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
Netanyahu absent from Knesset battle over ultra-Orthodox draft Ofer Shelah, chairman of the Yesh Atid Knesset faction, calls on the prime minister to present immediately for voting the ultra-Orthodox draft bill: "This was what half the coalition negotiations, if not more, were about." Israel
Russia's Syria policy gains traction As Russia maintains a steady course on Syria, Moscow's influence on Damascus may be less than some believe. Syria
Herzog: opposition not yet seeking alternative government Opposition leader Isaac Herzog has no intention of joining the coalition or forming an alternative government, reminding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that peace supporters “have a majority in this Knesset for an agreement with the Palestinians.” Palestine
Russia considers role in peace talks, Gaza energy The Kremlin prefers a multilateral, not bilateral, approach to the peace process, while Gazprom considers opportunities in the Gaza Strip. Palestine
Israeli Knesset member calls US pressure 'pure anti-Semitism' In an interview with Al-Monitor, Knesset member Moti Yogev attacks US Secretary of State John Kerry for his role as mediator and warns President Shimon Peres is "delusional" for preaching in favor of a Palestinian state. Palestine
Al-Qaeda benefits from unsettled Yemen politics Yemen’s Gulf Initiative, which gave President Ali Abdullah Saleh and many of his officers immunity in exchange for stepping down, has been followed by a rise in extremism. Yemen
New Saudi writers offer form of Islamic liberation theology A new generation of Saudi writers is blending Islam and global values for freedom and dignity in calling for reform. Saudi Arabia
Ya'alon blamed for neglecting Israelis living near Gaza Heads of localities in southern Israel near Gaza blame Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon for neglecting their security, following decision to cut back the defense budget despite the turmoil in the Sinai Peninsula. Palestine
Russia can't lose in oil deal with Iran Russia is seeking to expand trade ties with Iran and is angling to benefit from any lifting of international sanctions on Iran. Turkey
SOC member Michel Kilo claims evidence of Assad links to ISIS In an exclusive interview, veteran Syrian opposition figure Michel Kilo tells Al-Monitor, "If Walid Moallem will talk about terrorism, he will receive a true lecture about terrorists." Syria
Yemeni women marginalized even in death Yemeni officials have prevented the body of a woman killed during the Dec. 5 attack against a Defense Ministry hospital in Sanaa from being buried in the official martyrs’ cemetery. Yemen
Russia plays the Iran card Moscow believes that Iran's role in the Middle East will only become more prominent in the future, prompting it to further boost relations at the expense of US regional influence. Syria
![A Russian supertanker is anchored by Neka oil terminal, 300 km north-east of [Tehran], during an inauguration ceremony of the first phase of an oil swap project with Iran's Caspian neighbours, April 29, 2004. [ Under the project Iran will take crude from Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan and transfer them through pipelines to refineries in the cities of Tehran and Tabriz.] - RTXMLA4](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2014/01/RTXMLA4.jpg/RTXMLA4.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=Ht0Xk3dl)
