Middle East crises loom in background as NATO leaders gather in Washington While this year's summit is expected to focus largely on the ongoing war in Ukraine, Iran's military support for Russia and Turkey's strategic balancing act with Moscow are expected to weigh on NATO leaders gathered in Washington. Washington Pulse
US, Israel hold second virtual meeting on Rafah Biden administration officials have denied offering to green-light an Israeli invasion of Rafah if Israel holds off on retaliating against Iran. Washington Pulse
One year on Sudan’s war: 14,700 killed, 8.6M displaced, 4.9M face starvation As the war in Sudan enters its second year, the humanitarian situation is worsening by the day with no prospects of an imminent end of the hostilities. North Africa Pulse
State Department staffer resigns over Biden's handling of Gaza Annelle Sheline is the second State Department official to publicly resign since Oct. 7, citing the erosion of US credibility on human rights in the Middle East as a result of the war. Washington Pulse
Was Obama lost opportunity for Iran-US relations? Iran’s foreign minister believes that recent criticism by Iran’s neighbors stems from their regional failures. Saudi Arabia
Is Ahmadinejad defying Khamenei’s 'advice' to abandon ambitions? Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is believed to be back in the game with his former deputy’s announcement that he intends to run in the upcoming presidential elections. Iran
Israel defense minister: We must coordinate moves with Trump In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman confirmed that he still supports a two-state solution, but one involving population as well as land swaps and as one part of a regional agreement. Palestine
Meet the powerful Iranian cleric looking to unseat Rouhani Ebrahim Raisi emerges as the conservative consensus candidate in Iran’s upcoming May presidential elections. Iran
Why Moscow now sees value in Syrian local councils Russia has come to realize that some opponents of the Syrian regime are actually moderates rather than terrorists and that a move to empower local governments could help resolve the conflict. Syria
Saudi clerics keep mum about concerts in the kingdom The new open-minded tendencies of the Saudi Royal Court are causing controversy with the conservative religious establishment in the kingdom, especially concerning concerts. Saudi Arabia
Erdogan banks on motley crew of Syrian armed groups Turkey’s Syria partners seen as "ill-disciplined, untrained and inexperienced"; Erodgan links opposition to referendum to coup plotters; Mattis rules out US-Russia military cooperation "for now." Syria
How Trump is already shifting domestic politics in Iran US President Donald Trump’s threats against Iran are quickly morphing from a foreign policy issue to a domestic political football in Tehran. United States
Trump leaves Israelis, Palestinians to own fate After the first meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, Israeli leaders are confused about the future of the peace process. Palestine
Palestinians work for Abbas-Trump meeting next After positive meetings with CIA Director Mike Pompeo, the Palestinian leadership believes it is in the interest of President Donald Trump to also hear the Palestinian side of the story. Palestine
Jewish lawmakers rip Trump over two-state walkback Jewish Democrats warn that the Israeli right's push for a one-state solution risks endangering bipartisan support for the Jewish state. Palestine
Palestinians launch massive appeal to Trump Palestinians enthusiastically respond to a letter-writing campaign designed to draw US President Donald Trump's attention to their cause. Palestine
![CORRECTION - Saudis attend a concert in Jeddah on January 30, 2017.
Saudi Arabia's "Paul McCartney" took to the stage as the kingdom seeks to boost entertainment despite religious warnings of "depravity." The performance was the first major concert in seven years in the kingdom's second city, according to Arab News.
/ AFP / Amer HILABI / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by AMER HILABI has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [AMER HILABI] instead of [AMEER A](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2017/02/GettyImages-633149294.jpg/GettyImages-633149294.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=xjCT7CvK)
