Analysis On eve of Palestinian local elections, competition in short supply With many races unopposed and rivals excluded, the vote underscores a calibrated effort to contain dissent and prioritize stability. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
Two Iranians face US court in sanctions, arms trafficking cases: What to know The cases come as the United States pairs tighter sanctions with stepped-up enforcement targeting Iran’s global networks amid the war. Iran
Bahrain orders citizenship review as Iran war-linked crackdown escalates: What to know The move comes as Bahrain steps up arrests and tightens security measures amid the war, with authorities targeting alleged Iran-linked dissenters and considering additional citizenship revocations. Bahrain
Kuwait detains American journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin: What to know Kuwaiti authorities have been cracking down on alleged violators of the country's media law during the Iran war. Kuwait
Tribes in east Syria resort to their own judiciary over lack of trust in official courts Tribes in the northeastern Syrian province of Hasakah agreed to set up a tribal judiciary system as an alternative to the official judiciary affiliated with the Kurdish-led authorities running the area. Syria
US offers up to $10M reward for information on Hezbollah operative The United States is seeking information on the whereabouts of Salim Jamil Ayyash, who is wanted for the assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister. News Brief
Turkish court sentences former police chiefs over Armenian-Turkish journalist's murder More than two dozen suspects, including Istanbul's former police intelligence chief, were handed various sentences for their alleged roles in the 2007 murder of Hrant Dink. News Brief
Egyptian women’s access to judiciary still limited The Egyptian State Council approved the appointment of women as members to the council and the Public Prosecution office, in tandem with the launch of a social media campaign against a personal status draft law that activists say denies women’s rights to take control of their own decisions. Egypt
Will Egypt heed Sudan’s call to hand over fugitives linked to Bashir’s regime? During a visit to Cairo, Sudan's prime minister asked Egyptian officials to extradite exiled Sudanese officials who worked with the Omar al-Bashir regime. Sudanese. Egypt
Israel's foreign minister continues anti-ICC campaign in Russia In his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi presented his stand against the International Criminal Court probe, a renewed Iran deal and the Iranian presence in Syria. Israel
For Israelis, ICC decision hypocritical, politicized Families of the three Israeli youths kidnapped and killed in 2014 wonder why the ICC would not start with an investigation into these murders. Israel
Biden faces calls to lift Trump's controversial ICC sanctions The International Criminal Court’s investigation into potential war crimes committed by Israel and Hamas is looming over the Biden administration’s review of sanctions on the Hague-based tribunal. Palestine
Israeli leaders unite in slamming ICC prosecutor Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin harshly condemned the decision by International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to investigate Israel for alleged war crimes. Israel
Israel’s Ashkenazi on diplomatic blitz against ICC ruling Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi is busy calling counterparts worldwide, to convince them to object the ICC ruling on judging Israel for alleged war crimes. Israel
Netanyahu’s fate to be determined by COVID-19, not corruption trial Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fears failure in dealing with Israel's coronavirus pandemic even more than his corruption trial. Israel
Netanyahu pushes for evidentiary stage to be postponed until after election The legal defense team of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tries postponing the evidentiary stage of his trial until after the March 23 election. Israel
