Palestine

Expectations are low ahead of President Obama's latest visit to Israel after the White House announced it would not be proposing a peace initiative, writes Alon Aviram.

Offensive, provocative or anti-Semitic? Gerald Scarfe apologises over the timing of his Sunday Times cartoon, but insists his sketch was a criticsm of Israel's prime minister - not the Jewish people.

The United Nations launches an inquiry into the extent to which drones, the unmanned military weapon favoured by the United States in its "war on terror", cause civilian deaths.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians gather in Gaza City commemorating the 25th anniversary of the founding of Hamas and to hear from Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal.

Today's visit to Gaza by Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, after 45 years of exile from Palestinian land, reinforces the growing confidence of the Muslim Brotherhood across the Middle East.

Britain voices strong concerns over Israel's decision to build thousands of new settlement homes in the occupied West Bank, but has no plans to withdaw its ambassador in Tel Aviv.

The United States criticises the UN general assembly's vote to upgrade the status of Palestine as "unfortunate and counterproductive".

The Palestinian Authority is bidding for "non-member state" recognition by the United Nations. Will it succeed after last year's failed push for full recognition? And what are the likely consequences?