West Bank olive harvest begins amid settler attacks on Palestinians, groves Between 80,000 and 100,000 Palestinian families in the West Bank rely on the olive harvest for primary or secondary sources of income, according to the United Nations. Palestine
Culture Algeria moves to restore death penalty for arson: What to know President Abdelmadjid Tebboune wants a return to executions after another summer of devastating wild fires, but rights groups say the amendment passed by parliament is problematic. Algeria
Israel, Turkey, Iran offer aid as Venezuela’s 2 quakes kill at least 188 Iran, Turkey and Israel were among the first countries to offer assistance to earthquake-hit Venezuela despite their varying diplomatic relationships with Caracas. Turkey
Interview UAE official says opening Hormuz integral to any Iran deal, describes infrastructure damage 'manageable' Abdulla Balalaa, UAE assistant minister of foreign affairs for energy and sustainability, spoke to Al-Monitor about the situation in the Gulf along with the UAE's focus on promoting privatization in the water sector and the 2026 UN Water Conference. Abdulla Balalaa UAE assistant minister of foreign affairs for energy and sustainability
Analysis Iran’s mismanagement in focus as fires ravage 25-million-year-old forests By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Why Lebanon’s wildfires risk is becoming more common Lebanon’s recent forest fires have raised concern about the ability to respond to extreme weather events as a result of climate change. Lebanon
How much will it cost for Lebanon to reforest after wildfires? Lebanon’s Civil Defense fought, with limited resources, a series of wildfires that ravaged the country. Lebanon
Locals lobby to keep their valley green in South Lebanon The residents of Wadi Zibqine struggle to keep a road from destroying one of the last green spots in South Lebanon. Lebanon
Would Israel limit use of plastic disposable tableware? Israel's Finance Ministry is considering taxation of disposable dishes and tableware to curb the enormous use of plastic in the country. Israel
Beirut municipality fails, again, to preserve green spaces The destruction of one of Beirut’s last green spaces, as well as the eviction of several startups, points to the government's disregard of the public sector. Lebanon
The teenage activists bringing the climate crisis to Middle East In a country where neighboring wars and local political problems affect daily life, these Lebanese activists are hoping to raise awareness about the dangers of climate change. Lebanon
Why Turkey's rappers can no longer stay silent In a 15-minute-long song aptly titled "#ICannotBeSilent," Turkish rappers take turns expressing their woes on issues such as justice, freedom, environment, abuse and exile. Turkey
Why Lebanon's largest artificial lake is turning green Lake Qaraoun suffers from industrial pollution from the factories on its banks and agricultural pesticides and no project, local or international, seems to stop it. Lebanon
Lebanon's green turtles threatened by new resort The Orange House Project, an environmental NGO, has been trying to ensure that turtles reach the sea after their eggs are hatched, but its job gets more difficult every year. Lebanon
Environmental problems provoke protests on all fronts in Turkey The Justice and Development Party government’s policy of ignoring environmental concerns cause tensions in Turkey. Turkey
Lebanon’s air pollution nears alarming level Under new austerity measures and budget cuts, Lebanon’s Ministry of Environment was forced to close its air monitoring stations across the country, raising the concerns of experts amid high levels of pollution. Lebanon
Tel Aviv’s got scooter mania The Tel Aviv municipality is trying to bring order to the chaos unleashed across the urban landscape by the electric scooter craze. Israel
