Analysis: Israel’s dirty election campaign kicks off Shortly after announcing early elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is targeting his rivals with rumors, accusations and even fake news, especially former IDF chief Benny Gantz. Israel
Activist’s murder in Tunisia attests to racism’s grip Tunisia’s new law against racism needs substantial backup in the form of cultural change. Tunisia
House spending bill repudiates Morocco on Western Sahara The political wrangling over President Donald Trump’s border wall has dealt Morocco an unwelcome setback. North Africa
Rival fiefdoms emerge in scramble over Trump's Syria withdrawal Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton have offered different messages about President Donald Trump’s intentions for a Syria withdrawal. Israel
Patriarch grants Ukrainian Church independence at Istanbul mass The spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox faithful recognized a new national church of Ukraine, marking a historic split with Moscow amid a broader geopolitical dispute. Turkey
Gulf women activists still face persecution despite hopes of reform Saudi Arabia's women still languish under the country's system of male guardianship, even as the case of Rahaf al-Qunun, who barricaded herself in a hotel room at the Bangkok airport, refusing to go back to Saudi, has brought renewed attention to the situation of women in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia
Hunger strike by Kurdish inmates spreads across Turkish prisons A hunger strike by Kurdish prisoners, initiated by a female parliamentarian to protest restrictions on visits to jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, may have dramatic consequences if Ankara sticks to its indifference, lawyers and activists warn. Turkey
Iran, Russia remain skeptical about US exit from Syria, Afghanistan With the announcement of a US withdrawal from Syria, Iran and Russia can be expected to intensify their bilateral cooperation to achieve common interests rather than turn against each other. Syria
Kuwait breaks from GCC on warming up to Israel While Kuwait is joining its fellow GCC nations in terms of supporting Syria's return to the Arab League, Kuwaiti officials want nothing to do with Israel. Gulf
Netanyahu’s Golan statement ignores new Syria reality For Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu partnering with the far-right and proclaiming sovereignty over the Golan Heights is more important than aspiring to regional alliances with Muslim and Arab countries. United Arab Emirates
Imprisoned Iranian activist slams jailers, US 'concerns' An Iranian political prisoner has rejected US concerns for human rights — including his own imprisonment — noting the double standards in their application. Iran
How an Ottoman diplomat captured Levantine 'glitterati' in caricatures An exhibition in the Turkish capital highlights an Ottoman bureaucrat's caricatures of the diplomatic set in the waning days of the empire. Turkey
When will Egypt open its Grand Museum? The Grand Egyptian Museum, expected to be the world's largest archaeological museum, will have its great opening early 2020. Egypt
Iraqi blocs, outsiders vie to influence Basra governorship It took Iraqis months to select a prime minister, and now a similar battle has arisen over the governor's office in embattled Basra. Iraq
Israeli politicians cower before Jewish terror The political outcry over settler youths arrested for causing the death of a Palestinian woman reflects the Israeli leadership's fear of the settlers’ political power. Palestine