Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Erdogan’s meeting with Biden more spin than substance

US President Joe Biden (R) speaks with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan prior to a plenary session of a NATO summit at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) headquarters in Brussels, on June 14, 2021.

Amberin Zaman | Turkey | Jun 14, 2021

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid attend a traditional group photo with minsters of the new Israeli government on June 14, 2021 in Jerusalem.

Lapid vows to mend ties with Democrats, change 'reckless' Netanyahu policies

Al-Monitor Staff | Israel | Jun 14, 2021

Supporters of Iranian presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi hold posters of him during an election campaign rally in the capital, Tehran, on June 10, 2021.

Iran's Reformists asked to put forward presidential candidate

Al-Monitor Staff | Iran | Jun 14, 2021

Turkey’s religious agency plans to launch children's TV channel

Nazlan Ertan | Turkey | Jun 13, 2021

Participation in Israeli coalition government opens new chapter for Arab parties

Head of Israel's right-wing Yamina party Naftali Bennett (L) chats with Mansour Abbas, head of the conservative Islamic Raam party, during a special session to vote on a new government at the Knesset, Jerusalem, June 13, 2021.

Afif Abu Much | Israel | Jun 14, 2021

Egyptian Museum of Antiquities gets makeover to compete for tourists

Shahira Amin | Culture | Jun 13, 2021

FEATURED PODCAST

Were the divas of Egypt’s roaring 20’s also pioneers of Egyptian feminism? A conversation with Raphael Cormack

On the Middle East with Andrew Parasiliti and Amberin Zaman | Jun 14, 2021

FEATURED PODCAST

Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert decries Netanyahu’s 'shameful' behavior as Bennett sworn in

On Israel with Ben Caspit | Jun 14, 2021

Insights

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

This picture shows a view of Aswan from the Old Cataract Hotel overlooking the Nile River in the southern city of Aswan, Egypt, Jan. 3, 2021.

Will new Red Sea airport spark development on Egypt-Sudan border?

With the opening of a new international airport in the Red Sea, residents of the disputed Halayeb and Shalateen region are hoping the government will step up development efforts.

Muhammed Magdy | Egypt | Jun 15, 2021

Members of Egypt's banned Muslim Brotherhood are seen inside a glass dock during their trial in the capital Cairo on July 28, 2018.

Egypt's top court upholds death sentences of 12 Brotherhood figures

Al-Monitor Staff | Egypt | Jun 14, 2021

Migrants found dead off Yemen's Red Sea coast after boat capsizes

Al-Monitor Staff | Yemen | Jun 14, 2021

Iran's presidential hopefuls promise big on economy, but can they deliver?

Bijan Khajehpour | Iran | Jun 14, 2021

New Foreign Minister Yair Lapid greeted by outgoing Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi at the Foreign Ministry, Jerusalem, June 14 2021.

Israel’s Lapid enthusiastic to take on foreign affairs portfolio

Rina Bassist | Israel | Jun 14, 2021

Israeli bombs ignite pesticide stores, spew dangerous chemicals in Gaza

Mervat Ouf | Palestine | Jun 14, 2021

Residents of Alexandria district face eviction by Egyptian state

A correspondent in Egypt | Egypt | Jun 14, 2021

News

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

A picture taken on Feb. 6, 2020, shows some of the 35 Russian orphans linked to the Islamic State group, arriving at the de-facto Syrian Kurdish capital of Qamishli after being transferred from al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria.

Canadian parliament calls on government to repatriate citizens from northeast Syria

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Jun 15, 2021

Saudi Arabia allows women to register for hajj without male guardian

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Jun 14, 2021

Israeli government receives congratulations from White House, Congress, UAE

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Jun 14, 2021

UN expert calls on UAE to release prominent human rights defenders

Al-Monitor Staff | United Arab Emirates | Jun 11, 2021

Al Jazeera cyberattacked ahead of show on Palestinian 'resistance'

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Jun 10, 2021

Middle East countries set to benefit from Biden’s global vaccine initiative

Adam Lucente | U.S. | Jun 10, 2021

Israeli government approves timing for controversial flag march in Jerusalem

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Jun 10, 2021

Syria rejects US secretary of state's comments on Golan Heights

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Jun 10, 2021

Syria reports new airstrikes from 'Israeli enemy'

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Jun 9, 2021

Israeli lawmakers to vote on anti-Netanyahu government Sunday

Al-Monitor Staff | Israel | Jun 8, 2021

Iran and Russia sign visa waiver agreement

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Jun 8, 2021

Islamic State suicide bombing kills two in Libya

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Jun 7, 2021

Culture

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

A sparrow perches in a recess along a wall adorned with reliefs at the Mortuary Temple of the 20th dynasty Pharaoh Ramses III at Medinet Habu, on the west bank of the Nile outside Luxor, Egypt, April 10, 2021.

Egypt traces relics of Ramses III back to Saudi Arabia

Hagar Hosny | Culture | Jun 6, 2021

Ramadan series revives debate on verbal divorce, marital rape in Egypt

A correspondent in Egypt | Culture | May 23, 2021

An image of the Cairo citadel, 1858-1890.

Documentaries explore Cairo’s old neighborhoods, alleyways

Hani Sameer | Culture | May 23, 2021

Videos

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

Erdogan’s meeting with Biden more spin than substance

Lapid vows to mend ties with Democrats, change 'reckless' Netanyahu policies

Iran's Reformists asked to put forward presidential candidate

Turkey’s religious agency plans to launch children's TV channel

Participation in Israeli coalition government opens new chapter for Arab parties

Egyptian Museum of Antiquities gets makeover to compete for tourists

Israeli inauguration as stormy as forecast

Who is Ebrahim Raisi, the front-runner in Iran's presidential race?

Netanyahu era ends as Naftali Bennett sworn-in as Israel’s new PM

The reform challenge: What Oman (and others) might learn from Egypt

FEATURED PODCAST

Were the divas of Egypt’s roaring 20’s also pioneers of Egyptian feminism? A conversation with Raphael Cormack

FEATURED PODCAST

Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert decries Netanyahu’s 'shameful' behavior as Bennett sworn in

Insights

Will new Red Sea airport spark development on Egypt-Sudan border?

Egypt's top court upholds death sentences of 12 Brotherhood figures

Migrants found dead off Yemen's Red Sea coast after boat capsizes

Iran's presidential hopefuls promise big on economy, but can they deliver?

Israel’s Lapid enthusiastic to take on foreign affairs portfolio

Israeli bombs ignite pesticide stores, spew dangerous chemicals in Gaza

Residents of Alexandria district face eviction by Egyptian state

News

Canadian parliament calls on government to repatriate citizens from northeast Syria

Saudi Arabia allows women to register for hajj without male guardian

Israeli government receives congratulations from White House, Congress, UAE

UN expert calls on UAE to release prominent human rights defenders

Al Jazeera cyberattacked ahead of show on Palestinian 'resistance'

Middle East countries set to benefit from Biden’s global vaccine initiative

Israeli government approves timing for controversial flag march in Jerusalem

Syria rejects US secretary of state's comments on Golan Heights

Syria reports new airstrikes from 'Israeli enemy'

Israeli lawmakers to vote on anti-Netanyahu government Sunday

Iran and Russia sign visa waiver agreement

Islamic State suicide bombing kills two in Libya

Culture

Egypt traces relics of Ramses III back to Saudi Arabia

Ramadan series revives debate on verbal divorce, marital rape in Egypt

Documentaries explore Cairo’s old neighborhoods, alleyways

Videos

Gazans flock to beaches despite pollution disaster

Israel forms new government as Netanyahu fights to stay in power

Middle East Minute for June 4, 2021

Middle East Minute for May 28, 2021

The Takeaway for May 26, 2021

Middle East Minute for May 21, 2021