All Middle East
First LookPope Francis calls on Iraqi Christians to forgive Islamic StateOn the last day of a four-day visit, Pope Francis urged Iraq’s Christians Sunday to forgive Muslim extremists and to rebuild.
First LookPope and top Shiite cleric in Iraq deliver message of coexistenceTwo religious leaders sent a message of peace. “The greatest blasphemy is to profane [God’s] name by hating our brothers and sisters,” Pope Francis said.
Why Saudi Arabia (still) tests limits of US influenceWhy didn’t the U.S. take stronger action over the Khashoggi killing? One reason: Saudi Arabia sees itself as an equal partner in the alliance.
The ExplainerSyria, after 10 years of conflict: No war and no peaceSyria’s biggest battles have quieted, but a decade into the conflict, the tabulation of inhumanity and suffering is far from complete.
FocusCan a new generation change Palestinian politics?Young Palestinians prioritize replacing out-of-touch leaders, even before achieving national independence. Will upcoming elections bring new blood?
Vaccine nationalism? Why Jordan includes refugees in rollout.As nations distribute their COVID-19 vaccines, Jordan is taking the approach that until the most vulnerable are protected from the virus, no one is.
Nuclear deal? In Iran, a campaign over who can take credit.The promise of prosperity is a positive motivator. But that doesn’t make Iran’s debate over a return to the landmark nuclear deal any less of a brawl.
A killing in Kabul – and a face I knewReporters make human connections. For the Monitor’s Scott Peterson, a “statistic” from a tragic Kabul story took on a sense of personal loss.
How Orthodox defiance of pandemic lockdowns is cleaving IsraelThe unequal enforcement of pandemic lockdowns is creating a “watershed moment” as Israelis confront an ultra-Orthodox “state within a state.”
As Ethiopia fills its Nile dam, regional rivalries overflowMediators have pointed three Nile nations toward agreement on water issues surrounding Ethiopia’s dam, but power politics is acting as a spoiler.
Afghanistan: Has Biden inherited defeat in America’s longest war?Joe Biden may seek to invigorate what appears to be a hollow Afghanistan peace process. But Donald Trump left him little room to maneuver, or succeed.
First LookIn a wrecked economy, some Lebanese turn to Hezbollah for loansAs more Lebanese fall into poverty during the country’s economic crisis, increasing numbers are turning to the financial arm of the Hezbollah militant group for help, despite criticism and U.S. sanctions levied against it.
Peace dividend? Emirati joins fight for Israeli soccer club’s soul.The Israel-UAE normalization deal has added a new player in Israeli soccer’s battle against anti-Arab racism among Beitar Jerusalem’s fans.
First LookBaghdad hit by suicide bombings for first time in three yearsTwin suicide bombings struck a bustling commercial area in Baghdad, killing at least 32 and wounding dozens. The rare bombing occurred amid heightened political tensions over early elections and a severe economic crisis.
Israel is a vaccination leader, but it labors to reach Arab citizensIsrael’s lauded immunization campaign must overcome Arab citizens’ mistrust, which exacerbates their doubts about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Talk or fight? In Afghanistan, signs Taliban now prefer victory.Whether the Taliban are serious about negotiating peace is a question that has dogged U.S.-backed Afghanistan talks since their inception.
End of yearslong Saudi-Qatar feud reunites families, and a regionThe Saudi blockade of Qatar came at a high personal and economic price for Gulf residents. In its wake is a new appreciation for regional cooperation.
Pandemic education: How Jordan’s tech platform bridges divisionsJordan’s remote learning platform has proven robust in spreading opportunity to students during the closure of classrooms.
In remote hilltop town, new pride in a biblical empireResidents of the Jordanian town of Busayra don’t know if they are descended from the Bible’s Edomites. But the history is their inheritance.
First LookIran turns up the heat, seizing tanker and enriching uraniumIn a breach of the Iranian nuclear deal, Tehran announced it is enriching uranium up to 20% at an underground facility. It also seized a South Korean oil tanker in an accusation of “oil pollution,” but it could be a pawn in a diplomatic standoff.
