Eurotopics.net

For the first time in two decades Israel has launched a large-scale military offensive in the West Bank. After several air strikes on Monday night, Israeli troops carried out raids in the city of Jenin, which is considered a stronghold of militant Islamists. According to the Palestinian side, at least nine people have been killed, while Israel reported several arrests and the discovery of weapons and explosives.

Spain took over the rotating EU presidency from Sweden on 1 July. But from the outset, the country's snap parliamentary elections set for 23 July and the possibility of a change of government are dominating the agenda. Commentators stress the importance of the EU presidency and that it will suffer as a result of the rivalry between the major parties.

The row over Europe's migration policy continues: Poland and Hungary refused to sign a final declaration at the EU summit, which was broken off on Friday. The two countries argued that the obligation to admit refugees or pay penalties under the new rules would be an encroachment on their sovereignty. However they cannot prevent the new regulations that were agreed at the beginning of June from coming into effect.