Middle East

President Joe Biden suggested Monday that a deal for a pause in fighting was likely. The start of Ramadan, which is expected to be around March 10, is seen as an unofficial deadline for a deal. The month is a time of heightened religious observance and dawn-to-dusk fasting …

“What if?” That is the much-hoped-for question now pinballing within the minds of certain politicians and staff members with regard to President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. None may want to publicly admit to such eager anticipation, but some are not only thinking about the question, …

“You can’t have victory until you eliminate Hamas,” Netanyahu said, adding that likely expanded operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah are “weeks, not months” away from completion. The draft deal includes the release of up to 40 women and older hostages held in Gaza in return …

Former U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker on why Arab states won’t accept Palestinians fleeing war. Israel is poised to launch a ground operation in the city of Rafah on Gaza’s border with Egypt, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees have fled in the four months since Israel began …

Greg Priddy President Biden’s taboo against imposing consequences for Israeli actions—unlike past presidents—could encourage Netanyahu to disregard both the law of armed conflict and U.S. interests. With a potential Israeli offensive against the Gaza border town of Rafah looming over the fate of 1.3 million Palestinian refugees, President …

Charlie Mahtesian and Steven Shepard The political and procedural steps for how to pick a new presidential nominee. So far, Democrats have vigorously avoided any discussion of a Plan B for their presidential nominee. But special counsel Robert Hur’s report may have forced their hand. Fairly or not, …

The hawkish former national security adviser on Trump’s real plans. So you don’t think Trump would stop threatening allies if they just met the NATO goal of spending 2 percent of their GDP on defense? For many of these allies — take Germany in particular — it’s not …

Dr. Shehab Al Makahleh On February 12, 2024, King Abdullah II of Jordan met with President Joe Biden at the White House, marking his fourth official visit to Washington, D.C., and the first for an Arab leader since the breakout of the Hamas-Israel war on October 7 2023. …

Eng. Saleem Al Batayneh The political landscape in Jordan has undergone a seismic shift, with significant indicators pointing to a new era. It is no exaggeration to say that the absence of transparency and public discourse has played a crucial role in marginalizing the legislative process in the …