Israel, Morocco agree to exchange ambassadors, open embassies The move will mark the first time Morocco and Israel have exchanged ambassadors. Morocco
Analysis Why Saudi Arabia's balancing act with US, Iran, Houthis risks collapse Houthi rebels escalated their attacks on Tuesday, triggering alerts around the holy city of Mecca, Taif and the Red Sea port city of Jeddah. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Meet Wesley Hunt, Trump's pick for ambassador to Saudi Arabia The Texas Republican previously served for two years in the kingdom as a diplomatic liaison officer. Saudi Arabia
Analysis Israel braces for Iran attack as Trump’s economic squeeze on Tehran intensifies Skeptical about the effectiveness of the American economic blockade on Tehran to weaken the regime, Israel is preparing for the possibility that Iran could decide to strike the Jewish state during the upcoming high holidays. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis Could Trump’s oil push in Venezuela upend OPEC’s energy order? By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis As Israeli settler attacks mount, Trump avoids public pressure on Netanyahu By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Low chances of success for Abbas’ alternative to US peace plan Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas proposed his vision for a peace process with Israel as an alternative to the United States' deal of the century. Palestine
Egypt treads cautiously in response to Trump's deal of the century Egypt is caught between a rock and a hard place in supporting Palestinians and not rejecting the US peace plan, being careful to sustain good ties with the United States. Palestine
Democrats call on Trump to sanction Libyan warlord Khalifa Hifter Democrats are wary that the Donald Trump administration may be too friendly with Libya’s Khalifa Hifter, so they’re calling for sanctions. Turkey
Peace with the region is not a peace plan The Trump peace plan is flawed because it has more to do with building a coalition against Iran rather than with promoting peace between Israelis and the Palestinians. Saudi Arabia
Palestinians tell Trump, Israel: We are not for sale The Trump administration boasts of a generous economic framework offered to the Palestinians, while in truth it hopes the private sector will come up with the funds. Palestine
Trump budget holds Palestinian aid hostage to progress on peace plan The Donald Trump administration is doubling down on its bid to cut Palestinian aid by tying it to congressional funding for the president’s Middle East peace plan. Palestine
Pentagon slashes funding for Islamic State fight The United States would see a diminished budget in its ability to fight Islamic State militants in 2021 if the new budget revealed by the Trump administration is approved. United States
Europe worries as Trump seems to lose interest in new Iran deal Europeans with embassies on the ground disagree with the belief by Donald Trump administration officials that the Iranian regime is on the brink of collapse, and that the administration can wait for Iran to surrender to a long US wish list. United States
Intel: Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancee to attend Trump’s State of the Union address Jamal Khashoggi’s widow will be watching President Donald Trump as he discusses his record in the Middle East at his annual State of the Union address on Tuesday. United States
Trump’s Mideast peace plan puts heat on Biden, Buttigieg ahead of Iowa caucuses Pro-Palestinian activists are urging Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg to push for a cut Israeli military aid in the crucial days before the Iowa caucuses. Palestine
White House sends Congress mixed messages on Iran war votes President Donald Trump told lawmakers to “vote with their hearts” on war powers legislation, but the White House is playing hardball with Republican defectors. Iraq
Rival Palestinian factions unite against US 'deal of century' Hamas and Islamic Jihad officials attended an emergency Palestinian leadership meeting in Ramallah to discuss how to respond to the US administration's peace plan, and another meeting is planned this week in the Gaza Strip. Palestine
