Category: Middle East

Iran’s Crown Prince Visits Israel to Deliver a Message of Friendship

Iran’s exiled crown prince arrived in Israel on April 17, on a visit that reflects the warm ties his father once had with Israel with a message of “friendship from the Iranian people.” He participated in Israel’s annual Holocaust memorial ceremony on Monday night and met with Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel….


China-Brokered Deal Between Iran and Saudi Arabia Is About Energy: Expert

China’s effort in brokering the Iran-Saudi Arabia deal is about energy, according to Aryeh Lightstone, former special envoy for the Abraham Accords and senior adviser to the U.S. ambassador to Israel from 2017 to 2021. Saudi Arabia and Iran announced on March 10 that they would resume diplomatic relations in a deal brokered by China….


Reports: Terrorists Kill 26 People in Syrian Countryside

BEIRUT—ISIS terrorists have killed 26 people who were foraging for wild truffles in Syria’s Hama region, opposition and state media reported Sunday. Amid the economic devastation of Syria’s yearslong war, foraging for truffles can help people earn money, as the seasonal delicacy fetches a high price. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition media…


Fire in Dubai Kills 16, Injures 9 in Apartment Building

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—A fire swept through an apartment building in an older neighborhood of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, killing at least 16 people and injuring another nine, authorities said Sunday. The blaze Saturday in the Al Murar area of Dubai’s historic Deira neighborhood struck an apartment believed to have been shared by…


Saudi Prince Gives 4 Percent Aramco Stake to Public Investment Firm

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—Saudi Arabia’s crown prince announced Sunday the transfer of a 4 percent stake of the oil giant Saudi Aramco to a subsidiary of the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, further boosting its coffers as the kingdom tries to expand its economy beyond oil. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s decision, announced by the state-run…


Israeli Leaders Rebuff Moody’s Outlook Cut, Protests Persist

JERUSALEM—Israel’s government on Saturday rebuffed an outlook downgrade on the country from credit ratings agency Moody’s, while tens of thousands of Israelis returned to the streets to protest against a planned overhaul of the country’s judiciary. Moody’s report issued on Friday marks the latest warning about a potential economic backlash to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s…


China’s Censorship Tools Could Cut Off Middle East From the World: Faisal Saeed Al Mutar

In this special episode, we sat down with Faisal Saeed Al Mutar, founder of global nonprofit Ideas Beyond Borders, on what China’s growing presence in the Middle East means, not just for the United States but the world. Al Mutar had his own journey to America: 20 years ago, he witnessed U.S. tanks roll down the streets…


[PREMIERING 4/15 at 4 PM ET] The Importance of Israel’s Safety

In this episode of Counterculture, Danielle explains the importance of Israel as a historical center of meaning. She interviews Ze’ev Orenstein about the state of Israel today, a growing fear of terrorist attacks as the Middle East is strengthened by China, as well as the historical importance of Israel to many religious people. …


IN-DEPTH: CCP’s ‘Capitalistic Authoritarianism’ Is Its Influence Machine in Middle East: Refugee Entrepreneur

The Chinese Communist Party’s “capitalistic authoritarianism” aligns with the designs of the Middle East’s autocratic regimes and is aiding Beijing’s foreign policy in the region, according to Faisal Saeed Al Mutar, the founder of New York-based Ideas Beyond Borders. Authoritarian capitalism is the operation of a capitalist economy, on the one hand, combined with the…


IN-DEPTH: CCP’s ‘Capitalistic Authoritarianism’ Is Its Influence Machine in Middle East: Expert

The Chinese Communist Party’s “capitalistic authoritarianism” aligns with the designs of the Middle East’s autocratic regimes and is aiding Beijing’s foreign policy in the region, according to Faisal Saeed Al Mutar, the founder of New York-based Ideas Beyond Borders. Authoritarian capitalism is the operation of a capitalist economy, on the one hand, combined with the…