All Middle East
Israel's Naftali Bennett: Waiting in the (right) wingsMainstream leaders on both the Palestinian and Israeli sides of their national conflict at least pay lip service to the two-state solution. In this first of two profiles, we look at key hard-line leaders who do not.
Jordan's young protesters say they learned from Arab Spring mistakesSince the 2011 Arab Spring, activists in the region have struggled to find a sustainable model for pressuring their governments. In Jordan, protesters decry partisanship and say they've only just begun to fight.
First LookJordan's king appoints a new PM amid widespread unrest over tax hikesFollowing the Jordanian government's recent steep tax increases, citizens have rallied in some of the largest protests in years, triggering Prime Minister Hani Mulki's resignation. King Abdullah stepped in to select a new prime minister on Monday, in hopes of preserving Jordan's reputation of peace and stability in the Middle East.
First LookIsrael and Hamas agree to cease-fireEgyptian mediators stepped in to broker a cease-fire between Israel and militant groups in Gaza after a week of escalated tensions threatened to escalate into a full-blown conflict.
First LookEfforts to protect Afghan women are failing, UN reportsMore than 17 years after the Taliban was defeated, a process to protect women from violence still struggles to take hold, according to a new report from the United Nations. Afghanistan authorities largely rely on traditional mediation councils to resolve criminal cases against women.
First LookGaza escalates attacks, Israel responds with airstrikesThe rising military tensions between Israel and Gaza reached yet another peak Tuesday. Israeli Intelligence Minister Israel Katz says the country is "at the closest point to the threshold of war" since the seven-week conflict with Palestinian militants four years ago.
How new US stance on Iran is resonating in TehranIt's hardly surprising that US ultimatums directed at Iran have been answered in kind, with Iranians saying they will not be intimidated into constraining their regional ambitions. But listen closely, and you'll also hear more pragmatic voices.
Ramadan: a time for fasting, prayer, reflection – and laughs?It's a well-known device. Sometimes the best way to grapple with difficult personal, social, and political issues is through humor. In Jordan, entertainers are delivering just that to theater and TV audiences during the holy month of Ramadan.
First LookFor Gazans, an open border crossing still presents barriersEgypt has opened the Rafah border crossing to Gaza during the month of Ramadan. But as thousands seek to leave the tiny Hamas-controlled territory, bureaucracy at the border has made passage slow and costly.
Amid Israel-Gaza violence, a personal drive to preserve humanity and hopeIt's a challenge to prevent fear from overwhelming compassion. Even before the latest violence, animosity and distrust have run deep on both sides of the Israeli-Gazan border. For some Israeli residents of the region, there's no alternative but to reach out to preserve hope.
First LookHow a soccer star gave hope to his Egyptian hometownAn entire village will tune in to watch Mohamed Salah, a forward for the English club Liverpool, who in turn has invested in his Nile Delta village with an improved mosque, hospital, and school as Egypt struggles through economic hardships.
First LookTurkey's halal-friendly tourism draws crowdsDozens of hotels and resorts in Turkey are accommodating religious strictures on modesty to boost tourism. Many foreign guests are Muslims from European countries seeking a respite from right-wing and anti-immigrant sentiments.
First LookIn humanitarian gesture, Egypt keeps Rafah crossing open through RamadanThe Rafah Border crossing, which connects Egypt to the Gaza Strip, will remain open through the Muslim holy month, allowing the Red Crescent to bring much-needed aid shipments into Gaza.
First LookGulf Arab states support Palestinians, but also form subtle ties to IsraelCountries including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar remain publicly aligned with Palestinian interests but have begun to engage with Israel on key diplomatic, cultural, or economic levels. The shift may be inspired, in part, by concerns of Iranian influence in Palestine.
Debate in Iran: Is nuclear deal worth keeping without US?The nuclear deal was sold to Iranians as offering a peace dividend and paving the way for greater openness. But the returns have been minimal, and how hard Tehran will work to keep the deal alive with Europeans and without the United States remains to be seen.
First LookArmenian prime minister's hometown sees hope in political turnoverFor the town of Idjevan, Armenia – the home of the country's resistance leader, Nikol Pashinian – the rise of a new prime minister has kickstarted a sense of optimism here that persistent poverty and unemployment may finally find a solution.
First LookUS embassy opens in Jerusalem as dozens killed in GazaPalestinians, angered by the move of the US embassy to contested Jerusalem, protested along the Gaza border. At least 41 Palestinians were killed in the deadliest day in Gaza since a 2014 cross-border war.
First LookTunisia's Jews and Muslims join to celebrate religious toleranceTunisia is home to one of North Africa's largest Jewish communities, and Jews have lived in Tunisia since Roman times. Each year, dozens of Muslims participate in Jewish religious ceremonies in the oldest synagogue in Africa to promote interreligious tolerance.
First Look'Most serious' military conflict between Iran, Israel breaks out in SyriaAfter Iranian rockets hit Israeli positions in the occupied Golan Heights, Israel unleashed a heavy bombardment on Iranian forces in Syria. While the conflict is unlikely to escalate further, experts say, it may lead to a redrawing of "red lines" between the two countries.
In Iraq, a ‘post-sectarian’ election, yet challenges to democracy lingerCandidates in Iraq's elections Saturday, aware of the perils of sectarianism, are focusing on bread-and-butter issues. But that doesn't mean they've earned voters' trust. There are still lessons to be learned about democracy: Voting drives legitimacy, and corruption undermines trust.
