Chaos as Israeli Knesset disbands, new elections announced Heading toward a fourth round of elections in less than two years, Israelis can no longer tell right from left. Israel
Fourth elections in Israel: Netanyahu’s Moroccan card For Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, renewal of ties with Rabat means one thing: possible support of hundreds of thousands of Israelis of Moroccan origins. Israel
Russia treads lightly in Syrian deadlock Moscow is reacting with marked restraint to the escalation around Ain Issa, even seeming to play along with Ankara, though Turkey and the Syrian National Army have no reason to conduct offensive operations in the area. Syria
Trump pardons Blackwater contractors convicted of Iraq massacre The incident in Baghdad's Nisoor Square deeply strained US-Iraqi ties and marred the reputation of the paramilitary company. Iraq
Hamas walks back 'Christmas ban' in Gaza after uproar A memo leaked from the Hamas-run Ministry of Religious Endowments and Affairs in the Gaza Strip taken as a ban on Christmas and New Year festivities outraged Christian and Muslim Palestinians alike. Palestine
Iraq closes land borders, restaurants with new anti-virus measures The federal Iraqi government is also barring travelers from the UK, Iran and several other countries. Iraq
US show of force in Persian Gulf ahead of anniversary of Soleimani killing A guided-missile submarine and two cruisers are the Pentagon's latest warning to Iran. Saudi Arabia
Microsoft, Google join WhatsApp suit against Israeli spyware vendor The filing follows reports that the Israel-based NSO Group's Pegasus software was used to hack the phones of dozens of Al Jazeera journalists. Israel
Mountain of debt growing under the rug in Turkey Turkey’s loan expansion has helped resuscitate the economy, but at the expense of an alarming surge in consumer and corporate debt. Turkey
US offers to mediate as Israel, Lebanon remain 'far apart' on maritime border talks Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lamented the lack of progress between the two countries on their Mediterranean border. Lebanon
Europe human rights court calls on Turkey to release Demirtas Europe’s top human rights court ruled Wednesday for the "immediate release" of Selahattin Demirtas, former co-chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), who has been imprisoned for more than four years in Turkey on terror-related charges. Turkey
With Morocco-Israel deal, US looks to maintain role in peace accords For the Trump administration, the renewal of ties between Israel and Morocco is first and foremost a reason to auto-congratulate and make speeches. Israel
US unveils new Syria sanctions targeting Assad’s British in-laws The US administration has blacklisted the commander of Syria's military intelligence organization, a senior aide to President Bashar al-Assad and Assad's British in-laws. Syria
Germany opposes arms embargo against Turkey Greece has called for European leaders to apply stronger pressure on Ankara over its actions in the eastern Mediterranean, but the appeals have largely fallen on deaf ears. Turkey
Intel: Congress throws Sudan-Israel normalization deal lifeline Sudan is to get $700 million in assistance and $230 million in preliminary debt relief, but 9/11 victims can continue their lawsuit against Khartoum. Israel
Is Turkey on course of foreign policy shift with pan-Turkist flavor? Ankara appears to be mulling a US-friendly foreign policy revision to counter Iran and Russia in the Caucasus and Black Sea regions, but such a shift will not be without geopolitical risks elsewhere. Turkey
