Turkish-US talks on northern Syria stall as S-400 crisis peaks US envoy for Syria Jim Jeffrey tells the German Marshall Fund that a residual force of US troops will be staying in northeastern Syria for an "indeterminate time"; this decision appears to have been made in part to protect the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units from Turkey. Syria
Is Lebanon caught in the crossfire of the current US-Iranian standoff? With Iranian-backed Hezbollah playing a role in Lebanon's government, how much might the country suffer in case of a military confrontation between Washington and Tehran? Iraq
Palestinian PM turns to Jordan first The Palestinian prime minister’s visit to Amman has given a boost to the potential that Jordan can provide a serious alternative to economic dependency on Israel. Palestine
Moroccan medical students protest privatization of medical education The government’s decision to privatize medical education has caused protests among medical students in public schools that have been ongoing since late March. Morocco
Oman to open embassy in West Bank Oman recently decided to open an embassy in the Palestinian territories, and many Palestinians believe the step is aimed at silencing the Palestinian Authority in the wake of Oman’s relationship with Israel. Oman
Why Likud members follow Netanyahu The charisma of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his discourse about persecution by the country's elites encourage Likud supporters to identify with him. Israel
Iraqi Kurdistan Cabinet finally sees daylight after 9 months The new prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government has a Cabinet now, with all but one ministerial position filled. Iraq
Is Iran’s influence in Iraq waning? Iran is formalizing its relationship with Baghdad as a strategic step in lessening the negative economic effects of US sanctions, but the pro-Iran PMU integrating into Iraqi armed forces leave some Iraqi leaders uneasy. Iraq
Is Netanyahu concerned about anti-Semitic rulers? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu befriends far-right leaders, such as Hungary’s Victor Orban, and keeps silent when his close ally, President Donald Trump, invites to the White House an anti-Semitic cartoonist. Israel
Will Trump follow suit if Israel attacks Iran? Ahead of the 2020 US presidential elections, President Donald Trump might decide to back Israel militarily, if it decides to attack Iran. Israel
Turkey's favorite TV cop returns, but not to Turkish channels The renegade Behzat C was Turkey's favorite cop for half a decade. Now he's back, just not on Turkish TV. Turkey
Former economy czar’s resignation from Turkey’s ruling AKP sparks talk of rival party Ali Babacan resigned from Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party, unleashing a fresh wave of speculation that he might form a rival center-right party. Turkey
Iran's hard-liners urge retaliation against UK seizure of supertanker After the seizure of a Syria-bound Iranian oil tanker by British Royal Marines off the coast of Gibraltar, Iran's hard-liners are pressing the Rouhani government to drop diplomatic efforts and instead "respond in kind" by holding UK vessels in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Syria
Why Hamas changes strategy, privileges arrangement with Israel Hamas is not interested in a war with Israel, despite the attack tunnel recently discovered by the Israel Defense Forces. Palestine
Unification of Arab parties bad news for Netanyahu The Israeli-Arab public is tired of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s campaign against them, tired of Israeli politics and tired of unfulfilled promises. Israel
China deepens ties with UAE with industrial investment Deals worth billions of dollars between China and the United Arab Emirates reflect China's major status as a partner in the Middle East. United Arab Emirates