Al Majalla selected The Struggle for Power as the title of this week’s cover story because Israel’s elections raise questions that reach far beyond the identity of the next prime minister. They reveal a deeper contest over the nature of political authority, the limits that define it, and the balance that governs the state’s institutions. Early results indicate that the ballot box may prolong the political stalemate rather than bring it to an end. Benjamin Netanyahu does not appear to command a clear majority, while his opponents face the daunting task of converting any electoral advantage into a coalition capable of governing. The implications of this struggle reach far beyond Israel’s borders. The next government will influence the trajectory of the confrontation with Iran, the future of Gaza, tensions with Lebanon and Syria, and relations with Washington and the Arab states.

Don't Fund Syria's Reconstruction

[caption id="attachment_55254684" align="aligncenter" width="3000"] A Kurdish Syrian woman walks with her child past the ruins of the town of Kobane, also known as Ain al-Arab, on March 25, 2015. …

Majalla

Making Jihad Pay

[caption id="attachment_55254681" align="aligncenter" width="3808"] A member of the Iraqi forces walks past a mural bearing the logo of ISIS in a tunnel that was reportedly used as a training centre…

Majalla

While the World Sleeps, Myanmar Burns

[caption id="attachment_55254632" align="aligncenter" width="900"] This photo taken on September 28, 2017 shows a man covering the bodies of Rohingya Muslim refugee children, lined up near the shore…

Majalla

After the Kurdish Independence Referendum

[caption id="attachment_55254639" align="aligncenter" width="6370"] Syrian Kurds wave the Kurdish flag, in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli on September 27, 2017, during a gathering in…

Majalla

The Price of Sustaining Assad

[caption id="attachment_55254583" align="aligncenter" width="1848"] Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) meets with Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran, 08 August 2005. (Getty)[/caption] by…

Majalla

Iran and the Kurds

[caption id="attachment_55254587" align="aligncenter" width="5352"] Iraqi Kurds fly Kurdish flags during an event to urge people to vote in the upcoming independence referendum in Erbil, the capital…

Majalla

Will Former ISIS Fighters Head to Myanmar?

[caption id="attachment_55254590" align="aligncenter" width="3840"] Rohingya Muslims, fled from ongoing military operations in Myanmars Rakhine state, make their way through muddy water after…

Majalla