middle east

Egypt's Sisi Discusses Mideast Peace with World Jewish Congress Chief

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told the head of the World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder on Sunday that the establishment of a Palestinian state is "the only guarantee" for lasting peace in the Middle East. During his meeting with Lauder in Cairo on Sunday, Sisi called for starting the reconstruction of war-battered Gaza "without ...

The War Ended Today

Lebanon is preparing to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of the civil war, which started on April 13, 1975, and lasted for more than 15 years. The actual date of the war’s end, October 13, 1990, was not the end of the crisis. The end of the war means three parallel things. The first is the withdrawal of weapons from all ...

Gaza: The New Switzerland of the East? What About Us?

When Donald Trump wakes up, even his smallest remark makes global headlines—that’s just how it is. As the most powerful man on Earth, he wields arguments that are not just compelling and consequential but sometimes… explosive. For now, any statement he makes triggers shockwaves. Case in point: “Ukraine could one day become Russian.” A ...

Egypt's Sisi Urges Gaza Reconstruction Without 'Displacing Palestinians'

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi urged on Tuesday the reconstruction of Gaza "without displacing Palestinians", after US President Donald Trump said he could "conceivably" halt aid to Egypt and Jordan if they refuse to take in Gazans. During a phone call with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Sisi "stressed the necessity of starting ...

Egypt Calls for Urgent Arab Summit on Trump's Plan for Gaza

The head of Egyptian diplomacy, Badr Abdelatty, left for Washington on Sunday, where he is set to meet with senior officials from the Trump administration and members of Congress, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cairo. The visit aims to "strengthen bilateral relations and the strategic partnership between Egypt and the United ...

Ortagus Reaffirms US Support for Lebanon’s Leadership and Reforms

United States Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus reiterated Washington’s support for Lebanon’s current presidency and its incoming government during a visit to Beirut on Saturday. In a meeting with Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam, Ortagus affirmed US backing for his future government, highlighting his commitment to ...

The Wand and the Magic Ring

The ring on the finger of the new U.S. deputy envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus  was given more attention than it deserved, but its symbolism was far greater than what Lebanon could endure. Opponents did not differentiate between it being a religious symbol—perhaps because Judaism in Lebanon is often associated with Zionism, which led ...

Meeting Between President J. Aoun and Ortagus: Striving for Lasting Stability and a Hezbollah-Free Lebanon

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun held a meeting in Baabda with Morgan Ortagus, the US Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East, to discuss key issues of security, stability and cooperation between Lebanon and the United States. President Aoun stressed that stability in southern Lebanon is closely tied to the completion of Israel's withdrawal ...

Lebanon Reconnects with the World: Airlines Resuming Flights

From the onset of the escalating conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, all international airlines suspended their flights to Lebanon. Among them, major carriers such as Air France, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines halted their routes to Beirut, citing security concerns for passengers and crew amid ongoing bombardments and the inability to guarantee ...

Who is Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Envoy to the Middle East

Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Wednesday to discuss the implementation of the hostage release agreement and ceasefire. Trump appointed the 67-year-old New Yorker to this role last November. Choosing a trusted businessman, specifically a major real estate investor ...

The Messiah Wars: How Israel and Iran's Visions Shape Middle Eastern Politics

In the high-stakes chess game of Middle Eastern politics, a hidden force drives both Israel and Iran toward an eerily similar endgame, an unshakable belief that history is hurtling toward a divinely orchestrated climax. On one side, Israel’s religious circles whisper about the long-awaited Messiah, a figure destined to restore their ancient ...

Syria's New Rulers Urge Russia to Fix Past Mistakes

Syria's new leadership on Wednesday urged Moscow to "address past mistakes" during talks with visiting Russian officials -- the first since former president Bashar al-Assad, a Kremlin ally, was toppled last month. The visit came with Russia keen to secure the fate of two military bases in Syria and after Russian President Vladimir Putin denied ...