Curfew extended in Syria’s Homs following Bedouin-Alawite clashes: What to know A precarious calm returned to Syria’s central Homs province on Monday following a day of violent unrest triggered by the murder of a couple from a Bedouin tribe in the town of Zaydal. Syria
Analysis As Trump hosts Sharaa, Israel cautiously seeks Syria security deal Despite optimism in September, Israel and Syria still have not finalized an American-mediated security agreement. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Exclusive PKK leader Ocalan appeals to Iraqi Kurdistan president for help in Turkey peace talks In a letter shared exclusively with Al-Monitor, the jailed PKK leader asks Barzani to help advance negotiations aimed at ending decades of conflict with Turkey. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Turkey’s spy chief in Damascus as Israel, Syria weigh new security map Ibrahim Kalin’s visit comes as Israel presses Syria on a buffer zone plan and Turkey frets over Kurdish autonomy. Turkey
Analysis Will Israel’s potential Syria security deal intensify its rivalry with Turkey? By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Israel threatens 'intense operation' near Lebanon as Qatar hosts Gaza talks Israel’s war cabinet is set to convene Thursday evening to discuss the escalation in the north with Hezbollah. Israel
Analysis Why are Golan Heights Druze protesting Israel's wind turbines project? The state-backed project has ignited strong objections by the Druze in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, who fear for their health and for their rural way of life. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Israeli ministers call for change in controversial Nationality Law Paying tribute to the Druze community and its contribution to the country, Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman called to change the controversial Nationality Law, which anchors the Jewish character of the State of Israel. Israel
Mixed feelings in Israel over first Druze city Residents of Maghar would have preferred Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked to announce it as a new Arab city, and not as the first Druze city in Israel. Israel
Druze woman appointed Jewish Agency representative in US Many within the Druze community are shaking their heads following news that former Knesset member Gadeer Kamal Mreeh has agreed to serve as emissary of the Jewish Agency. Israel
Will Netanyahu re-create Arab Affairs Ministry? Consideration linked to coalition talks and to the importance of the Arab constituency might persuade Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to re-create the Ministry for Minorities Affairs. Israel
Trump paves way for Israel to expand settlements in Golan Shortly after US President Donald Trump decided to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights, Israel announced a plan to build 30,000 new housing units for settlers in the area. Palestine
Nationality Law leads some Druze to re-evaluate identity While Druze soldiers and generals in the Israel Defense Forces have taken the lead in protesting against the discriminatory aspects of the law defining Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, many Israeli Druze are saying the controversial legislation came as no surprise. Israel
Palestinian town in Israel shaken by Jerusalem killings The three Palestinian citizens of Israel who were killed by Israeli police following their attack against Al-Aqsa Mosque that left two Israeli soldiers dead hail from a Muslim-majority town where relatives and the community are trying to preserve the relative calm. Palestine
Help comes with dangerous strings for Syrian Druze town The Golan Heights town of Hadar has been suffering essentially siege conditions throughout the Syrian war, surrounded by the warring factions and unfriendly neighbors and manipulated by aid from both the regime and Israel. Israel
