Search focused on the Middle East

23+ min ago (108+ words) [Supporters of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's Reconstruction and Development Coalition Party celebrate, after election results were announced in Baghdad last month. A week later, Sudani announced that his faction would join with the Coordination Framework, a political bloc with ties t (photo credit: AHMED SAAD/REUTERS)]BEHIND THE LINES: Despite setbacks, Iraq's Iranian-backed militias continue to thrive politically, posing a lasting threat to Israel's security. Iran-backed militias reassert power in Iraq, proving the Islamic axis is still standing BEHIND THE LINES: Despite setbacks, Iraq's Iranian-backed militias continue to thrive politically, posing a lasting threat to Israel's security....

37+ min ago (73+ words) [Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai receives a chalice from Pope Leo XIV (R) at a Holy Mass during the pope's first apostolic journey, in Beirut, on December 2. (photo credit: MOHAMED AZAKIR/REUTERS)]A weekly selection of opinions and analyses from the Arab media around the world. Voices from the Arab press: Pope Leo and the Shi'ites A weekly selection of opinions and analyses from the Arab media around the world....

39+ min ago (357+ words) Swiss singer Nemo, winner of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, announced they would return their trophy in protest against Israel's continued participation amid the war in Gaza, Reuters reported. Nemo, identified as a non-binary performer, said Israel's inclusion contradicts the contest's ideals of unity, inclusion, and dignity. The move comes after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) cleared Israel to compete in next year's contest in Austria, prompting withdrawals by Iceland, Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Slovenia. "Eurovision says it stands for unity, for inclusion, and dignity for all people. And these are the values that make this contest so meaningful for me," Nemo wrote on Instagram, as quoted by Reuters. "But Israel's continued participation, during what the UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry" has concluded to be a genocide, shows there's a clear conflict between those ideals and the decisions the…...

45+ min ago (95+ words) [Members of the United Nations Security Council vote on a resolution by Russia and China to delay by six months the reimposition of sanctions on Iran during the 80th UN General Assembly in New York City, US, September 26, 2025 (photo credit: REUTERS/EDUARDO MUNOZ)]A vote of 139 member nations passed the resolution. Only 12 countries voted against the resolution, and 19 others abstained. UN General Assembly adopts resolution demanding Israel cooperate with UNRWA A vote of 139 member nations passed the resolution. Only 12 countries voted against the resolution, and 19 others abstained....

53+ min ago (161+ words) Gaza has been hit by heavy rains and low temperatures in recent days, deepening the misery of most of its 2.2 million population who are living in tents after two years of Israeli bombardment. Thousands of homeless people have been washed out of their makeshift shelters and forced to seek emergency refuge elsewhere Continue reading... Gaza has been hit by heavy rains and low temperatures in recent days, deepening the misery of most of its 2.2 million population who are living in tents after two years of Israeli bombardment. Thousands of homeless people have been washed out of their makeshift shelters and forced to seek emergency refuge elsewhere Gaza has been hit by heavy rains and low temperatures in recent days, deepening the misery of most of its 2.2 million population who are living in tents after two years of Israeli bombardment. Thousands…...

58+ min ago (100+ words) King Charles III says his cancer treatment will be reduced in the new year, calling it "a personal blessing" and urging early screening as key to saving lives.(Arutz Sheva-Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.) King Charles shares good news: Cancer treatment to be reduced King Charles III says his cancer treatment will be reduced in the new year, calling it "a personal blessing" and urging early screening as key to saving lives....

1+ hour ago (590+ words) ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 798 Other high-profile figures in the published pictures include former Trump advisor Steve Bannon, former Clinton treasury secretary Larry Summers, director Woody Allen and the ex-prince now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Also pictured are law professor Alan Dershowitz, Microsoft's Bill Gates and the Virgin Group's Richard Branson. Amid an earlier'release of emails between Summers and Epstein, Summers stepped away from his teaching position at Harvard University and faced other fallout to his standing in academic circles. The men have denied any wrongdoing in their associations with Epstein, who kept many high-profile figures in his circle of friends. But Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said, "these disturbing images raise even more questions about Epstein and his relationships with some of the most powerful men in the world." "The Democrat hoax against President Trump has been repeatedly debunked,…...

1+ hour, 6+ min ago (110+ words) Iran reportedly violently arrests 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi at a memorial, her supporters say. " (Arutz Sheva-Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.) Iran arrests Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi at lawyer's memorial in Tehran Iran reportedly violently arrests 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi at a memorial, her supporters say. Iran arrests Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi at lawyer's memorial in Tehran Iran reportedly violently arrests 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi at a memorial, her supporters say....

1+ hour, 16+ min ago (522+ words) ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 798 The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has alleged that an official from the previous UK government threatened to defund the ICC and leave the Rome Statute if the court pressed ahead with arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant. Karim Khan, who has been placed on leave pending an investigation into sexual abuse allegations that he denies, made the allegation in a submission to the ICC defending his decision to issue arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant, The Guardian reported Thursday. He did not identify the British official who issued the threats, but said they came during an April 2024 phone call. The Guardian speculated that reports suggested the UK official was then-foreign secretary David Cameron, a former British prime minister. According to the report, Khan said the British…...

1+ hour, 22+ min ago (691+ words) ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 798 Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi currently has no plans to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a government official familiar with the matter told The Times of Israel, amid reports that the Israeli premier is actively seeking such a sit-down. Egypt has fumed at Israel for a host of issues in recent months that remain unresolved, accordingly decreasing the chances that Sissi will meet Netanyahu any time soon, despite interest in Jerusalem and Washington in making such a summit happen, the official said. Throughout the Gaza war, sparked by Hamas's October 7 onslaught, Cairo warned Israel against military operations that would push Palestinians southwards in the Strip toward Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, viewing such a possibility as a red line and a national security threat. Cairo still fears that Israel hasn't ruled out the effort amid plans to focus…...