Dead Sea Scrolls unearthed by Israeli archaeologists in desert cave The Israeli project also discovered the remains of a mummified child and what's believed to be the world's oldest basket. By Al-Monitor Staff
Rights group criticizes Jordan over debt imprisonment Human Rights Watch has highlighted the plight of poor Jordanians imprisoned for failing to pay back loans taken out to meet basic needs. By Al-Monitor Staff
'Scores' of migrants burned to death from Houthi projectiles in Yemen: HRW Human Rights Watch accused Houthi security forces of firing "unidentified projectiles" into a migrant detention center earlier this month. By Al-Monitor Staff
Iraq gives visa on arrival to citizens of 30 countries The list includes the United States, China and other large economies in a bid to attract investment to Iraq; most foreigners need to apply for a visa before traveling to Iraq. By Al-Monitor Staff
Lapid’s discrete campaign for premiership gains momentum Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid has not declared himself a candidate for prime minister, but he is clearly positioning himself as the real threat to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Dahlan courts Gaza, Hamas with vaccine deliveries ahead of elections Dismissed Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan has arranged for the delivery of another shipment of coronavirus vaccines to the Gaza Strip, raising questions about the aid’s link to the upcoming elections. By Entsar Abu Jahal
Unconstrained Netanyahu jeopardizes relations with Jordan Desperate to achieve a photo-op in Abu Dhabi before the March 23 elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blows off against Jordan when delaying his Emirati trip. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
French citizen charged with espionage in Iran The man was flying a helicopter with a camera in the desert, according to his lawyer. Several foreigners have been charged with spying and related crimes in Iran recently. By Al-Monitor Staff
Erdogan’s Islamic credentials no longer a winning hand among Turkey’s Kurds The ruling party’s increasingly strong alliance with nationalists has dampened support among the country’s Kurds. By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
NGOs file Syria torture complaint against Russia’s Wagner Group The rights organizations allege that the shadowy paramilitary group is behind the 2017 torture and killing of a Syrian military defector. By Al-Monitor Staff
Iran's Revolutionary Guards tout new missile base in support of navy Top IRGC commanders inaugurated on Monday what Iranian state television described as a new underground missile base. By Al-Monitor Staff
Jordan-Israeli ties on the brink over obstruction of royal visit to holy shrine King Abdullah II has had enough of Benyamin Netanyahu's provocations over custodianship over Al-Aqsa Mosque and has retaliated by scuttling the Israeli premier's so-called historic trip to the UAE when Israel botched his son's visit to Jerusalem. Now Jordan-Israel ties have reached a new low as Netanyahu battles for his political survival in next week's elections. By Osama Al Sharif
COVID accelerates evolution of Gulf economies The economic policy response to COVID-19 is an acceleration of specific trends already underway across the Gulf Cooperation Council members, variously affecting tax policy, labor market regulation and immigration policy. By Karen Young In Washington, DC, reporting on regional energy
Israeli air carrier requests to fly to Sharm el-Sheikh In another sign of warming relations, Israel's Israir Airlines Ltd. wants to operate flights from Tel Aviv and Haifa to the Sinai Sharm el-Sheikh resort town. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Kosovo becomes third country to open embassy in Jerusalem The Muslim-majority country opened an embassy in the contested city after Israel recognized its independence from Serbia. By Al-Monitor Staff
Will US sanctions bring China and Saudi Arabia closer? Recent US sanctions on Saudi Arabia, coupled with prospects for Washington reentering the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, could push Saudi Arabia to strengthen its ties with China. By Sabena Siddiqui In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran