Former US envoy: Syria may be central to Trump-Netanyahu meeting US President Donald Trump has hinted at creating safe zones in Syria in a draft executive order and in conversations with the Saudi king, while the former US ambassador to Israel says Syria will likely be a "central topic" in Trump’s upcoming meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Saudi Arabia
Saudis hopeful but wary about Trump Saudi Arabia is hopeful in regard to the Trump administration's views on Iran and closer counterterrorism and military cooperation, but remains wary on other policy issues. Gulf
Turkey angry over Trump’s 'Muslim ban' Could the new US president’s executive order barring the citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States further undermine relations between Ankara and Washington? Turkey
Questions surround Egypt's plan to scrap subsidies for cash transfers Egyptian officials hope direct cash payments to the poor will be more efficient than current subsidies, but an economist wonders whether the nation has the necessary database for such a project to work. Egypt
Moscow offers stage for Palestinian talks All parties involved in Palestinian-Israeli peace talks must put long-term achievements ahead of immediate gains if the problems are ever to be solved — starting with reconciliation among Palestinian factions. Palestine
Why Rafsanjani’s real lasting legacy in Iran isn’t in politics While long considered a pillar of Iran’s post-revolutionary political establishment, Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani’s most lasting legacy is more likely in higher education. Iran
Why Turkey-Greece islands confrontation is more than it seems Turkey sees a chance to offset its withering hope of being invited to join the European Union by working on relationships elsewhere. Turkey
French FM sends clear message to Trump from Tehran France’s foreign minister, during a two-day trip to Iran, emphasizes the importance of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, while also saying France is studying the reports of a Jan. 29 Iranian missile test. United States
The real reason Erdoganists still love Trump despite 'Muslim ban' One wonders why all this persistent sympathy for US President Donald Trump exists in Turkey’s pro-Erdogan universe. There are two answers. Turkey
Have GCC countries turned their backs on Jordan? Despite reform efforts, the Jordanian economy continues to underperform, and foreign assistance to fill in gaps and counter this trend is growing scarce. Gulf
Could former PM's tweets bring down Netanyahu? Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak doesn’t understand that Israeli politics have changed in the years he was gone, and that no one in the Labor Party will welcome him with open arms after he abandoned them. Israel
Is Syria any closer to political solution after Astana talks? It remains unclear whether the Astana talks were a success or a failure, amid intransigence by the Syrian government and the opposition to keep implementing their own agendas. Syria
Iraqi teachers unsafe in own classrooms The Iraqi prime minister has called on the security forces to protect schoolteachers from attacks by their students while the parliament considers penalizing crimes against educators. Iraq
New Palestinian law to regulate organ transplant market Once it passes, a new Palestinian law on organ donations is expected to help the Health Ministry treat the growing number of patients in urgent need of organ transplants. Palestine
Russia rushes to fill possible void left by Trump in Middle East The Palestinian ambassador to Moscow tells Al-Monitor that Russia considers the Middle East its vital sphere of interest. Near East
Netanyahu, master of 'alternative facts' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long made use of "alternative facts" when dealing with settlement construction and building by Israeli Arabs and Palestinians. Palestine
