Netanyahu threatens to sue Haaretz for reporting UAE warned Israel of Oct. 7 attack The Emirati president reportedly warned that a planned attack could cause bloodshed, destabilize the region and threaten the Abraham Accords. Israel
Brent crude sails past $100 as Middle East war intensifies The Iran war escalated this week as Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked four southern Saudi Arabian cities and oil facilities. 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
Lebanon says at least 12 killed in Israeli strikes as tensions rise in south The escalation in southern Lebanon casts a shadow over upcoming Israel-Lebanon talks in Rome. Lebanon
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 Playing for time: Despite US pressure, Israel stalls Lebanon talks until after election By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Will 9/11 lawsuit vote sabotage US arms sales to Riyadh? The Obama administration has offered to sell Saudi Arabia a record $115 billion in weapons. Does the Sept. 9 vote to allow the families of terrorist victims to sue the kingdom mean an end to business as usual? Saudi Arabia
Erdogan’s 'win-win' on the world stage Lately, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been a master poker player with global leaders: He not only plays his own cards well, but he can also see the cards in the hands of others. Syria
US election 2016: Clinton's plan to have Trump hand her the election isn't working Here's what happened on the campaign trail the week of Sept. 5. Russia
How US cash payments story played out in Iran While Washington’s $1.7 billion payment to Iran caused controversy in the US, it was a non-story in Iran. United States
Why are Iranian web trolls targeting Malia Obama? In Iran, prominent actors and sportsmen urge netizens to join a campaign to block trolls as online hate appears to increasingly spiral out of control. United States
Will Israeli-Palestinian conflict escalate in December? Both Israel and the Palestinians are using the period of international deadlock at the end of 2016 to consolidate their support bases instead of advancing dialogue initiatives. Palestine
Does Iranian law green light encounters with US warships? The legal arguments underpinning US and Iranian views on the Law of the Sea should not be overlooked as tensions once again mount over the passage of US military vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. United States
Can Congress stop Obama from making payments to Iran? Congress wants to rein in the White House's legal settlements slush fund. It's a little late for that. United States
Elusive US-Russia deal on Syria may again prove out of reach US Secretary of State John Kerry had been expected to travel to Geneva to try to finalize a deal with Russia for a nationwide cease-fire in Syria this week, but hopes for concluding the accord appear once again to have been lowered. Syria
Ultra-Orthodox arms dealer faces extradition to US Israel's Supreme Court has rejected Eli Cohen's appeal to stop his extradition to the United States for violating sanctions against Iran after a long history of evading prosecution for such offenses. Israel
Will Turkey be dragged deeper into Syria? US military support for Kurdish forces pulled Turkey into Syria, but the IS factor will now determine whether or not Turkey gets bogged down. Syria
Turkey expands assault on independent media The Erdogan government’s crackdown on "enemy within" includes free press; Iran and Russia may gain from strains in US-Turkey ties; Aleppo key to "undivided Syria"; Iran likely to deepen ties with Russia over Syria. Syria