All Middle East
Trump 鈥榖romance鈥� broke Israel鈥檚 bipartisan rule. Will Netanyahu pay?For Israel, dependent on U.S. friendship, bipartisan support is precious. Will Netanyahu鈥檚 alliance with Trump strain ties with Biden administration?
How Turkey鈥檚 use of military power furthers Erdo臒an鈥檚 ambitionsTurkey鈥檚 assertive use of military power helps bolster President Erdo臒an politically. But it also helps him fulfill what he sees as his calling.
First LookLebanese duo helps stranded migrant workers find a way homeAmid a collapsing economy, many migrant workers who came to Lebanon as domestic helpers lost their jobs and were left on the streets. But two ordinary people raised funds for repatriation flights for more than 120 women, helping when embassies did not.
First LookAs tourists disappear, Bedouins revive ancient farming rootsEgypt's already unstable tourism industry has sunk during the global COVID-19 pandemic, leaving Bedouin tour guides without jobs. To adapt, they are returning to their ancestral livelihoods and farming the mountains of South Sinai.
Pandemic politics? In Jordan, it has leveled the playing field.In Jordan, pandemic restrictions have played the role of equalizer, opening the door to new candidates for Parliament, and perhaps more democracy.
First LookBlessing in disguise: Arab women find tech jobs during pandemicWomen still face many challenges in the workforce across the Middle East and North Africa, which has the world's lowest rate of female labor participation. But as the pandemic shifts work online, some are finding new opportunities.
Rooftop farms in Jordan help Gazans reconnect with lost landRooftop hydroponics may be a far cry from the tilled fields of Gaza. But the act of farming still speaks to the soul of refugees in a camp in Jordan.
Fleeing the Taliban in the night, a family鈥檚 faith in peace waversAs more people die and thousands flee Taliban attacks in Afghanistan, the U.S. is criticizing the tactic of 鈥渇ighting while talking鈥� as 鈥渧ery risky.鈥�
Saudi dissidents target crown prince where it hurts: WashingtonDefying repression, Saudi factions including liberals, Islamists, Sunnis, Shiites, and former members of the military are uniting against the regime.
Ultimatum signals modest US goal in Iraq: Avoid defeatThe U.S. is wrestling with two competing goals in Iraq: a desire to halt America鈥檚 鈥渆ndless wars,鈥� while withdrawing on its own terms.
In divided Israel, desert town models a united front against virusIsrael has struggled to enlist the ultra-Orthodox community in the fight against COVID-19. A small-town mayor is being praised for her example.
The ExplainerTurkey stirring the pot? Why Armenians, Azeris are fighting again.People are dying again in Nagorno-Karabakh, a case study in old borders, older rivalries, and the ability of outside powers聽鈥� Turkey聽鈥� to meddle.
First LookOman's new sultan quietly carves Gulf nation's way forwardSultan Haitham succeeded his cousin, Sultan Qaboos, as ruler of Oman in January 2020. Since then, the new sultan has quietly taken steps to maintain Oman's role as a peacemaker for the region even as he navigates looming challenges.
History brought to life: Jordanians take a ride on the HejazFor Jordanians needing to escape, there鈥檚 a solution: taking a ride on the Ottoman-era Hejaz Railway. It鈥檚 more fun than a history book.
In Iran, outrage over patriarchy spurs changeIn Iran, people are expressing unusual anger at the low value placed on girls鈥� lives by a patriarchal elite.
Afghanistan: Taliban and government talk, but fighting feeds distrustWith peace and/or regime change in Afghanistan the prize, a long road ahead looms for negotiations in Qatar between Taliban and the government.
First LookBahrain, UAE sign diplomatic pacts with Israel at White HouseIsrael and the United States hope the agreements will mark a shift toward peace in the Middle East should other Arab nations follow suit. But the pacts do not address the Israel-Palestine conflict and analysts remain doubtful about broader shifts.
First LookIsraeli Jewish extremist handed 3 life terms for arson attackAmiram Ben-Uliel was found guilty of killing a Palestinian toddler and his parents in a 2015 firebombing attack on their home in the West Bank.
In superheated Arab world, there are AC haves and have-notsWith a late-summer heat wave shattering temperature records in the Arab world, access to cooling is being seen less as a luxury issue.
First LookBahrain normalizes ties with Israel in diplomatic win for TrumpThe Persian Gulf nation has agreed to normalize diplomatic, commercial, and security relations with Israel, a decision driven by the Trump administration's diplomatic efforts. The deal is seen as a success for the White House and Israel, and a setback for Palestinians.