Middle East

People walk past signs bearing the name of U.S. President-elect Republican Donald Trump in Tel Aviv, Israel on November 14, 2016.

Israel develops new ties with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states

‘A new set of geopolitical circumstances make Israeli outreach — and Arab acceptance — much more possible than it was before’

Israel develops new ties with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states
Abu Radwan and his family converted to Christianity after they fled Syria to Lebanon. He says it's a genuine conversion, though he does say he thinks it might help him get resettled in the West.

Why some Muslim Syrian refugees are converting to Christianity

Why some Muslim Syrian refugees are converting to Christianity
The Friends of Donald Trump in Lebanon Facebook page gets comments, such as: "Go Mr. President God bless you" and "We need someone like you [in Lebanon] to clean up our country."

Trump fans in Lebanon want to 'make the Middle East great again'

Trump fans in Lebanon want to 'make the Middle East great again'
An Iraqi police officer uses the device to inspect a car at checkpoint in central Baghdad, Iraq, 2010.

These bomb detectors were proved phony years ago, yet they're still used in the Middle East

These bomb detectors were proved phony years ago, yet they're still used in the Middle East
A Palestinian worker at Azura in Jerusalem.

Amidst rising violence, Israelis and Palestinians have no choice but to depend on each other

Amidst rising violence, Israelis and Palestinians have no choice but to depend on each other

Middle East's First Female Photo Collective Focuses on Gender

The first all-women's Middle Eastern art collective has a touring photography exhibit that puts gender in the foreground. 

Middle East's First Female Photo Collective Focuses on Gender
Women hoping to cross into Egypt present their passports as they wait at the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip on July 12, 2014. Egypt's state news agency said Egyptian authorities had decided to open the Rafah border crossing to Ga

US citizens of Palestinian descent remain stuck in the Gaza Strip

Dozens of Palestinians with US passports or legal residency in the US have managed to get out of the Gaza Strip since the most recent violence began, but there are dozens more still there. And it's not clear if or when they will be able to leave.

US citizens of Palestinian descent remain stuck in the Gaza Strip
Youth holding Egyptian Flag July 29, 2011

Millennials are on the rise in the Middle East — and bring their own agenda

Those born in the 1980s and 1990s helped lead the Arab Spring movements, pressing for more open and democratic societies. Author Juan Cole says they are just beginning to reshape the Middle East, with a mindset that is more liberal, less religious and unencumbered by the past.

Millennials are on the rise in the Middle East — and bring their own agenda

Iraq threatens to make the Middle East into a vast terrorist training ground

The battle for Iraq, between Sunni militant groups and Shiite-dominated government forces, is not just about Iraq. Journalist Dexter Filkins says its could engulf much of the Middle East and create another terrorism sanctuary, similar to Afghanistan before 9/11.

Iraq threatens to make the Middle East into a vast terrorist training ground

In the West Bank, Israeli and Palestinian kids who throw stones face unequal justice

In the rocky terrain of the West Bank, the quickest way to protest is picking up a stone. And if you are caught, what happens next depends on whether you are an Israeli or a Palestinian.

In the West Bank, Israeli and Palestinian kids who throw stones face unequal justice
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel "The Bulldozer" Sharon in Jerusalem August 9, 2005.

Controversial Israeli leader and former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has died

Former Israeli leader Ariel Sharon has died after spending nearly eight years in a coma that followed a stroke. Sharon was highly controversial — both loved and hated. And few individuals in recent memory have had as much of an influence on the recent history of the Middle East.

Controversial Israeli leader and former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has died
Shi'ite fighters launch a rocket during clashes with Islamic State militants on the outskirts of al-Alam March 8, 2015.

Why are we having such a hard time coming up with a name for ISIS? (ISIL? Daesh?)

The debate is over a year old, but has been renewed since both French President François Hollande and Secretary of State John Kerry have been using the word "Daesh" to describe the group known variously as ISIS, ISIL or the Islamic State, in the wake of the deadly attacks in Paris.

Why are we having such a hard time coming up with a name for ISIS? (ISIL? Daesh?)
A boy holds up his Kalashnikov rifle on the streets of Ramadi, Monday. He's part of a tribal militia being raised to take part in the fighting between the Iraqi government and al-Qaeda linked militants. His militia appears to be on the government side at

A former US military leader has advice for Iraq on fighting al-Qaeda in Fallujah

Violence is spreading in Iraq's western Anbar province engulfing two key cities — Fallujah and Ramadi. Many Americans remember Fallujah and Anbar province as places where US soldiers fought and died. Retired US Army Colonel Peter Mansoor knows the area well and says the US government should re-engage.

A former US military leader has advice for Iraq on fighting al-Qaeda in Fallujah
A Lebanese family watches TV fortune teller Mike Feghaly give his predictions for 2014

People in Lebanon love New Year predictions — the more outlandish the better

Predictions are part of TV fare on New Year's Eve. They may be popular, but they're neither accurate nor widely believed.

People in Lebanon love New Year predictions — the more outlandish the better
Afghan President Hamid Karzai shakes hands with Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the prime minister's residence in Islamabad

Here's why the US dance with Iran will ultimately affect Afghanistan and Pakistan

Afghanistan and Pakistan have occupied central roles in American foreign policy for the last decade — and some role long before that. But their influence may well wane if relations between the US and Iran continue to improve.

Here's why the US dance with Iran will ultimately affect Afghanistan and Pakistan