At the first Palestine Donor Group in Brussels, the EU Commission and the Palestinian Authority both highlighted how dire the PA's financial situation is as Israel withholds billions in tax revenues. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

Israeli companies have been allowed to take part in Paris arms fair Milipol after the French government cited the Gaza ceasefire, following attempts to ban them from previous events. I visited the air show to see how it was going.

Israeli military purchases, including attack dogs, are expected to weigh heavily when the Netherlands' court of appeal issues a ruling on Thursday over claims the Dutch state failed in its duty to prevent genocide in Gaza. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

Spies, bribes and terror ties? French corporate giant Lafarge goes on trial on trial today. For the first time, a French company is accused of terror financing. The setting is Syria’s civil war and payments to rebel groups b/w 2012-2014, including ISIS, to keep a cement factory running.

I spoke to Syrian specialists grappling with important questions about how to rebuild the historic site of Palmyra - the most visited site in Syria -after important ISIS damage. What is clear is that it'll cost a lot and take years to fix. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

The Palmyra archaeological museum, which was severely damaged during the Syrian civil war, will be restored with funds from international Swiss-based @aliph.foundation www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/20...

Ahead of Mahmoud Abbas's visit to Rome next week, I spoke to Palestinian ambassador to Italy Mona Abuamara about her expectations, particularly regarding Italy's recognition of Palestine, with input from ECFR's Kelly Petillo. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

The European Union has moved away from the possibility of imposing sanctions against Israel as a fragile ceasefire holds in Gaza. "We'll keep things as they are" an EU official said. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

The EU's foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas announced today that the bloc will monitor the November 11 parliamentary elections in Iraq - the sixth since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq that toppled Saddam Hussein. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

Ex-ambassador Leila Shahid: Gaza ceasefire security force must have a Palestinian face www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

Proposals against Israel made today by Ursula von der Leyen will need Germany and Italian backing - unclear if that'll actually happen. Proposals come amid increasing pressure from the European Parliament and the European Council. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

French-Israeli relations sour further as Barrot and Saar engage in a rare public spat on X over recognition and "pay for slay" www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

For decades, Maha Al Daya was known in Gaza as a master embroiderer of traditional dresses, a vibrant tribute to Palestinian identity brought out at times of celebration. But after fleeing the war, Al Daya traded dresses for painted rubble and embroidered maps documenting Gaza's destruction.

European countries must take independent action against Israel or form coalitions of like-minded states to make up for the European Union's inaction, ex-EU ambassador to the OPT Sven Kuhn von Burgsdorff told me ahead of an informal meeting of EU FMs on Saturday in Copenhagen.

If the E3 proceed with reinstating UN sanctions on Iran later this week, it's not a process without off-ramps over the next 30 days, but it would hinge on breakthroughs that haven't been made in the weeks leading up to triggering, says Naysan Rafati at Crisis group.

France will recognise the state of Palestinian on September 22 despite political turmoil in Paris that may bring down the government in two weeks, French FM Barrot told RTL today. Asked by the journo if he had already “started packing his bags” Barrot brushed off the idea.

'They want us erased': Weightlifting mother resists plans to ban hijab in French competitive sport www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

Germany has recently signalled an important policy shift by keeping all options on the table instead of opposing sanctions against Israel, former German ambassador to the Middle East Martin Kobler told me. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

At least 7 Gazan artists were preparing to board a bus today before heading to France as part of an ongoing evacuation programme. But their departure was abruptly halted following a political firestorm in France over anti-Semitic posts by a Gazan student already on French soil.

Recently, I visited the new Fenix migration museum in Rotterdam. It's a fascinating space that faces the ex-HQ of the Holland America Line, from where 100s of 1000s Europeans left to North America. A few km away, migrants, many Syrian, live on cruise ships, waiting for asylum.

As Germany's new chancellor Merz lands in Paris to meet Macron, here's a breakdown of why Israel will feature prominently on Merz's agenda and why he is likely to support Israel even more than his predecessor Scholz tinyurl.com/y4h3c9ct

The trial of a former Jaish al Islam spox has put the focus on atrocities committed just over a decade ago in Syria that remain unpunished. They include beheadings and placing women in cages on rooftops. shorturl.at/7WkcI

A former spokesman for the Syrian rebel group Jaish Al Islam went on trial in Paris today, accused of complicity in war crimes, amid warnings that several witnesses were refusing to give evidence after the change of government. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

Iran nuclear talks: Window of opportunity to strike a deal is shrinking, France warns, as Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi arrives in Rome ahead of the second round of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

Europeans are keen to influence US-Russia talks on Ukraine peace talks in 'positive' Paris meeting - but as he departed France, @SecRubio warned that the US could "move on" if there was no progress on a peace deal in the coming days. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

At a meeting with EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, Palestinian PM Mustafa struck an optimistic tone about Palestinian statehood recognition despite scepticism that major EU powers will follow France's lead in June. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

France, Britain and Germany will be watchful of nuclear discussions between the US and Iran to ensure they take account of European interests, French FM Barrot said today, as the EU sanctions the directors of Evin and Shiraz prison for "hostage taking" of Western visitors.

The EUh as announced €1.6 bn in aid to the Palestinian Authority but that represents less than 1/5th of its $9-10 billion 2025-2027 estimated budget. There are hopes that Arab states will step in but that Israel will also release the estimated $2 billion in taxes that it has withheld from the PA.

I spoke to France's special envoy to the India Middle East Europe Corridor, former Engie boss Gerard Mestrallet. Here's my analysis of how the ‘golden road’ energy corridor from India to Europe across the Middle East is taking shape almost unseen. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

The European Union is expected to announce on Monday sanctions against nine Iranian officials with the aim of targeting the country’s so-called hostage diplomacy against Westerners.

The UAE and the EU have announced the launch of free trade talks after technical discussions that have lasted close to a year. FTAs typically take 3 to 5 years to conclude but the UAE wants it done in under a year. www.thenationalnews.com/news/2025/04...

The idea is that recognition of Palestine by France, and hopefully other Western countries, on one hand, coupled with recognition of Israel by a number of Arab states (Saudi Arabia?) on the other, will support long-term stability in the region. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

An @ec.europa.eu Commission spokesperson has said that it would be "regrettable" if Hungary leaves the ICC, which is appearing increasingly likely ahead of Netanyahu's upcoming visit. Here's a deep dive on what this visit means for Europe. ⬇️

Today in Brussels I asked @kajakallas.bsky.social if the EU should continue lifting sanctions on Syria despite recent killings - her answer was a strong yes. ‘We need to continue with the lifting of sanctions because if there is hope for the people, then there is also less chaos.’

Syrian leadership under pressure ahead of key donor meeting in Brussels www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

🧵 France's representative in a supervision committee overseeing the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire has said the disarmament of Hezbollah in south Lebanon was making "good progress" but that documenting violations was difficult. 📸 French MoD

The EU has said that it will host Israeli FM Gideon Saar on Monday for a meeting of the EU-Israel association council. The agreement provides the framework for their political and economic relations, but there had been no such meeting since 2022, and before that since 2012.

The EU is expected to suspend some energy, transport and financial sanctions on Syria on Monday, according to a draft document that I obtained - but with the possibility of reinstating them at a later date. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed, mostly Kurdish paramilitary group in control of large parts of Syria, will not give up their weapons as long as ISIS remains active on Syrian territory, a senior Kurdish politician has told The National. www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/20...

Lebanon wants full withdrawal of Israeli forces, foreign minister tells me www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

France's Emmanuel Macron has confirmed that Syrian refugees who want to go back to back temporarily to 🇸🇾can do so without losing their refugee status. I spoke to Thaer Al Tahli, who is hoping to go for a week to Homs to see his family for the first time in 13 years.

The Elysee has confirmed what had so far only been announced by Syrian authorities - Macron invited Al Shara to Paris in the coming weeks.

Syria’s FM Shibani is heading to Paris for the 3rd conference to support Syria as Greece and Cyprus reportedly block sanctions lifting www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

Here’s a breakdown of how the EU monitors the Rafah border crossing. 100s of wounded Gazans have crossed into Egypt since the ceasefire began. ‘There is only a one-way street. Those that go out, they are out of the Gaza strip’ an EU official said. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

In 1864 sailors from the wrecked Grafton survived for 20 months on a desert island thanks to their ability to avoid panicking, dividing and focusing on short-term goals - for @ecfr.eu I outline how EU leaders could get some inspiration from the Grafton crew to deal with Trump 2.0 buff.ly/42sn2GI

As EU leaders 🇪🇺 met to discuss defence in Brussels, a possible trade war with the US is at the forefront of their minds. The US and the EU have the biggest trade relationship in the world – together, they represent about 30% of global trade and 43% of the world's GDP.

European Holocaust Day event cancelled after arrest threat to Israeli minister Amichai Chikli + letter by more then 40 hostage family members asking him to be un-invited from EPP event. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...

NEW: EUBAM Rafah to deploy in the "coming days" says EU_Commission spox. The re-opening is planned for February. It will allow the transfer of 100s of Gazans for medical treatment. It'll run until the end of the 1st phase of the CF. Operational agreements being finalised.

The EU's foreign affairs ministers on Monday reached a political agreement to begin easing sanctions on Syria, the bloc's foreign policy chief @kajakallas.bsky.social said after a meeting in Brussels. “This could give a boost to the Syrian economy and help the country get back on its feet."

EU set for agreement to ease Syria sanctions as foreign ministers gather on Monday www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...