Exclusive Senior Houthi official says Bab el Mandab closure an option if any Gulf states join war Houthi Deputy Information Minister Mohammed Mansour also said the strait could be closed “should the aggression against Iran and Lebanon escalate.” By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Analysis Israel urges US escalation against Iran, possible ground invasion Israel has made clear it will not deploy ground forces to Iran, but would strongly support US military action if the Trump administration chooses to proceed. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Dermer’s return puts Netanyahu’s 'brain' at center of US-Israel calculus Dermer, former Israeli strategic affairs minister, is considered one of Netanyahu’s closest associates, having worked together for over two decades. Israel
Settler violence spike exposes Israeli government rift with military Knesset member Ram Ben-Barak of centrist Yesh Atid told Al-Monitor that the government must permit the use of administrative detention for extremist settlers to curb the violence. Israel
Exclusive Israel suspects Trump betting on 3 Iran officials, including Ghalibaf, to end war By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis Meet Bagher Zolghadr, a hard-line IRGC veteran now Iran's security chief By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
In New York Jewish communities, similarities to Israel's virus struggle Israeli media are covering the conflict over coronavirus measures in New York's Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods, and the issue bears resemblance to Israel's virus situation. Israel
Would Mideast leaders prefer Trump or Biden to deal with Iran? Whoever wins the election, a new Iran deal would require a regional consensus and some tough diplomacy with Putin. United States
Israel will not oppose US sale of 'certain weapon systems' to United Arab Emirates The announcement likely refers to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. United Arab Emirates
Trump administration again slashes refugee admissions to new low The announcement followed Trump's attack on refugees during a campaign rally in Minnesota. United States
Trump's Supreme Court pick represented controversial Iranian group Amy Coney Barrett was part of a legal team that represented the National Council of Resistance of Iran, which had previously been designated by the United States as a terrorist organization. Originals
Iran president says 'no' to pre-election deal with Trump Despite an official line of indifference toward US election results, Iranian authorities are closely monitoring the race from Tehran. Iran
Biden criticizes Turkish role in Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict The Democratic presidential nominee also said Trump should work to de-escalate the war in the Caucus. Turkey has come up in the US presidential race before. Turkey
Trump mum on refugee admissions despite pleas from Congress The administration has drastically reduced the number of refugees resettled annually in the United States. United States
Why rejoining Iran nuclear deal isn’t so easy, even if Biden wins A new Iran deal should consider the “gold standard” energy pact by the UAE and include a regional dialogue on the peaceful use of nuclear power. United Arab Emirates
Intel: Menendez opposes resolution to immunize Sudan from terror lawsuits The Trump administration is looking to unilaterally take Sudan off the US terror sponsors' list amid a logjam over the issue in Congress, jeopardizing victims' compensation, in an apparent effort to get Sudan to recognize Israel ahead of the Nov. 3 US election. Israel
Senate Democrats say Trump administration policy has empowered Iran The State Department also announced new sanctions on Iran including on the judge who purportedly ordered the execution of famed wrestler Navid Afkari. Congress
An open letter to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Yossi Beilin, who participated in the back-channel negotiations leading the 1993 Oslo Accord, pens an open letter to the Palestinian president calling on him to stay focused on making peace. Palestine
