After Iran ship blast, Gantz says Israel preparing for military threats Defense Minister Benny Gantz declined to react to the report by The New York Times that Israel was behind the attack yesterday on the Iranian Saviz boat, stating simply that Israel is preparing for threats on all possible fronts. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Israel's president openly reluctant on Netanyahu forming government President Reuven Rivlin made sure everyone knew he would have preferred to task someone other than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with forming Israel’s next government. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Palestinian village becomes prison for residents The Palestinian village of Beit Iksa lies on the Palestinian side of the Israeli separation wall, and its residents feel trapped in a large prison surrounded by Israeli settlements. By Taghreed Ali
Man admits asking Gaetz's father for $25M to find FBI agent in Iran, denies extortion Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent believed to have died in Iranian custody, is now wrapped up in Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz's legal drama. By Al-Monitor Staff
Has diplomacy run out of cards to play to end the Nile dam dispute? The round of negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia end in Kinshasa, Congo, with no resolution in sight. By Ayah Aman In Cairo, reporting on politics and culture
Egypt plans 'New Delta' to boost food security Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered the implementation of a megaproject to cultivate 1 million feddans west of the Nile Delta in Lower Egypt. The project, dubbed New Delta, aims to create modern agricultural and urban communities as well as industrial complexes that operate in the field of agricultural production. By Mohamed Sabry
On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman Is Turkey's authoritarian president losing his grip? Wishful thinking, says Ankara-based journalist Raziye Akkoc
European Union calls on foreign forces to leave Libya EU Council President Charles Michel met with officials in Tripoli as more European officials are set to visit the capital this month. By Al-Monitor Staff
Iran charges 10 in relation to shooting down of Ukrainian passenger plane Iran concluded that the deadly strike last year was the result of an air defense mistake, but Ukraine has so far rejected this conclusion. By Al-Monitor Staff
Iraq passes $89 billion federal budget bill The budget confronted issues of unemployment, currency devaluation and non-oil revenues and was passed as lawmakers prepare for October's general election; the challenge is implementation. By Joe Snell
Deciphering retired admirals’ open letter in Turkey An open letter by retired admirals critical of government policies has given Erdogan much-needed political ammunition amid an economic turmoil that has been eating into his popular support. By Metin Gurcan
Top EU officials seek improved ties, positive agenda in meeting with Erdogan Focusing on economic cooperation, migration and human rights, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council chief Charles Michel sought to improve EU-Turkey ties during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on April 6. By Diego Cupolo
Alarm in Iran as pandemic numbers shoot back up Iranian officials are talking about a fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic with infections more than doubling since last week and hospitals in Tehran near capacity. By Al-Monitor Staff
Netanyahu pledges to end Israel's election paralysis After receiving the mandate to compose the next government and after the swearing in of the 24th Knesset, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will form a government of action. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
More Lebanese doctors leave for Iraq As Lebanon is sinking deeper into an unprecedented financial and political crisis, many medical doctors are increasingly packing their bags and leaving for the Gulf or Europe, and more recently for Iraq. By Mustafa Saadoun
Palestinian shot dead by IDF in checkpoint incident The Israeli military and the Palestinian Authority reported the incident differently, as is often the case. By Al-Monitor Staff