Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Middle East economic outlook hinges on vaccinations

A nurse stands by the CIRA-03 robot prototype built as part of a self-funded project to assist physicians in running tests on suspected COVID-19 coronavirus patients.

Week in Review | Egypt | Jul 30, 2021

A Hezbollah flag flutters on the Lebanese side of the border fence with Israel, near the northern Israeli settlement of Shtula, July 20, 2021.

Israel weighs risks, options for dealing with Hezbollah’s precise missiles

Ben Caspit | Israel | Jul 30, 2021

Tunisian lawmaker arrested after Facebook posts criticizing Saied

Al-Monitor Staff | Tunisia | Jul 31, 2021

Top Sunni cleric laments Iran's discrimination against minorities

Iranian boys ride their bicycles in Adimi village in Hamoon wetland near the Zabol town in southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, bordering Afghanistan, Feb. 2, 2015.

Al-Monitor Staff | Iran | Jul 30, 2021

Netanyahu lays out plan to regain power

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a Health Ministry-organized appreciation ceremony for health system personnel and partner agencies for their contribution during the coronavirus pandemic, Jerusalem. June 6, 2021.

Mazal Mualem | Israel | Jul 30, 2021

Is Tunisia’s fragile democracy under threat?

The Tunisian army barricades the parliament building in the capital, Tunis, on July 26, 2021.

Mohamed Ali Ltifi | Tunisia | Jul 30, 2021

FEATURED PODCAST

Nile Dam talks may be ‘in a lot of trouble,’ says Samuel Ramani

On the Middle East with Andrew Parasiliti and Amberin Zaman | Jul 28, 2021

FEATURED PODCAST

NSO officials comment on Pegasus spyware affair: We are self-regulated on right for privacy, transparency

On Israel with Ben Caspit | Jul 26, 2021

Insights

Exclusive insight and analysis from our trusted and independent authors writing from and about the region.

Tunisian military forces guard the area around the parliament building, following protests in reaction to a move by the president last night to suspend the parliament and dismiss the prime minister, Tunis, Tunisia, July 26, 2021.

Fending off 'coup' claims, Tunisian president announces anti-corruption drive

Tunisian President Kais Saied claims to have overwhelming public support after ousting the government, but critics warn against authoritarian's return.

Stephen Quillen | North Africa | Jul 31, 2021

An undated image of Liberian flagged tanker MT Mercer Street.

Two reported dead in attack on Israeli-operated ship near Oman

Al-Monitor Staff | Iran | Jul 30, 2021

Will Erdogan’s Afghan gambit pay off in Washington?

Semih Idiz | Turkey | Jul 30, 2021

Egypt seeks rapprochement with Senegal in Nile dam crisis ahead of its AU presidency

George Mikhail | Egypt | Jul 30, 2021

Tunisian President Kais Saied delivers a speech following the launch of Russia's Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan carrying 38 foreign satellites among them Tunisia's first satellite Challenge-1, at Telnet telecommunications group in the capital Tunis on March 22, 2021.

Tunisian presidency fires head of state TV, other top officials

Al-Monitor Staff | North Africa | Jul 30, 2021

Fighting between government, rebels intensifies in Syria's Daraa

Al-Monitor Staff | Syria | Jul 30, 2021

Blinken: Iran nuclear talks ‘cannot go on indefinitely’

Al-Monitor Staff | Iran | Jul 29, 2021

News

Quick reporting to keep you up to date on the latest events in the Middle East.

Israel's Raz Hershko (blue) and Saudi Arabia's Tahani Alqahtani compete in the judo women's +78kg elimination round bout during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on July 30, 2021.

Saudi judoka earns praise for facing Israeli opponent at Tokyo Olympics

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Jul 30, 2021

Palestinian killed by Israeli troops during funeral of boy shot by IDF

Al-Monitor Staff | Palestine | Jul 30, 2021

Tunisia's president names new interior minister as critics slam 'coup'

Al-Monitor Staff | Tunisia | Jul 30, 2021

Poll finds Americans split on Biden's handling of Gaza war

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Jul 30, 2021

Volunteers help to extinguish a forest fire in the Qubayyat area of northern Lebanon's remote Akkar region on July 29, 2021.

Forest fires rage in Lebanon, Syria and Turkey

Al-Monitor Staff | Lebanon | Jul 30, 2021

Palestinian municipal employee killed by Israeli gunfire in contentious West Bank town

Al-Monitor Staff | Palestine | Jul 28, 2021

One dead following building collapse near Cairo

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Jul 28, 2021

Turkish soldier in Iraq killed fighting PKK

Al-Monitor Staff | Iraq | Jul 27, 2021

Egypt's Azhar Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb delivers a speech during the Founders Memorial event in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 4, 2019.

Al-Azhar sheikh demands 'serious action' on climate change

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Jul 27, 2021

Israeli woman who crossed into Syria handed 8-month jail sentence

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Jul 27, 2021

Sudanese judoka refuses to face Israeli opponent

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Jul 26, 2021

US and Iran to play in basketball at Tokyo Olympics

Adam Lucente | News Brief | Jul 26, 2021

Culture

A vibrant tapestry of art, culture, music, food and history that fosters a sense of regional shared identities.

Egypt plans another Pharaonic parade, this time in Luxor

Salwa Samir | Culture | Jul 18, 2021

Remains of an early whale from 40-million years ago lies on the desert pavement of Wadi El-Hutan, 100 kilometers south of Cairo. About 400 skeletons of ancient water life: mammals, reptiles have been identified in what used to be an ancient shoreline.

Ancient fossilized fish found in Egypt that survived in hot waters

Alaa Omran | Culture | Jun 16, 2021

Egyptian Museum of Antiquities gets makeover to compete for tourists

Shahira Amin | Culture | Jun 13, 2021

Videos

Explore social and cultural context of the Middle East as seen, experienced and understood by those who live there.

Find all of our videos on YouTube and subscribe to our channel for the latest.

Middle East economic outlook hinges on vaccinations

Israel weighs risks, options for dealing with Hezbollah’s precise missiles

Tunisian lawmaker arrested after Facebook posts criticizing Saied

Top Sunni cleric laments Iran's discrimination against minorities

Netanyahu lays out plan to regain power

Is Tunisia’s fragile democracy under threat?

Saudi Arabia to require vaccination proof for foreign tourists

Senator urges aid freeze to Egypt amid human rights abuses

As Palestinian residents of Silwan face evictions, large public artwork protests

Republican senator's hold on US funding to Palestinian territories remains in place

FEATURED PODCAST

Nile Dam talks may be ‘in a lot of trouble,’ says Samuel Ramani

FEATURED PODCAST

NSO officials comment on Pegasus spyware affair: We are self-regulated on right for privacy, transparency

Insights

Fending off 'coup' claims, Tunisian president announces anti-corruption drive

Two reported dead in attack on Israeli-operated ship near Oman

Will Erdogan’s Afghan gambit pay off in Washington?

Egypt seeks rapprochement with Senegal in Nile dam crisis ahead of its AU presidency

Tunisian presidency fires head of state TV, other top officials

Fighting between government, rebels intensifies in Syria's Daraa

Blinken: Iran nuclear talks ‘cannot go on indefinitely’

News

Saudi judoka earns praise for facing Israeli opponent at Tokyo Olympics

Palestinian killed by Israeli troops during funeral of boy shot by IDF

Tunisia's president names new interior minister as critics slam 'coup'

Poll finds Americans split on Biden's handling of Gaza war

Forest fires rage in Lebanon, Syria and Turkey

Palestinian municipal employee killed by Israeli gunfire in contentious West Bank town

One dead following building collapse near Cairo

Turkish soldier in Iraq killed fighting PKK

Al-Azhar sheikh demands 'serious action' on climate change

Israeli woman who crossed into Syria handed 8-month jail sentence

Sudanese judoka refuses to face Israeli opponent

US and Iran to play in basketball at Tokyo Olympics

Culture

Egypt plans another Pharaonic parade, this time in Luxor

Ancient fossilized fish found in Egypt that survived in hot waters

Egyptian Museum of Antiquities gets makeover to compete for tourists

Videos

The Takeaway by Al-Monitor for July 21, 2021

Fire at Nasiriyah coronavirus hospital

Middle East Minute for July 16, 2021

The Takeaway for July 14, 2021

Turkish airstrikes ignite Assyrian lands, villagers organize firefighting response

Middle East Minute for July 9, 2021