Iraq’s Sunnis eye post-IS future under regional cover

Under Arab and international sponsorship, Iraq’s Sunni leaders recently attended a conference in Turkey to discuss the future of Sunnis in post-IS Iraq, with the conference sparking Shiite outrage and dissent among other Sunni officials opposed to the Turkish role in Iraq.

Iraq

Why Netanyahu won’t attend this year's AIPAC conference

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is afraid that US President Donald Trump is determined to close "the ultimate deal" between Israel and the Palestinians, and that he will not let anyone stand in his way to such a deal.

Palestine

Iraq PM visits White House amid debate over post-Mosul strategy

With the liberation of Mosul in sight, the Trump administration is internally divided on what formula might bring long-term stability.

Iraq

Are Ankara’s prospects in Syria dimming?

Turkey is hemmed in by the United States and Russia in Syria, unable to achieve its aim of blocking Kurdish gains.

Syria

Congress races to craft Iran sanctions bills ahead of AIPAC conference

Lawmakers hope to have bipartisan legislation ready when thousands of pro-Israel advocates descend on Capitol Hill next week.

United States

Flynn affair exposes Turkey's 'sloppy' PR efforts

Though the pro-government Turkish media continues to studiously ignore the affair, the US media is busy probing former national security adviser Michael Flynn's ties to a Turkish businessman who hired him to lobby for Ankara.

Turkey

Can American PR companies improve Egypt's image in US?

Egypt's intelligence agency has contracted with US public relations and lobbying firms to improve the Egyptian government's image in the United States, but will simple window dressing be enough?

Egypt

Congress slams Trump proposal to reduce military aid

Key lawmakers of both parties vow to fight effort to shift aid from grants to loans.

Congress

What are Israel’s Liberman, Fatah’s Dahlan plotting?

For former Fatah senior member Mohammed Dahlan, a combination of Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman’s land-swap plan with the integrity of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative could open up negotiations for an Israeli-Palestinian arrangement.

Palestine

Tillerson defends White House proposal to cut State budget

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson defended the White House’s proposal to slash the State Department budget by almost 30%, a move that could have serious repercussions on Middle East diplomacy.

Near East

Palestinians fear US will block financial assistance

US President Donald Trump’s representative for international negotiations, Jason Greenblatt, asked Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to stop paying allocations to families of Palestinian assailants who attacked Israelis.

Palestine

Tillerson to woo Turkey during Ankara visit

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is set to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a visit to Ankara later this month, as tensions between their two countries persist over US support for Kurdish-dominated groups in Syria.

Syria