White House reportedly told Palestinians the US president couldn't meet, contributing to PA leader's decision not to attend United Nations confab in person

Israeli zone features 'sand dunes' made of concrete 'that show how similar we are,' says organizer; 1st time Israel publicly joining such a largescale event in Arab country

Family says Nizar Banat's cousin, who alleges seeing Abbas's security officers beat the PA critic to death, was detained Monday; 14 indicted officers arraigned at Ramallah court

Editor David Horovitz discusses PM's trip to the UN and German elections, while Arab affairs correspondent Aaron Boxerman looks at Iraq, PA and internal Arab violence

Defense minister responds to PA president, who warned at UN that Israel has a year to withdraw to West Bank borders or the PA will turn to International Court of Justice

PA president offers to negotiate over next 12 months, but threatens to withdraw recognition of Israel, press for further charges at ICJ if demands not met

Islamist terror group plans to boycott local Palestinian vote unless presidential, legislative elections also held; PA president indefinitely delayed national vote in April

Hamas sees a slight drop in support, but remains more popular than its Fatah rivals; majority of Palestinians approve of confidence-building measures between Israel, PA

Electoral commission says vote depends on Hamas allowing poll to take place in the Strip

But defense minister says he wants to see 'viable Plan B' if efforts to resurrect Iran deal fail, indicating that an Israeli military strike would also be in the cards