underground Gaza wall: reports, Middle East Eye
Reports say Israel has started construction on subterranean wall to thwart Hamas tunnel attacks.
Palestinian politics
Hamas, Fatah shed no tears over suspended local elections, The Times of Israel
“Both sides had something to lose. But, despite all the warnings in Israel that Hamas’s takeover of the West Bank was imminent, Hamas had more at stake if the elections were to proceed as planned,” writes Avi Issacharoff.
PA court to make final decision about elections on September 21, The Times of Israel
The top Palestinian court is to decide on September 21 on the fate of keenly anticipated local elections after the latest attempt to hold polls was suspended, a minister said late Thursday.
Why the Abbas KGB ‘revelation’ came out now, +972 Magazine
Israeli academic who fed the story to the press tells the ‘NY Times’ he wanted to undercut the Kremlin’s efforts to host Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
Opinion: Why Dahlan as PA president might polarise Palestinians, Middle East Eye
“The dilemma for Palestinians is that even if free democratic and fair elections are held, the prospects for genuine change remain dim,” writes Ahmed al-Burai.
Israeli politics
Opinion: Don't call it a comeback: Really, please don't come back, +972 Magazine
“Ehud Barak isn’t the ‘only hope’ to defeat Netanyahu. He is, however, the most dangerous prime minister Israel has ever had,” writes Dimi Reider.
Will Israelis living overseas gain right to vote?, Al-Monitor
Why it's crunch time for the Israeli left, Al-Monitor
“The Israeli left is at its lowest point in its history and must reinvent itself to survive,” writes Mazal Mualem.