Mahmoud Abbas

Trump is expected to announce the composition of the board, an important component of Trump's phased plan to halt the war between Israel and Hamas, this month, possibly as early as next week.

Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, was in Israel from Tuesday to Thursday and held talks with Israeli officials, including Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar.

With 2025 coming to a close, many of Israel's issues remain unresolved. It’s worth examining 2026's challenges one at a time and assessing the hurdles Israel still faces.

Palestinians have held protests across the West Bank, accusing Mahmoud Abbas and his leadership of “disrespecting the sacrifices made by the Palestinian people.”

Israeli authorities prevent PA Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh from attending Bethlehem's Christmas Eve mass, the Palestinian Authority-run WAFA claimed, as celebrations resume after two years.

An end to the conflict will continue to be impeded by Palestinian intransigence until serious actions against them demonstrate that reform is their only path to survival.

Palestinians fear that Abbas’s decision to unilaterally appoint his successor could lead to internal tension, political division, and even anarchy.

As PA president, Mahmoud Abbas enters his tenth decade, rival factions, popular prisoners, and regional powers brace for a turbulent succession.

Wilf says her focus is to confront the “right of return” and UNRWA’s role in perpetuating conflict, arguing that state services should prioritize those who serve the state.

Merz will also meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu on Sunday morning, before visiting Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial later in the day.

The PA’s financial collapse has become a broader diplomatic issue. France, Norway, Spain, and Saudi Arabia have launched efforts to rally outside donors.