All Middle East
Parliamentary brawl in Jordan: Can voters’ faith be restored?Jordan’s Parliament is a once-revered institution. To restore its stature, is it enough to improve representation without giving it a stronger voice?
Free speech in Afghanistan? Who is silenced by Taliban, and why.Despite professing a belief in free speech, the Taliban are silencing critics in keeping with their approach to imposing control over Afghanistan.
Settler attacks on Palestinians soar, challenging Israeli coalitionIn the complex Israeli-Palestinian conflict, extremism can outpace policy. Settlers with less reverence for Israel increasingly are attacking Palestinians.
Did deal ending Sudan coup leave Sudanese out of the picture?Viewed from outside Sudan, the deal ending a coup was a diplomatic triumph. But on Sudan’s streets, protesters say their voices are being ignored.
First LookBusiness over tradition: UAE adopts Western work weekMost Middle Eastern countries work Sundays through Thursdays in order to observe Friday as the Muslim holy day. The UAE has announced it will shift to a Monday through Friday schedule, a move welcomed by foreign investors.
For Palestinians, terror label takes a toll on humanitarian workSix Palestinian organizations are struggling with the human costs of a controversial new Israeli terror allegation, which they emphatically deny.
The Taliban won. So why, and who, are they still fighting?Behind the attacks on former Afghan officials is a story of Taliban success and failure: well-indoctrinated fighters who are ill-prepared to move on.
First LookHow one Afghan province persisted in opening high school for girlsUnder the Taliban, most high school girls in Afghanistan have not yet been allowed back to classrooms following pandemic closures. But in the western province of Herat, parents, students, and teachers have pushed forward and are holding classes anyway.
First Look'Nuclear blackmail'? Restrictions in Iran deal remain unclear.After a five-month hiatus, talks in Vienna have resumed to determine what parts of the 2015 Iran deal can be salvaged. In 2018, former President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal in which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for lifted sanctions.
Libya elections: Can internal conflict move from bullets to ballots?Should accountability for misdeeds be sacrificed on behalf of national unity? That’s a question Libya is grappling with in an election with few rules.
First LookAfghan Shiites turn to Taliban for protection as ISIS threat loomsMany minority Shiites in Afghanistan aren’t convinced by the Taliban’s promises to protect them. But given the threat posed by the Islamic State, Taliban protection may be the closest thing to security.
First LookRevival of a dynasty? Another Qaddafi seeks to lead Libya.Seif al-Islam, a son of late Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi, announced his candidacy for the country's presidential election next month.
Climate crisis as change agent? For Israel and Jordan, a warmer peace.Israel-Jordan ties are thawing, and the climate crisis – and its focus on water and renewable energy – is giving the countries something to talk about.
First LookAssassination attempt on Iraqi prime minister failsSeven of Iraq Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi's security guards were wounded in Sunday's attack at his home by at least two armed drones. The prime minister appeared only slightly injured.
Donors’ dilemma: How to help hungry Afghans ... not the TalibanA winter of hardship looming for Afghans poses a dilemma for aid donors leery of indirectly helping the Taliban. Some are seeking creative solutions.
First LookIran-backed faction threatens post-election turmoil in IraqUnsubstantiated claims of voter fraud in Iraq’s most recent election have sown uncertainty and heightened divisions between political groups in the country. Finals results for the election, hailed by the U.S. and U.N. as the smoothest in years, have not been released.
How coup in Sudan challenges Biden’s desire to support democracyThe U.S. is invested in helping Sudan toward democracy. But the coup poses a challenge: How far should the Biden administration go to reach that goal?
First Look'Where is our gas?' Iran's gas stations hit by cyberattack.A cyberattack paralyzed all gas stations in Iran on Tuesday, leading to long lines and higher prices on Wednesday. Officials say the intent was “disorder and disruption” as the second anniversary of a crackdown on protests over rising gasoline prices approaches.
What happens when a state fails? Lebanon’s study in survival.Amid government dysfunction, Lebanon has become unrecognizable to its own people. To provide for their most basic needs, they must rely on each other.
‘Why did we fight?’ Challenge of governing is wearing down Taliban.Victory on the battlefield is one thing. Governing millions of people with vision is another. In Afghanistan, the stress on the Taliban is showing.
