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Israeli settlers have carried out arson attacks in a number of Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank. Local media released this video of settlers setting fire to Palestinian homes in the town of Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah, and to villages east of Hebron. Civil defence crews are working to extinguish the blaze. Menachem Klein, a Professor of Political Science at Barilan University, joins live from West Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Hamdah Salhut reports live from Amman, because the Palestinian Authority has suspended Al Jazeera's operations in the Occupied West Bank.

Conflict is threatening cultural heritage through intentional destruction, looting, and damage during wars, as seen with ISIL (ISIS) in Syria and Iraq. It's erasing identities and displacing communities. Both conflict and neglect result in the loss of irreplaceable history, traditions, and cultural identity. This episode explores the significance of preserving cultural heritage, the societal impacts of its destruction, and what can be done to safeguard these irreplaceable connections to our past.

Italian foreign minister says Syrian people and Syria will be able to depend on Italy. Italy's foreign minister visits Syria to support post-Assad transition

Hassan Mneimneh, a political analyst and researcher at the Middle East Institute, joins Al Jazeera's live from Washington, DC. He discusses the Lebanese president's pledge to ensure only the army can carry arms, raising critical questions about disarming Hezbollah. Mneimneh highlights that Joseph Aoun, with his army background, is uniquely positioned to carry out this task. However, he warns of the risks of leaving Hezbollah fighters without a proper transition plan, drawing parallels to the US disbandment of the Iraqi army, which led to further instability. He emphasizes the importance of offering a ‘soft landing’ to avoid repeating past mistakes and preventing the regrouping of ex-Hezbollah fighters into new entities.

For decades, Syria’s Assad family maintained a tight grip on Lebanon, wielding influence over its politics and shaping its alliances. But last month Bashar al-Assad's regime fell just days after a ceasefire ended Israel’s war on his ally, Hezbollah. This seismic shift threatens to reshape the fragile balance of power in the region, leaving both nations facing an uncertain future.

David Wood, a senior Lebanon analyst with the International Crisis Group, joins Al Jazeera’s live from Broummana, Lebanon. He explains that Joseph Aoun’s election as president, with a strong mandate of 99 out of 128 parliamentary votes, is a significant development for Lebanon after more than two years of a presidential vacuum. Wood highlights the encouraging tone of Aoun’s acceptance speech, which resonated with reform-minded Lebanese and hinted at the possibility of a fresh chapter in the country’s history. However, he cautions that while this is good news, expectations should remain measured as no single leader can deliver miracles.

Research into global conflict indicates more countries are at war today than at any time since World War Two. Incoming US President Donald Trump, NATO and the EU all want to increase military spending -- which hit record levels worldwide again last year. What are the implications?

At the end of a six-day funeral service, former US President Jimmy Carter will be laid to rest next to his wife in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. The 39th president died at 100 years old on December 29. How did his legacy impact the world?

After almost 14 years of civil war, Syria's economy has been decimated. Most of its oil and gas wells, roads, electricity grids, farmland and infrastructure are damaged. Crippling the economy even further is a wide range of Western sanctions imposed on the nation and on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the main group that overthrew Bashar al-Assad and is now leading Syria’s transition. The new administration says lifting those sanctions is vital to help rebuild the country. But will they be removed? Plus, Ukraine has halted Russia's gas flows to Europe. And sales of foreign smartphones have dropped by almost half in China.

After two years of deadlock, Lebanon's parliament has elected the country's new president. Army chief Gen. Joseph Aoun, who has been commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces since 2017, secured 99 votes out of 128 during the second round of a parliament session called by its speaker, Nabih Berri. During the first round of voting earlier on Thursday, Aoun received 71 votes, short of the 86 required to become president. It was the 13th time MPs had voted on the matter. Lebanon has been without a president since Michel Aoun's term ended in October 2022.