US response muted as Turkey gives consulate employee harsh prison sentence A Turkish staff member of the US Consulate in Istanbul has been handed nearly nine years in prison in what some analysts suggest is a sign that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's "new era" in US-Turkish relations will be one of increasing US leniency. By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Egypt to allow foreign tourists at select resorts Egypt will open resorts in the Sinai Peninsula and the Red Sea to foreign travelers in July in an effort to boost tourism during the coronavirus pandemic. By Al-Monitor Staff
Assad sacks prime minister amid deepening financial crisis Prime Minister Imad Khamis, who has held the position since 2016, will be temporarily replaced by the country's water minister. By Al-Monitor Staff
Turkey’s news channels can’t breathe Journalism in Turkey is choking under a censorship mechanism in which newsroom managers, leaders often act as “government commissars.” By Fehim Tastekin In Paris, reporting on Turkish politics
Will Netanyahu opt for partial annexation? Some reports say Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might opt for a phased annexation plan for the West Bank that, at least at first, would exclude the Jordan Valley. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
With no end to pandemic in sight, Iran looks to fully reopen Iran’s president said the country is looking to reopen under certain health guidelines. By Al-Monitor Staff
Qatar’s World Cup organizers accused of not paying migrant workers Human rights organization Amnesty International said roughly 100 employees of a Qatari subcontractor went up to seven months without receiving salaries. By Al-Monitor Staff
Intel: China may pose greater challenge to US hegemony in Mideast than Russia The top US military commander for operations in the Middle East said that China’s economic influence in the Middle East may one day pose a greater challenge to US strategic interests than Russia in the region, even as the Kremlin seeks wider military presence in Syria and Libya. By Al-Monitor Staff
Hashemite white paper says Arabs were first inhabitants of Jerusalem A white paper by the Amman-based think tank the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought suggests 5,000 years of continuous Arab presence in Jerusalem, specifying the Hashemite custodianship of Christian and Muslim holy sites in the city. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
Anger over male Knesset member appointed to head women's rights committee Women's rights groups are furious over the appointment of male Knesset member Oded Forer to head the Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Libya’s warring parties participate in ‘productive’ cease-fire talks, UN says The UN Mission in Libya said the Government of National Accord and the Libyan National Army were involved in another round of truce talks. By Al-Monitor Staff
Erdogan banks on Trump’s friendship to deal with Libya Turkey needs the support of the United States more than it did months ago to implement its regional agenda in Libya and beyond. By Cengiz Candar
Intel: State Department official 'tried to bully' watchdog reviewing Saudi arms sale The independent watchdog ousted by President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that a high-ranking State Department official “tried to bully” him in part because of his review of last year’s emergency arms sale for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. By Bryant Harris In Washington, reporting on Congress
Report: Israel’s El Al airline could be owned by state again El Al is facing major difficulties during the current economic and health crises and is seeking government help as Israel's borders remain closed. By Al-Monitor Staff
The Takeaway: Muslim Brotherhood dealt ‘death blow’ in Egypt for now, renowned French scholar says Highlights: In Al-Monitor podcast, Gilles Kepel discusses his new book, “Away from Chaos”; George Floyd protests resonate in Iraq; Erdogan links antifa to Kurdish groups; Migrant workers in Gulf face uncertain post-COVID future; Google technology boosts Egyptian archaeology; and more! By Andrew Parasiliti In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, national security
US watchdog group: Turkey’s actions in Syria endanger religious diversity The partial withdrawal of US troops from northeast Syria in October created a vacuum for religious repression, a bipartisan US agency says. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights