Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Netanyahu lays out plan to regain power

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a Health Ministry-organized appreciation ceremony for health system personnel and partner agencies for their contribution during the coronavirus pandemic, Jerusalem. June 6, 2021.

Mazal Mualem | Israel | Tem 30, 2021

The Tunisian army barricades the parliament building in the capital, Tunis, on July 26, 2021.

Is Tunisia’s fragile democracy under threat?

Mohamed Ali Ltifi | Tunisia | Tem 30, 2021

Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, speaks during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing in Washington, DC, on June 9, 2021.

Senator urges aid freeze to Egypt amid human rights abuses

Al-Monitor Staff | Washington Pulse | Tem 29, 2021

Israel weighs risks, options for dealing with Hezbollah’s precise missiles

A Hezbollah flag flutters on the Lebanese side of the border fence with Israel, near the northern Israeli settlement of Shtula, July 20, 2021.

Ben Caspit | Israel | Tem 30, 2021

As Palestinian residents of Silwan face evictions, large public artwork protests

Rebecca Anne Proctor | Palestine | Tem 30, 2021

US sanctions on Turkey-backed Syria faction offer solace to Kurdish victims

Hevrin Khalaf's mother, Souad Mohammad, is seen with an image of her daughter in this undated photo.

Amberin Zaman | Syria | Tem 29, 2021

FEATURED PODCAST

Nile Dam talks may be ‘in a lot of trouble,’ says Samuel Ramani

On the Middle East with Andrew Parasiliti and Amberin Zaman | Tem 28, 2021

FEATURED PODCAST

NSO officials comment on Pegasus spyware affair: We are self-regulated on right for privacy, transparency

On Israel with Ben Caspit | Tem 26, 2021

Insights

Exclusive insight and analysis from our trusted and independent authors writing from and about the region.

Iranian boys ride their bicycles in Adimi village in Hamoon wetland near the Zabol town in southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, bordering Afghanistan, Feb. 2, 2015.

Top Sunni cleric laments Iran's discrimination against minorities

In his scathing criticism, Mawlawi Abdul-Hamid also recognized the ongoing protests in Khuzestan province, which in his view, should not be reduced to the water crisis.

Al-Monitor Staff | Iran | Tem 30, 2021

Egypt seeks rapprochement with Senegal in Nile dam crisis ahead of its AU presidency

George Mikhail | Egypt | Tem 30, 2021

Tunisian presidency fires head of state TV, other top officials

Al-Monitor Staff | North Africa | Tem 30, 2021

Fighting between government, rebels intensifies in Syria's Daraa

Al-Monitor Staff | Syria | Tem 30, 2021

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a joint-press conference with Kuwaiti foreign minister in Kuwait City on July 29, 2021.

Blinken: Iran nuclear talks ‘cannot go on indefinitely’

Al-Monitor Staff | Iran | Tem 29, 2021

Iraq-US strategic dialogue divides anti-US groups in Iraq

Ali Mamouri | Iraq | Tem 29, 2021

Secular Turks mock government’s appropriation of care-free lifestyles in Istanbul promo video

Andrew Wilks | Turkey | Tem 29, 2021

News

Quick reporting to keep you up to date on the latest events in the Middle East.

Volunteers help to extinguish a forest fire in the Qubayyat area of northern Lebanon's remote Akkar region on July 29, 2021.

Forest fires rage in Lebanon, Syria and Turkey

Al-Monitor Staff | Lebanon | Tem 30, 2021

Palestinian municipal employee killed by Israeli gunfire in contentious West Bank town

Al-Monitor Staff | Palestine | Tem 28, 2021

One dead following building collapse near Cairo

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Tem 28, 2021

Turkish soldier in Iraq killed fighting PKK

Al-Monitor Staff | Iraq | Tem 27, 2021

Egypt's Azhar Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb delivers a speech during the Founders Memorial event in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 4, 2019.

Al-Azhar sheikh demands 'serious action' on climate change

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Tem 27, 2021

Israeli woman who crossed into Syria handed 8-month jail sentence

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Tem 27, 2021

US and Iran to play in basketball at Tokyo Olympics

Adam Lucente | News Brief | Tem 26, 2021

Sudanese judoka refuses to face Israeli opponent

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Tem 26, 2021

A picture taken early on July 26, 2021, shows a view of Gaza city at night.

Israel retaliates against the launch from Gaza of incendiary balloons

Al-Monitor Staff | Palestine | Tem 26, 2021

Tunisian police storm Al Jazeera's offices amid political upheaval

Al-Monitor Staff | Tunisia | Tem 26, 2021

Khamenei calls largely Arab province of Iran 'loyal' amid protests

Al-Monitor Staff | Iran | Tem 23, 2021

Dubai princess' number on Pegasus spyware list

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Tem 22, 2021

Culture

A vibrant tapestry of art, culture, music, food and history that fosters a sense of regional shared identities.

Egypt plans another Pharaonic parade, this time in Luxor

Salwa Samir | Culture | Tem 18, 2021

Remains of an early whale from 40-million years ago lies on the desert pavement of Wadi El-Hutan, 100 kilometers south of Cairo. About 400 skeletons of ancient water life: mammals, reptiles have been identified in what used to be an ancient shoreline.

Ancient fossilized fish found in Egypt that survived in hot waters

Alaa Omran | Culture | Haz 16, 2021

Egyptian Museum of Antiquities gets makeover to compete for tourists

Shahira Amin | Culture | Haz 13, 2021

Videos

Explore social and cultural context of the Middle East as seen, experienced and understood by those who live there.

Find all of our videos on YouTube and subscribe to our channel for the latest.

Netanyahu lays out plan to regain power

Is Tunisia’s fragile democracy under threat?

Senator urges aid freeze to Egypt amid human rights abuses

Israel weighs risks, options for dealing with Hezbollah’s precise missiles

As Palestinian residents of Silwan face evictions, large public artwork protests

US sanctions on Turkey-backed Syria faction offer solace to Kurdish victims

FEATURED PODCAST

Nile Dam talks may be ‘in a lot of trouble,’ says Samuel Ramani

FEATURED PODCAST

NSO officials comment on Pegasus spyware affair: We are self-regulated on right for privacy, transparency

Insights

Top Sunni cleric laments Iran's discrimination against minorities

Egypt seeks rapprochement with Senegal in Nile dam crisis ahead of its AU presidency

Tunisian presidency fires head of state TV, other top officials

Fighting between government, rebels intensifies in Syria's Daraa

Blinken: Iran nuclear talks ‘cannot go on indefinitely’

Iraq-US strategic dialogue divides anti-US groups in Iraq

Secular Turks mock government’s appropriation of care-free lifestyles in Istanbul promo video

News

Forest fires rage in Lebanon, Syria and Turkey

Palestinian municipal employee killed by Israeli gunfire in contentious West Bank town

One dead following building collapse near Cairo

Turkish soldier in Iraq killed fighting PKK

Al-Azhar sheikh demands 'serious action' on climate change

Israeli woman who crossed into Syria handed 8-month jail sentence

US and Iran to play in basketball at Tokyo Olympics

Sudanese judoka refuses to face Israeli opponent

Israel retaliates against the launch from Gaza of incendiary balloons

Tunisian police storm Al Jazeera's offices amid political upheaval

Khamenei calls largely Arab province of Iran 'loyal' amid protests

Dubai princess' number on Pegasus spyware list

Culture

Egypt plans another Pharaonic parade, this time in Luxor

Ancient fossilized fish found in Egypt that survived in hot waters

Egyptian Museum of Antiquities gets makeover to compete for tourists

Videos

The Takeaway by Al-Monitor for July 21, 2021

Fire at Nasiriyah coronavirus hospital

Middle East Minute for July 16, 2021

The Takeaway for July 14, 2021

Turkish airstrikes ignite Assyrian lands, villagers organize firefighting response

Middle East Minute for July 9, 2021