Senior UAE official warns Israeli public against annexation in op-ed In an unprecedented op-ed at the Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, UAE Ambassador to Washington and Minister Yousef Al-Otaiba calls upon Israel to retract from its annexation plan. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Iraq keeps heat on Islamic State by targeting leaders Iraqi intelligence and military operations against IS have dealt a heavy blow to the group, which has lost a number of its leaders and fighters in recent months both inside and outside of Iraq. By Mustafa Saadoun
New wave of protests rocks Beirut Lebanon's wide protests are regaining steam and the streets are growing more violent as partisan loyalties foment conflict among the demonstrators. By Michal Kranz
Archaeologists, activists alarmed by online calls to demolish Pyramids After bringing down statues, symbolic of racism and oppression in the US and the UK during the Black Lives Matter protests, some social media activists started calling for the demolition of the Pyramids, basing their argument on the contested notion that they were built by slaves. By Shahira Amin
Turkey hinders Egyptian peace efforts in Libya Cairo proposed a political initiative to resolve the Libyan crisis calling for a cease-fire between the conflicting parties, but the Government of National Accord, backed by Turkey, rejected it. By George Mikhail
Netanyahu’s annexation plan now in Gantz, Ashkenazi’s hands Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi must now make up their minds about backing annexation. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Trump fights Netanyahu’s war against ICC Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the decision by US President Donald trump to sanction workers of the ICC, blaming the international court for fabricating accusations against the Jewish people. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Qatar National Bank hit with lawsuit over Americans killed by Hamas in Israel A wrongful death lawsuit was filed in New York by dozens of relatives of 10 Americans killed or wounded by Hamas attacks in Israel and the West Bank. By Al-Monitor Staff
New report details damage to Iraqi economy during COVID-19 pandemic The report by the UN-affiliated International Organization for Migration shows how virus-related restrictions have led to revenue and job losses for small and medium-sized businesses in Iraq. By Al-Monitor Staff
Intel: Congress pushes back against Pentagon plan to withdraw US forces from Egypt’s Sinai Congress is using a key defense bill to push back against Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s reported plans to withdraw US peacekeeping forces from Egypt’s Sinai. By Bryant Harris In Washington, reporting on Congress
After promising accountability, Iraq arrests suspect in protester's death The spokesman for the Defense Ministry said the suspect killed an anti-government protester in Baghdad. By Al-Monitor Staff
Intel: Trump lines up behind Libya cease-fire proposed by Egypt’s Sisi President Donald Trump praised Egypt for its Libya cease-fire proposal during a conversation on Wednesday with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. By Al-Monitor Staff
European court rules against French conviction of BDS activists The European Court of Human Rights ruled that boycotts are protected forms of protest, saying France erred in convicting activists of incitement to discrimination for asking people stop buying Israeli products. By Al-Monitor Staff
US-Iraq strategic talks launched with increasing national, regional support Iraq has begun a strategic dialogue with the United States that promises to shape various aspects of the two countries' relationship. By Ali Mamouri
Asylum-seekers in Israel face additional hardships over coronavirus Asylum-seekers in Israel are now losing their jobs and social security over the coronavirus outbreak. By Eetta Prince-Gibson
Parliament speaker opens new conservative era in Iranian politics Parliament Speaker Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf starts his new job at a time when Iran faces great challenges, with the conservatives set to dominate Iranian politics in the near future. By Shervin Ghaffari