All Middle East
How Syrian refugees strain 鈥� and strengthen 鈥� JordanWhat role does culture play in a nation's ability to handle a huge influx of refugees?聽Jordanians say their hospitality stems from their Bedouin roots and ancient desert customs. Part 2 of On the Move: the faces, places, and politics of migration.
First LookPalestinian activist, Ahed Tamimi, takes her cause abroadArrested for slapping an Israeli soldier in front of her West Bank home, the 17-year-old is meeting dignitaries and activists across the Middle East and Europe after serving an eight-month prison sentence, showing signs of a changing Palestinian activism that dismays Israeli officials.聽
First LookElection postponed in Kandahar after attack on security meetingAfghanistan's election has been postponed for a week in Kandahar province after an elite Afghan guard opened fire at the end of a meeting between Kandahar and US officials. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the assault that killed聽police chief Gen. Abdul Raziq and wounded three Americans.
First LookUpcoming Afghan elections test country's commitment to women's rightsSince the US invasion in 2001, one of the few areas of progress in Afghanistan has been the advancement of women. They face many challenges as elections near, including passing legislation against violence and changing cultural norms.聽
At stake in Khashoggi affair: control of the Arab world鈥檚 narrativeIf human rights and a free press are fundamental values in the West, what obligations does it have to ensure the Khashoggi affair does not squelch voices of dissent across the Arab world, as many fear?
First LookWater pollution threatens Mandaean religious practices in IraqMandaeans, a minority religious group following the teachings of John the Baptist, have worshipped at the banks of the Tigris River for hundreds of years. Today, industrial chemicals and untreated sewage make it difficult for the Mandaeans to practice religious rites.聽
A seat at the table: Wave of Arab women running in local elections in IsraelPaths to progress must often pierce both tradition and discrimination. But as one Israeli Arab woman tells us: 鈥業t鈥檚 time for people to take us seriously.... We can contribute, too.鈥�
First LookChildren of ISIS fighters struggle for survival in IraqSome of the most invisible victims of the Islamic State's caliphate are children of the fighters themselves. Traumatized, alone, and stigmatized by the actions of their parents, their lives reveal the long road of recovery ahead in sectarian-ridden Iraq.聽
First LookJoint 'inspection' planned for Saudi consulate in IstanbulTurkish officials have announced that the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul will be inspected on Oct. 15 after Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi disappeared there almost two weeks ago.聽
First LookBehind glitz of Saudi Crown Prince's reforms, a record of human rights abusesAs the disappearance of Saudi journalist聽Jamal Khashoggi strains US-Saudi relations, the record of ambitious Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is getting a closer look, from his involvement in a bloody war in Yemen to the silencing of critics in his kingdom.聽
First LookIslamic State returning to insurgency as caliphate disappearsThe loss of territory and propaganda networks have severely cut into the effectiveness of ISIS military campaigns. But recent massacres in Syria and its history of survival during the Iraq War point to it continuing in a new form utilizing ambush surprise attacks.聽
Iran: As economy stumbles, tension grows between rich and poorHow does one assess a society's resilience? One measure might be social cohesion. With Iran bracing for tougher US sanctions, resentment is growing against the well-connected who flaunt their wealth.
First LookCorruption indictment looms for Israel's Netanyahu in lead up to electionsEarly elections look likely in Israel as the Netanyahu government splits over ultra-Orthodox military conscription, the Israeli attorney general considers corruption indictments, and Prime Minister聽Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to solidify his position and international alliances.聽
First LookIran and UAE complicit in illegal charcoal trade with Somali militantsThe Somali extremist group Al Shabaab generates millions of dollars in revenue off exports of charcoal to Iran and then the United Arab Emirates, according to the United Nations,聽in violation of UN sanctions.聽
First LookYemeni craftsman create ceremonial knives from missile shrapnelAs the civil war in Yemen has continued, imported steel has become too expensive for many craftsmen. But missile shrapnel is plentiful for artisans to transform into something beautiful.聽
First LookPalestine's Abbas asserts himself as Gaza worsens and Hamas stays in powerThe leader of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas, side-lined by the Trump White House and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, is flexing his control as he insists the PA holds responsibility over all Palestinian territories.聽
First LookSaudi journalist disappears, raising concerns over political meaningA prominent Saudi journalist and a contributor to The Washington Post who is critical of the country's policies on Yemen and women's rights has disappeared in Istanbul. Advocates are concerned he has become a pawn between Ankara and Riyadh.聽
Breaking a taboo: Jerusalem elections and the Palestinian voteIf one accepts a principle of democracy, that voting gives power to the people, then not voting means the opposite. In East Jerusalem, some Palestinians question the price paid for boycotting elections.
First LookDespite enormous reconstruction costs, Syria vows to rebuildWith the Syrian government holding just over 60 percent of Syria's territory, President Bashar Assad hopes to begin reconstruction efforts despite few Western countries willing to help, international sanctions, and a seven-year-old conflict that continues to rage on.
First LookRights groups push for better prison treatment of Muslim Brotherhood MorsiThe harsh prison conditions of former Egyptian president聽Mohamed Morsi are calling attention to the country's crackdown against democracy since聽Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi came to power four years ago.聽
