Arab world

Confronting the oldest hatred in its newest forms - from the editor

As antisemitism rises across the globe, this edition examines its many forms and the fight to confront them

|ByRUTH MARKS EGLASH
A woman holds a sign reading "Stop Hunting Jews" during a demonstration against antisemitism following a rise in anti-Jewish incidents after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks.
Mohamed Salah and teammates of Egypt complain to referee Francois Letexier during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt on July 7.PremiumPremium

When Arabs lose in the World Cup, the Jew is summoned as the hidden hand - opinion

The lie about one soccer referee exposed how deeply antisemitic conspiracy theories remain embedded in Arab discourse

|ByDALIA ZIADA
Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al- Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani reviews the Bulgarian honour guard during his welcoiming ceremony in Sofia on April 14, 2009.

How Qatar's former emir Sheikh Hamad reshaped Qatar - and the modern Middle East - analysis

In many ways, the era that the former emir presided over was a very different Middle East. Against the grain of the time, he was able to position Qatar as a key state in the region.

|BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Donald Trump and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed participate in the signing of the Abraham Accords, in Washington, US, September 15, 2020.

Israel is once again returning to the status of a 'mistress' in the Middle East - opinion

Israel has returned to the status of a “mistress” – a relationship acknowledged privately but concealed in public – that characterized its regional position before the Abraham Accords.

|ByELI PODEH

The 'fig leaf' that hid Arab regime failures and seriously harmed the Palestinian cause - opinion

Post-1948, Arab regimes weaponized the Palestinian cause. Lacking organic legitimacy, they turned anti-Israel hostility into a survival mechanism.

MAY 25, 2025BySALEM ALKETBI
Palestinian Ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, sits in the General Assembly. The State of Palestine is recognized by more than 130 countries, but not by most of the countries of the OECD.

Voices from the Arab press: Israel’s strategy for managing US tensions

A weekly selection of opinions and analyses from the Arab media around the world.

MAY 24, 2025ByTHE MEDIA LINE
US PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a ‘coffee ceremony’ at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh, May 13

Arab world must view Israel as strategic partner to advance development, stability - opinion

Recognizing Israel as a strategic partner – not an eternal enemy – is a necessity dictated by geography and mutual interest.

MAY 19, 2025BySALEM ALKETBI
Israel and UAE flags at a table with documents.

Muslim and Christian Arab leaders join March of the Living

The delegation, led by Sharaka, featured participants from Morocco, Bahrain, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other countries

APRIL 29, 2025ByOHAD MERLIN
Sharaka delegation during March of the Living

Syria's Sharaa will attend Arab Summit, marking a potential path towards stability

Syria's invitation to the Arab Summit comes after Sharaa met Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani.

APRIL 28, 2025BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa attends an interview with Reuters at the presidential palace, in Damascus, Syria March 10, 2025.

Nuclear talks may empower, embolden Iran if US isn't careful - opinion

Without these considerations, the US risks unintentionally accelerating a new Cold War in the Middle East.

APRIL 26, 2025ByDALIA ZIADA
FOREIGN MINISTERS from Egypt and Gulf Cooperation Council countries meet in Mecca last month. Arab states, particularly in the Gulf, are recalibrating their positions toward the US-Iran nuclear talks because they fear being left behind by the US and outmaneuvered by Israel, says the writer.

Shifting sands in the Muslim world: More Arab countries rejecting jihad against Israel - opinion

Neither the Lebanese nor the Gazans have suddenly become Zionists, but like the mufti of Egypt, more and more of the Arab world is rejecting jihad against Israel as a way forward.

APRIL 22, 2025ByPESACH WOLICKI
PALESTINIANS DEMAND an end to war, chanting anti-Hamas slogans, in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip.

Arab-Israel org. accuses Civil Service Commission of discriminating against Arab-Israelis

The Mossawa Center called for a hiring freeze in civil ministries that have not met the diversity hiring benchmarks for proportional population representation.

APRIL 13, 2025ByYOAV ETIEL
Israeli President Isaac Herzog is seen meeting with Arab women at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, on June 25, 2023.

52 deaths in 3 months: Gov't must fight bloodshed in Israeli Arab society - opinion

The bloodshed in Arab society must end. This requires responsible and courageous leadership. A broad government initiative is needed.

MARCH 26, 2025ByHANADI SHAER
CARRYING THE coffins of two of the five men murdered the day before in Yafa an-Naseriyye, June 9.

Reviving the Druze state: The implications for Druze diaspora, Palestinians - opinion

Inspiration for Palestinians? A Druze State can help Palestinians move beyond functioning as pawns in the Western assault on Judaism.

MARCH 25, 2025ByGOL KALEV
A delegation of 100 Druze leaders from Syria visits northern Israel for the first time since 1973 on March 14, 2025. Israeli Druze proudly wave their own national flag alongside the Israeli flag in festivals and ceremonies, the writer points out.