Israeli mayors offer gifts, incentives for people to get vaccinated Some Israeli mayors offer gifts and benefits for residents getting vaccinated; others sanction those who refuse. Israel
How Turkey became unsafe haven for dissidents While Ankara requests the most renditions of any country, its own borders remain extremely porous, its security personnel vulnerable to corruption and its territory a playground for foreign intelligence services. Turkey
Coup row haunts Turkish-US ties Amid an already frosty start with the new US administration, Ankara has renewed accusations that Washington was behind the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey. Turkey
Egyptian parliament hopes to counter US Congress criticism on human rights Egypt’s parliament is ramping up efforts to deal with the US Congress’ criticism of the human rights situation in Egypt, as it passed a motion to send delegations to the United States. Egypt
Netanyahu’s pick of Iran file envoy signals confrontation with US Picking national security adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat over real Iran experts such as Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen or retired Gen. Amos Yadlin means that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not believe dialoguing with the Biden administration on Iran will do any good. Israel
ICC ruling means war crimes investigations go both ways The International Criminal Court’s ruling that it has jurisdiction over the Palestinian territories has pleased many residents but alarmed others that Palestinian leaders could face investigations they fear will be political. Palestine
Gulf states’ quest to find ‘new oil’ turns to hydrogen Unrivaled expertise in the energy industry and a growing global market for hydrogen is pushing Gulf oil exporters to invest in the global realignment toward cleaner energies. Originals
Blinken walks back State Department ambiguity over Turkish hostages killed in Iraq After an earlier statement suggesting Washington didn't necessarily buy Ankara's narrative on the killings, the State Department today said that "PKK terrorists bear responsibility." Turkey
Iraq finally makes arrests in killing of anti-government protesters Iraqi security forces arrested four suspects for allegedly killing Iraqi protesters and activists. Iraq
Netanyahu appoints his own Iran envoy in message to Biden Despite the growing presence of Europeans on the Iranian portfolio, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu estimates that the United States alone will be the one to determine the outcome of a new nuclear deal. Originals
Russian interactions with Palestinians seen as all talk, no action Russia is showing its reach with Palestinian factions in advance of elections, but there is still no sign that Moscow is having an impact. Palestine
Is HTS reining in or expanding jihadist network in Idlib? Ansar al-Tawhid recently attacked a Russian operations room in the south of Idlib governate, killing and injuring several soldiers on the site, raising questions about the group’s identity and affiliations. Syria
Damascus scrambles for more control in southern Syria As the Russian-brokered Tafas agreement in the western countryside of Daraa between the Syrian regime and the Central Committee enters into force, the regime is now seeking to take over the towns outside its control in southern Syria before the upcoming 2021 presidential elections. Syria
Conflicting messages leave Palestinian workers outside Israel jobless Conflicting messages from Israeli authorities cause tens of thousands of Palestinian laborers to be stuck in the West Bank, unable to reenter Israel for work. Palestine
Turkey accuses PKK militants of executing 13 Turkish captives in Iraqi Kurdistan Turkey could use the deaths as justification to launch an operation against the PKK in Yazidi-dominated Sinjar, something Ankara has been lobbying Baghdad to greenlight. Turkey
Pentagon ‘comfortable’ with troop levels in Middle East ahead of review Whether the United States pulls forces from the Middle East to counter China may well depend on the success of Biden's diplomacy with Iran Gulf
