Israel’s Gur Hassidic leader picks next Knesset representative

With Knesset member Yaakov Litzman stepping down as parliamentary head of the Gur Hassidic sect, its rabbi has picked his successor.

Israel

Palestinian flag raises controversy in Israeli universities

Right-wing Knesset members are advancing a bill that would prevent universities and other state-funded institutions from flying the Palestinian flag.

Israel

Trench divides Syrian armed groups in Idib

The Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is digging a trench to isolate its stronghold in Idlib from the Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army-held areas in Aleppo countryside, which will escalate the humanitarian crisis and increase the suffering of millions of Syrian displaced in northwestern Syria.

Syria

Sudan military coup leaders tighten grip ahead of dialogue with civilians

The leaders of the coup in Sudan are gearing up for direct talks with civilians for the first time since their seizure of power about eight months ago, a few days after lifting the state of emergency in the country.

Sudan

Lebanon's opposition lawmakers start work in chaotic first session

In their first session, Lebanon's newly elected opposition legislators found themselves immediately swamped in the quagmire of Lebanese politics.

Lebanon

Iraqi border guards shoot down parasail in drug bust

The operator may have fled to Kuwait as Iraq’s drug war rages on.

Iraq

Israel’s government faces survival test with settlement bill

Announcing that the renewal of regulations on Israeli civil law in West Bank settlements is a test for the coalition's viability, Justice Minister Gideon Saar pushes his own government into a dangerous political spiral.

Israel

Turkish consumer inflation soars to 73.5% 

Turkey’s May consumer inflation came in lower than expected, but newly announced gas and electricity hikes bode a renewed resurge in prices across the board.

Turkey

US lawmakers push sanctions for Syria's Tadamon massacre

Reps. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) called on the Biden administration to sanction four Syrians linked to the 2013 murder of 41 unarmed civilians.

Syria

Pakistan’s new premier looks to Turkey for political, economic boost 

Shahbaz Sharif, who needs international economic and political support to stabilize his coalition government, is busy making deals with Ankara.

Turkey

Polish president visits Egypt for the first time in decades

The Polish president visited Egypt recently in the first such visit since 1992, which comes as the Russian war on Ukraine rages on.

Egypt

Analysis

Limits on Iran’s nuclear program are needed more than ever 

Two recent IAEA reports indicate Iran has enough highly enriched uranium to produce material for a nuclear weapon in mere weeks.

By Mark Fitzpatrick