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
Veteran Labor Knesset Member: Assad is Preferable for Israel Knesset member Binyamin Ben-Eliezer openly says that Israel is better off facing Syria as a state than a shattered country. Israel
Brotherhood's Bayoumi: Egypt 'Will Not Turn Its Back' on US In an interview, Deputy Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood Rashad al-Bayoumi addressed Egyptian-US relations, Egypt's economy and President Morsi's position on the Syrian crisis. Egypt
Van Hollen Discusses Middle East, 'Unintended Consequences' in Syria Representative Christopher Van Hollen, ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee, discusses the Middle East in an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor. Syria
Israeli Politician Leads Fight Against Sexual Harassment Mertez leader Zahava Gal-On talks about the scandal of Emmanuel Rosen, prominent newsman suspected of sexual harassment, and the struggle to bring such cases to justice. Israel
Israel's Itzik Shmuli: 'Yair Lapid Is Misleading the Public' In view of the new austerity plan, Knesset Member Itzik Shmuli and his followers from the social justice movement are about to take to the streets again in protest, reports Mazal Mualem. Israel
Kerry Breaks the Ice in Moscow; Russia Sticks to 'Principle' on Syria US Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to Moscow came in a context of genuine good will, although the US and Russia still differ on the sequencing for a transition in Syria, writes Fyodor Lukyanov. Syria
Royce Says US Arms Not Required to Defeat Assad Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, tells Barbara Slavin that the US should encourage Arab allies to provide the weapons needed to help rebels oust the Syrian government. Syria
Exclusive: Hamas' Meshaal Says Latest US Peace Efforts 'Will Fail' In an exclusive telephone interview with Adnan Abu Amer for Al-Monitor, Khaled Meshaal, the head of Hamas's political bureau, spoke about US efforts to revive the Palestinian-Israeli peace process and more. Palestine
Why Russia Does Not Believe Syria Used Chemical Weapons Russia does not believe that Syria used chemical weapons against insurgents, and therefore considers this week's revelation as information warfare to escalate the conflict, writes Fyodor Lukyanov. Syria
Russia, The US and Syria After the Boston Bombing Vladimir Putin can remind Barack Obama that in Syria, as in Chechnya, misreading the essential nature of an insurgency has its price, writes Fyodor Lukyanov. Syria
Likud Official Calls for Referendum On Agreement With Palestinians Likud Knesset member Ofir Akunis reaffirms to Mazal Mualem his party's willingness to promote a referendum bill on a future agreement with the Palestinians. Palestine
Former IDF Spokesman: Israel Needs Its Own 'Al Jazeera' TV Former IDF spokesperson and Knesset member Nachman Shai explains, in an interview with Mazal Mualem, why Israel fails again and again in the media-diplomacy battlefield. Israel
