Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump says Iran will 'pay the price’ for dragging out talks US President Donald Trump threatened Iran on Wednesday, saying that Tehran had waited too long to reach a deal after the largest direct exchange of fire between the two countries since an April ceasefire. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: FutureVerse Gulf logistics startups ride Hormuz trade shift As cargo flows are rerouted across the Arabian Peninsula, overland freight networks are suddenly becoming critical infrastructure. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis 'We are already hearing the bus': Israeli insiders fear Netanyahu is losing Trump’s backing on Iran “He couldn’t afford a confrontation with Trump, who was the last asset he had left,” a Netanyahu associate told Al-Monitor, describing the prime minister’s struggle to balance pressure for retaliation against Iran with the need to preserve his alliance with the US president. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Newsletter: Daily Briefing US rescues helicopter crew after crash near Oman US rescue of a helicopter crew, renewed missile exchanges, and rising tensions in Lebanon underscore the widening Iran-Israel-US conflict amid strained diplomacy. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
How Abbas can tilt Trump's deal in Palestinians' favor Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas should play the US negotiation team's game and demand that the United States follow UNSC Resolution 1515 that was adopted unanimously, instead of refusing negotiations. Palestine
Palestinians cheer US exit from UN Human Rights Council The US withdrawal from the UN's Human Rights Council has given some Palestinians hope for a stronger pro-Palestinian European role without the United States to hold it back. Palestine
Netanyahu seemingly unfazed by wife's fraud indictment For the time being, the indictment of Sara Netanyahu for fraud and breach of trust has not damaged the popularity of her husband, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, among Israelis. Israel
What's the real motivation behind Trump's Mideast peace plan? UN sources are skeptical on the feasibility of the US Mideast peace plan, which is clearly in favor of Israel’s positions. Palestine
Blame game: Who bombed Iraqi fighters in Syria? Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units fighting in Syria were targeted recently by some country's aircraft, but no one's fessing up. Iraq
Will new bill destroy Israeli Knesset's Arab alliance? Likud Knesset member Yoav Kisch is sponsoring a bill designed to break up the predominantly Arab Joint List. Israel
Why Israelis root for Iran, Morocco in World Cup With no team of its own competing in the World Cup, Israelis are supporting others from the Middle East regardless of political differences. Israel
Israel's simple path to solving draft crisis By slightly changing an existing law, Israel could resolve its ongoing ultra-Orthodox conscription crisis and bring equality to the system. Israel
Haifa Arabs find their voice in standing with Gaza Haifa is witnessing a burgeoning Palestinian youth movement driven by solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. Israel
Israel's finance minister listens carefully as citizens grumble over price of food The social protests that erupted in the summer of 2011 are still reverberating in Israel, and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon's refusal to allow the price of milk to go up means he senses growing consumer anger. Israel
Why Jordan will be key to any Mideast peace deal Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must show that he is committed to maintaining the status quo at Jerusalem’s holy sites as he declared after meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II. Palestine
Iran scores PR win in intelligence wars with Israel Israeli security sources admit that Iranian intelligence scored a point by recruiting former Minister Gonen Segev to spy against his country, but downplay his access to any sensitive information. Israel