Trump administration dusts off Cold War playbook to defend Saudi ties The Donald Trump administration is using a popular 1980s theory to rationalize support for a friendly autocracy. Saudi Arabia
Congress gives Rand Paul the run-around to pass Syria sanctions bill Congress may resort to parliamentary parlor tricks to pass overwhelmingly bipartisan Syria sanctions legislation because of opposition from one senator. Syria
Why US sanctions won’t ‘starve’ Iran of means to pursue its regional policy The Trump administration’s stated aim to “starve” Iran of the financial resources to conduct its regional policy is unlikely to succeed for many reasons, including the fact that Tehran has honed inexpensive hybrid warfare. United States
Villagers on KRG-Turkey border welcome new road, troops to protect it As Turkey's hunt for the Kurdish resistance group claims victims who have no ties to or sympathy for the Kurdistan Workers Party, locals hope a new border post protected by peshmerga can establish security and end the bombing of innocent villagers. Turkey
Will Neolithic West Bank mask spark modern-day culture war? A Neolithic mask found in the Judean Desert is a relic from a bygone spiritual belief system prevalent in the region around 9,000 years ago. Palestine
Iran’s shift of tactics endangers Israel Israel Defense Forces are confronted with a new reality in which Hezbollah receives weapons from Iran by air cargo landing in Beirut and not by truck convoys from Syria. Israel
New Egyptian panel will defend government, not human rights Numerous so-called human rights organizations in Egypt are working to shine up the regime's image, blasting any independent or global rights groups that dare to speak up about human rights violations in Egypt. Egypt
Legal discrimination in Israel spreads to utilities, local governance The Israel Electric Corporation's announcement that it will refrain from cutting off power for delinquent Jewish customers during the Jewish holidays marks another insidious ripple effect of the discriminatory nationality law. Israel
Does PA anti-terror plan aim to strangle Hamas financially? The Palestinian government says it recently approved the National Strategy for Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing in a bid to protect the economy, but many believe the step targets Hamas directly. Palestine
Can Turkey mediate Russian-Ukrainian conflict on the Black Sea? President Erodogan has been on the phone with the Ukrainian, Russian and US presidents and has called for Ukraine and Russia to peacefully resolve their conflict. Turkey
