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
Ein Karem: One village, three religions Jews, Christians and Muslims have all made Jerusalem's Ein Karem neighborhood their home over the centuries. Israel
Perpetual neglect jeopardizes Gaza’s archaeological sites Successive governments have failed to attend to Gaza’s heritage, often neglecting it and effacing the country’s archaeological history. Palestine
Lobbying 2015: Israel collides with White House over Iran America’s historically bipartisan pro-Israel lobby, AIPAC, has launched a $20 million campaign to kill an Iran deal that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly decried as a “bad deal” for Israel. Israel
Lobbying 2015: Palestine seeks to limit fallout from UN push The Palestinians are counting on the Obama administration to rein in congressional anger as they take their campaign for statehood to the United Nations. Palestine
Israel's hair-raising history The Jewish experience involving hair, inundated with symbols from the biblical Samson to the trauma of the Holocaust and including young men's tradition of shaving their heads upon recruitment to the IDF, is now moving toward an Israeli-global trend when it comes to the matter. Israel
Saudi war drags on in Yemen While Saudi Arabia continues military operations in Yemen through allied forces, it could face severe political risks. Saudi Arabia
Lobbying 2015: Saudis seek Iran deal payoff Gravely concerned by the nuclear deal with Iran, Saudi Arabia is relying on its $3.7 million-a-year PR and lobbying operation to leverage it for more US commitments instead of seeking to sabotage it. Saudi Arabia
Lobbying 2015: Qatar crawls in from the cold Qatar is coming in from the cold in Washington as the gas-rich emirate falls into line with its Gulf neighbors’ stance against rebellious Islamist. Qatar
Lobbying 2015: Morocco courts US backing in Sahara dispute Morocco is spending upwards of $3 million a year to convince US politicians – including presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton – to back its claims over the disputed Western Sahara. So far, it’s working. Morocco
Lobbying 2015: US turns page on Bahrain's crackdown US military aid to the tiny Gulf kingdom of Bahrain is flowing again after its strong anti-Islamic State stance and pricey PR push. Bahrain
Lobbying 2015: Egypt lobbies itself back into America's good graces Congress and the State Department are willing to overlook ongoing human rights abuses in Egypt as Abdel Fatah al-Sisi takes on the Islamic State and keeps the peace with Israel. Egypt
Lobbying 2015: US courts aloof Algeria in terror fight Algeria, the desert giant at the crossroads of North Africa, is building ever-closer counterterrorism ties with the United States but is losing out to its historic rival Morocco in the disputed Western Sahara. Algeria
