Why Abbas is shaking up Palestinian security services Expected appointments and replacements within the Palestinian security services may not pass without the blessing of Israel and the United States. Palestine
Many calls but little action to stop cultural destruction in Yemen Smuggled Yemeni antiquities continue to find customers in the West, despite international outcry to stop the looting and destruction in Yemen. Yemen
Netanyahu’s successful operation of unifying the far right Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been laboring for the unification of far-right parties. The announcement of HaBayit HaYehudi and National Union parties on running together is his first victory. Israel
Palestinians live in caves to preserve their land The PLO has funded an operation to rehabilitate caves in Area C of the West Bank to allow Palestinian families to remain on their land that is threatened by settlement expansion. Palestine
Likud's mainstreaming of West Bank annexation Annexing West Bank territory to Israel was once considered a far-fetched and even crazy idea in the Likud, but the idea is now being publicly advocated by party members. Palestine
Cowed Egyptians meet Sisi’s power grab with apathy The rare voices who spoke out against the push to extend the president’s term have faced a campaign of intimidation. Egypt
Veteran peace hands see growing Israeli-Arab alignment in Warsaw While the Palestinians boycotted the meeting in Poland, a number of Arab delegates showed an interest in engaging with US plans for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Gulf
Turkey fails to win green light for safe zone at Syria summit Iran and Russia’s leaders tell President Recep Tayyip Erdogan he must acquire consent from Damascus to launch an offensive in northeast Syria against Kurdish forces. Syria
Russia, Turkey, Iran discuss Syria amid simmering disagreements Putin, Erodgan and Rouhani meet to discuss Syria's future for the first time since Trump announced the United States would withdraw troops from Syria. Syria
Stadium gates gradually open for Iranian women Years of campaigning is bearing fruit and victory seems just around the corner for civil and women's rights activists in Iran, who have gone the extra mile in convincing the state to open soccer stadiums to Iranian women. Iran
Iran says foreign spy agencies behind terrorist attack in southeast Iranian officials have blamed foreign countries for supporting terrorists that killed 27 border guards belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran
Jihadists of Idlib splitting under Turkish pressure As Russia pressures Turkey to impose law and order in Syria at Idlib, Turkey in turn is pressuring radical factions there, which is escalating the conflict among jihadists. Syria
Palestinian farmers check out seeds from West Bank library Vivien Sansour discovered the need to protect Palestinian seeds while looking for red carrots six years ago and opened a seed library in Beit Sahour; the library will soon move its permanent headquarters to Battir. Palestine
Israel takes another step toward Judaizing Jerusalem The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates denounced the Israeli government’s approval to build a cable car connecting the Old City of Jerusalem, saying that Israel seeks to Judaize the city. Palestine
Algeria gambles on old captain to chart new waters The announcement that Algeria’s ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is running for a fifth term in the country’s elections raised questions about Algerians’ readiness to endorse the man who has played a prominent role in ending the civil war. Algeria
Yazidis divided over selection of new leader After the death of the spiritual leader of the Yazidi sect in Iraq and the world, differences come up over the selection of his successor. Iraq
