All Middle East
First LookEscalating Israeli-Palestinian tensions evoke 2014 Gaza warEscalating violence in Israel and Gaza, which began a month ago, shows no signs of abating as protests have also erupted in mixed Jewish-Arab communities. Diplomats in Qatar, Egypt, and the U.N. are working toward a cease-fire.
Iran attacked: Is Revolutionary Guard looking the wrong way?Iran’s Revolutionary Guard seems more focused on internal dissent than external threats. Is that a failure of imagination, or a system overwhelmed?
First LookAmid US withdrawal, a spate of bombings rock AfghanistanViolence is increasing in Afghanistan as the United States and NATO withdraw the last of their troops. While a temporary end-of-Ramadan truce is set to provide a few days of calm, long-term solutions remain out of reach for now.
First LookClashes in Jerusalem: Is city on the brink of wider conflict?Hundreds – mostly Palestinians – have been injured as tensions over longstanding property issues are boiling over into violent confrontations with police at the sacred compound that is home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Judaism’s holiest site.
First LookDubai offers haven from pandemic for the world's wealthyWealthy foreign buyers are flooding the luxury property market in Dubai, driving up prices. The UAE, which has fared relatively well during the pandemic, is one of the few places in the world where they can dine, shop, and do business in person.
‘They changed everything’: A central tension roiling JerusalemJerusalem’s recent riots punctured a facade of calm that obscures deep fault lines over demographics and Palestinian cultural and political life.
First LookAgainst the grain: Iranian woman finds success as auto detailerIn Tehran, Maryam Roohani is breaking ground and gender stereotypes to pursue her dream of working in the male-dominated auto industry as a car polisher. Now, she is training and inspiring other women to do the same.
First LookIran nuclear talks: Diplomats sound notes of cautious optimismIran’s chief nuclear negotiator on Saturday sounded optimistic about sanctions being lifted. But other diplomats were more cautious about progress at the talks.
First LookBlame for Israel's deadly stampede arrives at Netanyahu's doorPowerful ultra-Orthodox politicians reportedly pressured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to lift attendance restrictions at a religious festival.
Saudi-Iran detente: What rivals’ dialogue could mean for Middle EastThe Saudi-Iran rivalry may be moving from a not-so-cold war of proxy battles to a cool peace of potential cooperation. The region stands to benefit.
First LookAfghan women ponder dreams and fears with return of TalibanWith U.S. troops leaving Afghanistan by September, many young women are worried about losing their rights and freedom if the Taliban returns as part of the new government.
Afghanistan has changed. What if exiled Taliban have not?If the ideologically rigid Taliban return from exile to take some power, if not all, in Afghanistan, what lies in store for the changed country?
First LookWatchdog says Israeli treatment of Arabs amounts to apartheidHuman Rights Watch has published a 213-page report condemning Israel for the international crimes of apartheid and persecution. Palestinian citizens, 20% of the population, face widespread discrimination in housing, land access, and basic services.
Another pandemic Ramadan in Jordan, but cannon’s boom is a balmPandemic lockdowns have interrupted holidays across the world. This Ramadan, Jordan is reviving a high-decibel tradition as a sort of audible comfort.
First LookNegligence blamed for massive blaze at Iraq hospitalRelatives searched for loved ones Sunday after a fire killed 82 people. Officials said the blaze began with an exploding oxygen cylinder.
Why Iran nuclear talks are moving ahead, despite Israeli attackRetaliate or negotiate? After the bombing at its nuclear site, Iran seemed to have a tactical choice. Doing both indicates a commitment to diplomacy.
US renews Palestinian ties with a tight focus: Helping peopleThe Biden administration says its renewed aid to the Palestinians is consistent with U.S. values and interests. But does it provide a path to peace?
First LookIran to enrich uranium by 60% yet wants relief on sanctionsAfter the latest attack on its nuclear facility, Iran said Tuesday it will begin enriching uranium up to 60% purity, up from 20%. This comes amid Iran’s nuclear talks with world powers to get relief on sanctions in exchange for limiting its uranium enrichment.
Afghanistan: Can Biden dodge failure and forge his own peace?Perhaps, in Afghanistan, success is the absence of failure. President Biden is trying to preserve both U.S. interests and Afghan progress.
First LookMuslims worldwide celebrate a second Ramadan in lockdownRamadan – a time for fasting, worship, and gatherings – begins this week. Although regulations vary, there is concern that Ramadan celebrations could spark a surge in COVID-19 cases.
