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. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
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. By Adnan Abu Amer
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. By Khaled al-Khateb
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. By Khaled al-Khateb
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. By Danny Zaken In Ma'ale HaHamisha, reporting on Israel
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. By Al-Monitor Staff
On Israel with Ben Caspit J Street's Nadav Tamir: Israel must reconnect with liberal American Jews Ben Caspit
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 By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
European powers blast Iran's uranium metal production France, Germany and the United Kingdom condemn Iran's move as one that would undermine the nuclear agreement. By Al-Monitor Staff
Iran denies diplomat was arrested in Turkey for allegedly helping kill dissident The allegations stem from the 2019 killing of Masoud Molavi Vardanjani in Istanbul. By Al-Monitor Staff
Will Russia and Turkey withdraw their proxies from Libya? The UN delivers a potentially game-changing win for diplomacy, but the United States wants Russian and Turkish mercenaries out of Libya. By Week in Review
Clashes in West Bank during anti-Israeli settlement protests The Palestinian Authority reported several incidents throughout the territory. It follows other violent clashes in recent weeks between the Israeli military and Palestinians. By Al-Monitor Staff
US to revoke terror designation for Yemen's Houthis Washington officials continue to condemn the Iran-linked rebels' activities, saying the terror revocation stems from humanitarian concerns. By Al-Monitor Staff
Islamic State escalates attacks in Syrian desert The Islamic State organization (IS) kills a large number of regime forces on an almost daily basis in the Syrian Desert, which has turned into a black hole draining the regime forces. By Sultan al-Kanj
Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur loses at Australian Open Ons Jabeur is the highest-ranked Arab woman in tennis history. She hopes more women from the region will pick up rackets. By Al-Monitor Staff
Etihad flying with fully vaccinated crews The Abu Dhabi-based airline was the first in the world to vaccinate all of its pilots and cabin crew against the coronavirus. By Al-Monitor Staff