Saudi social-media influencer: ‘Hope our nation will sign a peace treaty with Israel’

Saudi social-media influencer Mohammed Saud, who recently made both waves and friends by playing Israel’s national anthem “Hatikvah” on the oud, tells JNS that “Saudi Arabian citizens are starting to learn much more about the Jewish people around the world.” Read more

Taliban triumph in Afghanistan has Arab states and Israel hedging dependence on US

The Taliban’s quick takeover of Afghanistan has Middle Eastern countries deeply concerned about their dependence on the U.S. security umbrella. Read more

Watchdog: Western Islamists express pride, joy as Taliban takes over Afghanistan

Despite most Americans being shocked at the events unfolding in Afghanistan over the past few days, a number of Western Islamists have via social media welcomed the return of the fundamentalist Taliban forces, according to an Islamist watchdog group tracking reactions. Read more

Iranian protests spread again, but so far, the regime has them under control

Demonstrations in Iran’s Khuzestan province—as a result of an ongoing drought and corruption with the government—and elsewhere have grown, though experts tell JNS that they are smaller than in 2019 so far and the regime will use its full force to stamp them out. Read more

What’s behind Erdoğan’s sudden warming towards Israel?

Israel’s long-term adversary, Islamist Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan, came out calling for better ties with Israel in what experts say is part of a larger attempt to improve relations with a new U.S. government led by President-elect Joe Biden and break out of its regional isolation. Read more

Arabs states draw closer to Israel to counter non-Arab powers Turkey and Iran

The decision by three Arab states to make peace with Israel can be credited both to efforts by the Trump administration and the recognition by these Sunni states that their security would improve against the ongoing threats they face from Turkey and Iran. Read more

Will Hamas and Fatah unite in force as Israel develops ties to Arab world?

The recent deals to normalize relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, and Israel and Bahrain, have led many to conclude that the Arab-Israeli conflict has reached a significant turning point. Read more

Hezbollah coming under increased scrutiny in wake of Beirut blast

Lebanon is in a deep crisis on many levels following the two explosions, one massive and that rocked the city to its core, in Beirut on Aug. 4. Read more

Israeli Arabs reject becoming citizens of Palestinian state, as suggested in Mideast peace plan

Israeli Arab citizens flatly reject the idea floated in the recently released U.S. “Peace to Prosperity” plan that envisions the possibility that borders would be redrawn and some Arab cities and villages could become part of a future Palestinian state. Read more

Is Turkey trying to sabotage the massive new Israel-Cyprus-Greece EastMed gas deal?

Tensions are reaching a new high in the eastern Mediterranean region after Turkey’s parliament approved a measure to deploy Turkish troops to Libya to support the U.N.-backed government there. Read more

Israeli-Arab parties try to hold on to votes after breakup of Joint List

The coalition of four Arab Parties known as the Joint List was disbanded because of political infighting and rivalries, and now will run as two separate two-Party blocs, which could damage their prospects for the coming election among the Israeli-Arab public. Read more

Why is Egypt intent on restoring Jewish heritage sites in a country devoid of Jews?

The government of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi recently announced a multimillion-dollar initiative to restore Jewish heritage sites throughout the country. Soon afterwards, the government backtracked, probably due to a public backlash…writes Ariel Ben Solomon/JNS. Read more

Did Israel-Hamas ceasefire strengthen Hamas for the next round of fighting?

The ongoing violence perpetrated by the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip and the recent barrage of rocket fire—more than 450 rockets and mortars in less than 48 hours—pointed at Israel’s south had an unintended consequence. In effect, it caused an internal political crisis in Israel, shaking up the government, and both angering and worrying the general public. Read more

Saudi killing of Khashoggi is ‘business as usual’ in the Arab world

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and his powerful son Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (known for short as “MBS”) continue to project stability despite the jitters that the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi sent through the American and European capitals…writes Ariel Ben Solomon/JNS. Read more

Would Palestinian rejection of Trump peace plan give Israel more leverage?

Amid speculation that U.S. President Donald Trump could soon release his Middle East peace plan, the word in political, academic and Jewish organisational circles is that it’s almost certain to not go anywhere and surely be rejected by the Palestinian leadership…writes Ariel Ben Solomon/JNS. Read more

Iran protests raise hopes of regime collapse as sanctions set to go in effect

The Iranian regime appears to be in a panic as the Trump administration tightens the screws on the country’s economy with the United States telling countries to stop all oil imports from Iran starting on Nov. 4…writes Ariel Ben Solomon/JNS. Read more

Amid Independence Day celebrations, how Israel’s minorities view their status in the Jewish state

With Israel’s Independence Day, the battle of the narratives over Israel’s creation begins anew with mainstream Muslim Israeli Arabs remaining highly critical of the state, despite living standards that dwarf those in Arab states bordering Israel, such as Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt…writes Ariel Ben Solomon/JNS. Read more

Likud insiders rally behind Netanyahu, ruling out his resignation

The new revelation that a lawyer involved in a case investigating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the judge were allegedly colluding has temporarily shifted the media narrative of the scandals away from the Israeli premier…writes Ariel Ben Solomon/JNS. Read more

Israeli public supports Netanyahu, Likud activists see him retaining power

Just as President Donald Trump overcame the media and left-wing establishment to win the election despite his bluster and personal baggage, so, too, is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defying the odds in Israel. Read more

Experts debate whether protests can change Iran

Amid the continued popular protests throughout Iran, what will the future hold for the country’s terror-funding Shi’a regime?…asks Ariel Ben Solomon/JNS.org. Read more

Leader of Israel’s Left slants right amid a changing political map

Avi Gabbay, a leader of Israel’s political left and presumably one of the top challengers to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a future election, has surprised the Israeli public with what many consider right-wing rhetoric…writes Ariel Ben Solomon/JNS.org. Read more

Hezbollah continues ‘absolute dominance’ of Lebanon amid domestic political crisis

The Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah, which makes up part of Lebanon’s government and has a strong military force that threatens neighboring Israel, is seemingly unaffected by the status of embattled Prime Minister Saad Hariri…writes Ariel Ben Solomon/JNS.org. Read more

Israel’s Jewish fertility rate tops Arabs for first time, defying ‘demographic doom’

New statistics show that the Israeli-Jewish fertility rate this year has surpassed that of the Israeli-Arab population for the first time, defying analysts who have made long-term projections of a Jewish minority in Israel…writes Ariel  Ben Solomon/JNS.org Read more

Temple Mount terror attack highlights sharp dichotomy between Israeli minorities

Last Friday’s deadly terror attack near the Temple Mount shows how Israel is at the forefront of the clash of civilisations between the Islamic world and the West—not only with the Palestinians and surrounding Arab countries, but also from within its own minority populations…writes Ariel Ben Solomon. Read more

Why aren’t Muslim countries leading the charge on aid for the Palestinians?

Why aren’t Muslim countries leading givers to the Palestinian cause? The question has renewed relevance upon a United Nations agency’s recent release of its list of donors…writes Ariel Ben Solomon/JNS.org. Read more