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
Turkey's Velvet Revolution Nothing is predictable in the aftermath of the tempest at Istanbul’s Taksim Square. Turkey
Istanbul Protesters: 'We Are Here For Our Freedom' Protesters in Istanbul declare that the current demonstrations are just a start in expressing frustration over Turkish government policies. Turkey
Erdogan Remains Defiant As Istanbul Protest Widens It began with May Day demonstrations in Taksim Square that were suppressed by the government. A month later, and the protest has spread across Turkey. Turkey
Who Are Turkey’s Protesters? The View From Taksim Square An eyewitness report from Taksim Square in Istanbul. Turkey
Turks Rally Against Erdogan Rule A protest that started with 500 people on Monday, May 27, turned into a seeming revolt against Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey
Street Clashes Rock Istanbul, Turkish Government Street clashs rock Istanbul, Kurds await answers to their demands, Alevis, moderate secularists and urban youths are angry, and yet the AKP is defiant. Turkey
Erdogan Denies He Is a King Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s authoritarian tendencies are starting to draw some worrying historical comparisons. Turkey
Yemen's Real Blackout The transitional government in Sanaa appears to be repeating past mistakes and approaches in dealing with southern secessionist movements. Yemen
'Jewish Home' Party Against Arab Draft Knesset member Yoni Chetboun opposes (clearly and repeatedly) the drafting of Israeli Arabs to the army: ''I don't want an Arab in IDF uniform.'' Israel
Hamas Official: 'Islamization' A Western Media Smear Hamas government official Ihab al-Ghussein denies in an interview that his movement is imposing Islamic law on the Gaza Strip. Palestine
Barghouti: Arab peace plan damages Palestinian cause In an exclusive written interview, jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti warns that the alternative to a two-state solution is a conflict "with no middle ground." Palestine
Knesset (Res.) Colonel: 'We Can Withstand' the Syrian Threat Israel is threatened more by diplomatic deadlock than by Syrian jihadists, says Knesset member Col. (res.) Omer Bar-Lev of the Labor Party. Israel
