All Middle East
Is this the end of Turkey's flirtation with Europe?It wasn't long ago that Turkey and Europe earnestly sought to forge a common future. But the exchange of accusations between the two, rooted in Erdo臒an's effort to empower his presidency, may have pushed the relationship to a point of no return.
How far will Erdo臒an go in fanning Turkey's diplomatic crisis with Europe?Turkey's President Erdo臒an lashed out at the Dutch for blocking rallies aimed at garnering support from Turkish voters abroad ahead of an April referendum on his presidential powers. While that plays well at home, he may not want to push too hard, given close economic ties and shared interests.
Why Turkey鈥檚 feud with the Dutch is good for nationalists 鈥� on both sidesDutch anti-Islam candidate Geert Wilders and Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdo臒an聽are both angling for electoral advantages as they exchange harsh words.聽
For students at an American university in Iraq, travel ban debate is keenly feltIraq was removed from the revised executive order President Trump signed this week. But at an American-founded school that aims to produce Iraq's next generation of leaders, the issue has tested perceptions of the US.
First LookBuried treasure: huge statue of Egyptian king unearthed in Cairo neighborhoodArchaeologists say the 26-foot tall statue is聽likely a depiction of Pharaoh Ramses II, considered the most powerful ruler of ancient Egypt.
First LookIsrael wants Arab neighbors to turn down volume on call to prayerArab Israelis say a bill being reviewed by Israel's parliament would take unfair aim at the Muslim call to prayer.
Israel takes action against boycotters. Is that counterproductive?Israel sees the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement as a significant threat, but by barring foreign supporters of BDS from entering the country, critics say, it is harming democracy and isolating itself further.
Neglected under ISIS, schools in eastern Mosul overflow with students once againJust weeks after the eastern part of the city was liberated, schools are scrambling to accommodate eager learners. Education suffered badly under ISIS, which imposed a curriculum filled with violent viewpoints and drove away students fearful of being forcefully recruited.聽- First LookAmid rising tensions, Iran tests Russian-built missile systemIran says that it has successfully test-fired an S-300 air defense system, which has a range of up to 125 miles, as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate.
Fight for Mosul: Undaunted by close calls, Iraqi soldier returns (again) to battle ISISMohamed Selman Methboub, who was badly injured in a 2014 ISIS ambush, is聽part of the force pushing to liberate Mosul. The Army has been rebuilt from three years ago, when much of it disintegrated before an ISIS offensive.聽
As US pressures Iran, parallel tensions grow between Israel and HezbollahA decade of relative calm along the Israel-Lebanon border is being rattled as both Israel and Hezbollah threaten each other. The threats were provoked by the Trump administration signaling an intent to roll back the growing influence of Iran, Hezbollah鈥檚 sponsor.聽
With ISIS besieged in western Mosul, civilians decide it's time to fleeRecent refugees from Mosul describe how the increased Iraqi pressure on ISIS in the western half of the city, the jihadists' last urban stronghold in the country, translates into increased pressure on civilians.
First LookWith explosion in upscale mall, terror attacks continue in PakistanPakistan has deployed paramilitary forces in a politically fractious bid to crush Islamist groups that have claimed responsibility for a wave of recent attacks on civilian targets.
FocusIn Turkey, Erdo臒an fans an Islamic nationalism to build Ottoman-style influenceFifteen years into his rule, Erdo臒an has gradually turned his country away from the secular tradition of Mustafa Kemal Atat眉rk. He has also moved away from democratic norms, complicating ties with the West.
First LookTurkey lifts ban on headscarves in the militaryTurkey will now allow its female soldiers to wear a headscarf with their uniforms, marking a shift in the secular military.
End of the two-state solution? What Israel, Palestinians would be giving up.President Trump said he was not insisting on a two-state solution for Middle East peace. Palestinians and Israelis view the one-state option very differently.
For this Palestinian educator, the Global Teacher Prize was just the startHanan al-Hroub, who grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp, has leveraged her award to improve education at home and abroad.
Cover StoryIsrael's right-wing revolutionariesAs Prime Minister Netanyahu prepares to meet President Trump in Washington, he is being pulled聽to the right by the settler聽movement. What it means for Israel,聽a Palestinian state, and US-Israeli relations.聽
How Netanyahu may benefit from Trump's shift to traditional US stance on MideastThe Israeli prime minister meets President Trump in Washington Wednesday. The Trump administration had early indicated it might relax US constraints on Israel, but has since changed its tone.
In reaction to soldier's guilty verdict, a hardened IsraelA military court found that an Israeli soldier who killed a wounded Palestinian assailant had violated army rules of engagement, pitting a revered institution against tougher public attitudes toward the conflict and the rule of law.
