Jordanian diplomatic gambit wins citizens' release from Israel Jordan’s decision to recall its ambassador to Israel seems to have produced impressive results in getting two Jordanian detainees back home. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
What messages lie behind Assad’s visit to southern Idlib? Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s recent visit to the front line in southern Idlib province raised controversy and questions among opposition forces about Assad's goals and what messages he might have been sending — and to whom. By Khaled al-Khateb
With Qatar’s money, Israeli gas set to bring Gaza light Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has finally given his consent for Qatar to pay to extend an Israeli gas pipeline to the Gaza Strip's power station — a project that's expected to ameliorate the electricity crisis there while boosting Qatari influence in Gaza and giving Hamas standing as a successful mediator. By Adnan Abu Amer
Israelis are losing trust in the police The trust that Israelis have in law enforcement is showing signs of sharp decline, with the police receiving the lowest marks of all the various state agencies. By Danny Zaken In Ma'ale HaHamisha, reporting on Israel
Syrian Kurds OK US-led oil mission The commander of the Pentagon-backed Syrian Democratic Forces has signed off to help the Donald Trump administration protect the war-torn country’s oil fields, even amid an ongoing Turkish incursion the group has lobbied the United States to stop. By Jack Detsch
The Takeaway: November 6, 2019 Incursion fallout special: Frustrated Assad willing to talk peace with Turkey; Kurds play the angles with Washington and Damascus; Erdogan’s war a winner at home; Trump’s “betrayal” of Kurds plays in US public opinion; Tulsi Gabbard calling out Congress on support for endless wars … Bonus: Lebanon’s artists align with protesters and more. By Andrew Parasiliti In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, national security
Russia, Egypt look to boost military ties Russia and Egypt held military exercises as a token of Moscow's increased interest in expanding cooperation with Cairo. By Anton Mardasov
Three options for Benny Gantz to compose a government As his deadline to form a government approaches, Blue and White party head Benny Gantz is left with three main options before returning the mandate to the president. By Yossi Beilin
Penalties loom as lawyer for Turkey's Halkbank delays US court proceedings Turkey’s state-owned Halkbank may face financial penalties and further political blowback after once again refusing to recognize criminal charges in a New York court this week. By Diego Cupolo
'Eggupation' breeds revolutionary thinking in Beirut The reputation of the Egg, a cinema in downtown Beirut, has gone from an eyesore to an incubator for new thinking. By Euan Ward
Iran's hard-liners say fresh nuclear deal breaches don't go far enough In yet another step away from its nuclear deal commitments, Iran has resumed uranium enrichment at a contentious facility. But the move was too little to appease hard-liners at home. By Al-Monitor Staff
Turkey faces uphill battle to improve image after Syria operation The Turkish president is maintaining his hard line, which indicates that Ankara’s ties with the international community will remain strained. By Semih Idiz
Latest Israel-Jordan crisis: One too many? After 25 years of a cold but stable peace, should Israel stop taking for granted its relations with Jordan and start to invest real effort and resources into it? By Ksenia Svetlova
Israel’s culture minister offers settlers own propaganda film fund The new initiative of Culture Minister Miri Regev for the establishment of three film funds hides her true purpose — to offer the settlers their own propaganda film fund. By Shlomi Eldar
Why is Israel after Adnan Ghaith? Israel continues to target Adnan Ghaith, the Palestinian Authority’s representative in Jerusalem, for arrest and bans, claiming that his activities in East Jerusalem undermine Israeli authority over the city, while Palestinians see the Israeli actions as an attempt to eliminate the Palestinian presence there. By Ahmad Melhem In Ramallah, reporting on politics
Egypt emphasizing education on fourth-generation warfare Egyptian authorities are raising awareness of the dangers and impact of fourth-generation warfare on national security, and the importance of teaching people not to believe everything they hear. By A correspondent in Egypt