Trump and Netanyahu's White House vanity fair Israel and the Palestinians need a determined and well-informed US president who can promote the establishment of a Palestinian state while normalizing Israel’s relations with Arab countries, not the other way around. By Akiva Eldar
Jewish lawmakers rip Trump over two-state walkback Jewish Democrats warn that the Israeli right's push for a one-state solution risks endangering bipartisan support for the Jewish state. By Julian Pecquet
Will Raqqa be site for clash of titan generals? Two admired military heroes of Iran and Turkey, both commanding elite military units in Iraq and Syria, could wind up confronting each other in northern Syria. By Metin Gurcan
Turkish puppy saga draws in politicians, public A shaken and polarized Turkey desperate for good news has been elated by a happy ending to the story of a puppy trapped in an Istanbul borehole. By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Iran's Khamenei strikes down Reformist call for ‘national reconciliation’ In Iran, a call by Reformists for “national reconciliation” receives a stern response from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. By Rohollah Faghihi
What’s next for Turkish Kurds' political movement? Hit by an unprecedented crackdown, representatives of Turkey’s Kurdish political movement explain their vision for the future. By Ali Bayramoglu
Why some in Israel are wary of Hamas’ new Gaza boss Israeli security experts disagree whether the new Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar, will escalate tensions with Israel or adopt a pragmatic approach. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Why Israeli tourists are returning to Sinai despite warnings Israeli official warnings about security threats are not stopping young Israelis from heading down to Sinai beaches. By Conor Sheils
Palestinians launch massive appeal to Trump Palestinians enthusiastically respond to a letter-writing campaign designed to draw US President Donald Trump's attention to their cause. By Ahmad Melhem In Ramallah, reporting on politics
Gaza barber plays with fire A Palestinian barber in Gaza is giving his clients a unique haircut by straightening and styling their hair with fire. By Najlaa Eskafi
Will Trump turn Rouhani into hawk? Caught between US President Donald Trump’s rhetoric and calls for a harsher stance at home, Iran’s moderate president must sooner rather than later find a way to solve this dilemma. By Ali Hashem In Doha, reporting on Iran, regional politics, conflict
Displaced Iraqis leave camps as smoke clears in east Mosul Hundreds of displaced Iraqis are returning home to eastern Mosul, though the liberated districts still suffer from a lack of security and public services. By Dilshad Abdullah
Why Netanyahu won't abandon two-state solution Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has done nothing to advance a two-state solution, his repeated assertions in support of it have nonetheless shifted thinking in the Likud Party. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Netanyahu arrives to Trump White House in turmoil The Israeli prime minister, who has long hoped to work with a Republican US president, arrives to a White House in crisis, but early enough, he hopes, to influence policies. By Laura Rozen
Breathing new life into Egypt's Nubian heritage The Egyptian government is working to direct Nubians' attention away from the controversial displacement issue, pouring investments into Nasr al-Nuba village. By Aya Nader
Are Russia, US ready to cooperate on Syria and beyond? Moscow is taking a wait-and-see position as the new US administration takes shape, but Russian President Vladimir Putin seems to see the potential for military and political cooperation with the US not witnessed since World War II. By Maxim A. Suchkov