Newsletter: Daily Briefing Israel’s Netanyahu to discuss Iran, Lebanon with Trump Oman proposes Hormuz management plan; Iraq's Zaidi pays first visit to Turkey; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
On eighth visit, Israel’s Netanyahu seeks to repair ties with Trump Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to focus on Iran in his Tuesday meeting with President Donald Trump, while the US leader is more likely to want to discuss Lebanon and Syria. United States
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran says it doesn’t seek to resume negotiations with Washington Sharaa says Syria seeks security deal with Israel; Red Sea shipping slows after Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Why US carriers unlikely to rush back to Beirut as Trump lifts Lebanon flight ban The White House is set to allow US airlines to fly to Beirut for the first time in decades, but experts say the move is more about politics than planes as Washington creates new openings for Lebanon's battered economy. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis Ahead of Trump meeting, Netanyahu lays groundwork for Israel to rejoin Iran war By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran warns Trump against seizing frozen assets By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Israel’s economy victim of political gridlock Without a new state budget, without new senior officials and without new reforms, Israel’s economy is one of the biggest victims of the current political chaos. Israel
Hamas intensifies Western dialogues to break political isolation Hamas has stepped up its meetings with US and EU officials in an attempt to break its isolation and emerge on the international diplomatic scene. Palestine
Will Israel get Republican/Democrat-style big parties? The fate of Israel’s next elections will be determined within the next few days by the alliances forged or not forged between the parties on Israel’s political right and left. Israel
Hamas must choose: Egypt or Iran? Angered that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh broke an agreement not to visit Iran, Egypt will make Hamas understand that it must choose sides and break with Iran if the movement hopes to survive. Palestine
Jordan feels Soleimani side effects The assassination of Iran’s top commander, Qasem Soleimani, has raised concerns in Jordan, with analysts fearing retaliation against US military assets in the kingdom. Iraq
Why Israel must end chief rabbi’s monopoly on Judaism The State of Israel must put a stop to the monopoly held by the Chief Rabbi on deciding who is Jewish, who can marry who and who can immigrate to the country. Israel
Israel’s defense minister not focused on defense Defense Minister Naftali Bennett has made several controversial decisions that evidently serve his political agenda but not Israel’s security. Israel
Netanyahu suddenly facing effective opposition The possibility of lifting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's immunity after the Knesset was dissolved is exactly the sort of move that an effective opposition is expected to promote. Israel
Hamas unfazed by Israel warnings As Israel is making economic concessions in the Gaza Strip, sporadic rockets continue to be launched from the enclave, prompting Israel to threaten to end all concessions. Palestine
Incitement against Russian-Israelis resurges in election campaign As the elections approach, ultra-Orthodox leaders are accusing Israelis who immigrated from Russia and Ukraine of coming to the country to weaken their political force. Israel
US withdrawal from Iraq is Israel’s worst-case scenario The leaked letter published this week about the United States considering withdrawing from Iraq and Syria generated great concern within the Israeli security establishment. Iraq
How Israel is feeding fire of US-Iran escalation Instead of stoking the fire and congratulating US President Donald Trump over the killing of Iran’s Qasem Soleimani, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should look at the larger picture. Palestine