Roads blocked again as economic crises threaten daily life in Lebanon Lebanese protesters have kept up demonstrations, including blocking roads, after the president called on demonstrators to return home. By Michal Kranz
Hard-line Iranian cleric slams Rouhani over preelection 'uproar' A partisan battle is raging between Iran's political elites in the runup to the country's parliamentary polls. By Al-Monitor Staff
Iran plans to wean budget off oil income by next year Iranian officials say the country will kick its dependence on oil revenues by next year, using them only for development projects and to acquire capital assets. By Navid Kalhor
Intel: What’s on the agenda for the Trump-Erdogan meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is in Washington to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House today amid an intense crisis between the two NATO allies. By Bryant Harris In Washington, reporting on Congress
Killing of Islamic Jihad senior: Gantz falls into Netanyahu's trap Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must have considered beforehand what would exactly happen as a result of the elimination of Islamic Jihad senior Bahaa Abu el-Atta, including the elimination of the option of a minority government under Benny Gantz. By Yossi Beilin
Avigdor Liberman’s followers accept his worldview change As at this time there is a slim chance for a minority government supported by the Arab Joint List, Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Liberman’s base accepts the moderate and unusual stance of the party regarding such a government. By Ksenia Svetlova
Hamas sits out Islamic Jihad escalation in favor of deal with Israel The latest escalation in Gaza showed where Israel and Hamas' interests converge, as neither wants to see Islamic Jihad gain too much power. By Shlomi Eldar
Ottoman, Mamluki heritage sites crumble in Egypt Egypt's grand old fountains, poorhouses and other monuments from the Ottoman era have been neglected for years. By Ahmed Fouad
Vocal Egyptian lawmaker in hot water again Legislator Ahmed al-Tantawi has been referred to the Egyptian parliament’s Ethics Committee for actions some of his colleagues say tarnish the regime’s image. By A correspondent in Egypt
Egypt's powerful military companies to go public President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has called for listing companies affiliated with Egypt's armed forces on the stock exchange, allowing citizens to buy the shares in an effort to increase transparency. By Menna A. Farouk
How Palestinians view Trump refusal to resume PA security aid The Palestinians are certain that Trump’s refusal to resume financial support for Palestinian security is personal and has been going on for a while. By Adnan Abu Amer
Egyptian, Bahraini leaders exchange praise, strategies Bahrain's king visited Egypt's president last week to discuss national and regional security efforts, Iranian interventionism and bilateral cooperation. By Ahmed Gomaa
Million-dollar lobbying campaign against Kuwait suffers major setback A Kuwaiti court has sentenced a Russian businesswoman to 15 years of hard labor despite pressure from former US officials. Here's who's behind the campaign to release Marsha Lazareva. By Julian Pecquet
Israel’s soft power victim of Netanyahu’s policies The absence of Israel from the Paris Peace Forum reflects the spirit of its leadership, belittling multinational initiatives and neglecting soft power tools. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Erdogan heads for Washington, where Trump's hands already full Turkey’s president is on his way to Washington in a bid to salvage battered ties, but despite his positive chemistry with the US president, the Turkish leader is likely to hit a wall. By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Islamic Jihad leader's elimination serves both Netanyahu, Hamas Hamas' silence amid the violence with Israel indicates that the rulers of Gaza are shedding no tears over the fate of assassinated Islamic Jihad leader Bahaa Abu el-Atta, and the escalation is benefitting Israel's embattled prime minister as well. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense