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
Yemeni national dialogue needs jump-start Innovation and fresh thinking are required to pull Yemen out of its current national impasse. Yemen
Yemen’s harrowing transition External influences are threatening to further weaken an already fragile transition in Yemen. Yemen
Michel Aoun: Lebanon 'paralyzed' by Syria war In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Gen. Michel Aoun, leader of Lebanon’s Free Patriotic Movement, blames Saudi Arabia for the deadlock in Lebanese politics. Saudi Arabia
HaBayit HaYehudi blocks Israeli gay revolution Meretz Knesset member Nitzan Horowitz says the HaBayit HaYehudi Party, which was thought to be civic-minded and liberal, is obstructing legislation to prevent discrimination against gays time after time. Israel
Omani rejection of GCC union adds insult to injury for Saudi Arabia The Omani stance may force the kingdom to pause in its regional policies. Saudi Arabia
Will Russia play the Kurdish card? Russia’s connections to the region’s Kurdish communities present both opportunities and risks for Moscow’s interests in the Middle East. Syria
An Israeli-Saudi axis? Not likely Saudi Arabia has long been willing to work behind the scenes with Israel against common foes, but the kingdom is uninterested in anything more than the occasional clandestine connection. Saudi Arabia
Re-emergence of the Yemeni left Once a central fixture of Yemen’s political scene, the country’s leftist movement has been absent from the scene for the past two decades, but may be making a comeback. Yemen
Russia's turnaround in the Middle East Russian foreign policy in the region has benefited from a steady, nonideological focus as well as the missteps and neglect of other powers. Syria
Correcting misconceptions of the Gulf’s modern art movement Contrary to what some may believe, a vibrant indigenous visual arts tradition does exist in the Gulf. United Arab Emirates
Tribal mediations undermine Yemen state institutions Given the tribal nature of Yemeni society, disputes are often resolved via state-sponsored “mediation committees,” which undermine the state and rule of law. Yemen
Where is 'Democracy Brigade' to fight sectarian terrorists? The proliferation of sectarian violence overwhelms the region, which needs a democratic backlash. Saudi Arabia
