West Bank

For decades, two rival West Bank shops have been selling a type of ice cream that stretches like melted mozzarella on a pizza. The secret to the frozen treat is part science, part presentation.

A dozen photographers were set loose with the aim of seeing an old conflict in a new light. The result is a photo exhibit now showing in Tel Aviv and coming soon to the U.S.

A Palestinian man in Ramallah faces charges of insulting officials — based on his Facebook comments. This case and others point to the limits to free speech under the Palestinian Authority.

Older Palestinians can enter Israel without prior authorization; 100 Palestinian doctors are now permitted to drive to work. An Israeli officer describes these modest policy changes as an experiment.

Palestinians often buy and sell land without title deeds, or proof of ownership. That's because most of the land doesn't have them. It's a problem dating back generations.

Much of the new building in the territory involves Jewish settlements. The Palestinians now have a new city, but the project has been slowed because until recently Israel did not allow a water hookup.

Palestinians are viewing Israeli elections with tremendous skepticism. After 20 years of on-and-off peace talks, a growing number have given up on a negotiated solution to the conflict.

In the 1990s, Israelis and Palestinians made temporary arrangements in the West Bank as they worked toward a peace deal. The talks are now in the deep freeze, but the arrangements are entrenched.

The women, running for the Israeli parliament, share little beyond that concern. One sees a two-state solution as hopeless and supports West Bank settlers. The other sees them as an obstacle to peace.