Middle East News
The Daily Signal provides coverage of Israel, Iran, and other regional players, with analysis on how Middle East events impact America’s security and global stability.
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news
Former Hamas Hostage Bashes Pulitzer Board for Awarding ‘Modern-Day Equivalent of a Holocaust Denier’
Emily Damari spent nearly 500 days in Hamas captivity after terrorists shot her in the hand and forcibly took her from her home on Oct. 7, 2023. Now, the Pulitzer Prize board has awarded a man who Damari calls the “modern-day equivalent of a Holocaust denier.” The Pulitzer board has awarded Mosab Abu Toha… -
news
Iran Hawks Graham, Cotton Draw Red Line for Deal: No Nuke Program for Tehran
Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tom Cotton—among Congress’ most adamant defense hawks—made clear Thursday that they will only support a deal with Iran that completely eliminates Tehran's ability to make nuclear weapons. The lawmakers joined forces to promote their Senate resolution on preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, a resolution they say is modeled… -
news
‘Every Cop Death Is a Victory’: Antifa Rioters Torch University Building, Attack Police Over Gaza
DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—Police arrested dozens of protesters at the University of Washington on Monday night after an Antifa-style mob lit fires and took over a building to protest Israel. “About 30 individuals who occupied” an engineering studies building were arrested and will be referred for prosecution, a university spokesperson said in a Tuesday statement. Videos posted on… -
opinion
The Trump-Iran Deal, Explained
Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of today’s video from Daily Signal Senior Contributor Victor Davis Hanson. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see more of his videos. Hello, this is Victor Davis Hanson for The Daily Signal. Just recently, the Houthis, that is the terrorist organization that controls half of Yemen and has… -
news
Israel Approves Plan to Assume Control of Gaza After Trump’s Middle East Trip
Hamas has “a window of opportunity” to agree to a hostage deal with Israel before the end of President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East next week, according to a top Israeli defense official. If no deal is reached, Israel will launch an aggressive campaign inside Gaza aimed at the elimination of Hamas, according… -
news
Analyst Explains Why a Two-State Solution Between Israel and Palestine Won’t Work
JERUSALEM—For decades, many political leaders on the Left and Right alike have advocated for a two-state solution to solve the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, but such a plan is not a viable solution, says Heritage Foundation senior research fellow Eugene Kontorovich. “The best thing about the two-state solution is its name because it… -
opinion
The Art of a Second Iran Deal
President Donald Trump’s first 100 days, which he celebrated this week with a characteristically electric campaign-style rally in Michigan, were the fastest and most frenzied 100 days in modern presidential history. And if Thursday’s presidential personnel drama is any indication, the next 100 days could offer more of the same. On Thursday, embattled Trump administration… -
news
WARNING: Middle East ‘Hangs in the Balance,’ Former Israeli Ambassador to US Says
JERUSALEM—Israel’s war with Hamas goes beyond land and borders; it’s a battle for “our common civilization, for our values,” a former Israeli envoy to the United States warns. “The enemy we’re fighting against is an enemy that detests everything that you stand for, everything that we stand for,” Michael Oren, who served as Israeli… -
news
Envoy to Israel Huckabee Says Deal Can Be Reached If Iran Gives Up Ambitions of ‘Nuclear Weaponry’
JERUSALEM, Israel—Iran could see a breakthrough in its nuclear nonproliferation negotiations with the United States, but “it’s up to them,” according to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. Iran has “never ever been anything but clear in that their goal is the annihilation of Israel, and ultimately the annihilation of every free-thinking, free-living person… -
news
Saudi Arabia, Qatar Bail Out War-Ravaged Syria
The Middle East was the source of some rare positive news on Sunday when Qatar and Saudi Arabia announced that they would be paying back the some $15 million that Syria owes to the World Bank. The payment will help enable the bank to assist in the rebuilding of Syria after nearly 14 years of… -
news
Who Will Rule Gaza After the War? Ex-IDF Spokesman Sees Just One Option
JERUSALEM, Israel—If Hamas is dismantled and the war between Israel and the terrorist group comes to an end, Israel will need to step in and “rule Gaza” for a time, a former international spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces says. “I think in [an] interim period, Israel will apply a military occupation of it… -
news
Biden vs. Trump: What Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu Says About Working With Each President
JERUSALEM, Israel—When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his advisers were discussing the plan to detonate explosives located inside pagers used by Hezbollah in Lebanon, some close to the Israeli leader encouraged him to give the Biden administration advance warning. Netanyahu refused. “I said, ‘no,’ and we didn’t,” Netanyahu said, adding, “I didn’t read… -
news
Anton to Lead Trump Team Negotiating With Iran
President Donald Trump has chosen Michael Anton, the State Department's director of policy planning, to lead the next round of nuclear negotiations with Iran, Politico reported Thursday. This weekend, Anton will lead a dozen U.S. officials in talks with members of the Iranian government on the subject of constraining the Islamic fundamentalist state’s nuclear program… -
news
Netanyahu Denies Israeli Security Chief’s Surveillance Allegations
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied allegations that he asked Israel’s domestic spy chief to surveil protesting citizens and demanded personal loyalty. The claims come from Ronen Bar, the head of Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet. Bar’s allegations are from an affidavit made public on Monday as part of a legal case about… -
news
During Passover, Israeli Mother Asks for Help to Free Hostage Son From ‘Hell’ in Gaza
Jews across the world are currently celebrating Passover, but for Viki Cohen, “it’s not a holiday.” For the second year in a row, Cohen is observing Passover while her son, Nimrod Cohen, is living in “hell” as a hostage in Gaza. “I'm his mother, and I miss him so much,” Viki Cohen told The… -
news
Trump Called Off Israeli Strike on Iran, Report Says
President Donald Trump stopped Israel from launching military strikes against multiple nuclear targets in Iran, according to a New York Times report, which cited administration officials. Israel was planning to strike Iran as soon as May, the Times reported, but Trump intervened to take a more diplomatic approach. After months of internal debate among the administration, Trump… -
opinion
Iran’s President Says Iran Does Not Want the Nuclear Bomb. Who Believes That?
WASHINGTON— “A nuclear Iran isn’t just a threat, it’s the threat,” Mark Dubowitz of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies warned in the new podcast “The Iran Breakdown.” Ahead of arms talks Saturday in Oman, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed Wednesday that his country is “not after a nuclear bomb.” Who believes that? In one… -
news
US to Have Direct, ‘High-Level’ Meeting With Iran
President Donald Trump says U.S. officials will engage in a direct, “very high-level” meeting with Iranian leaders on Saturday. “We’re dealing with them directly, and maybe a deal’s going to be made. That’d be great. It’ll be really great for Iran, I can tell you that,” Trump said while sitting next to Israeli Prime… -
news
Hamas Agrees to Deal That Includes Release of American Hostage Edan Alexander
Hamas says it will accept a ceasefire deal that includes the release of American Israeli hostage Edan Alexander. Over the weekend, Hamas announced it would agree to a proposal from mediator states Egypt and Qatar. The deal includes the release of five hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a pause in… -
news
Hawley Decries Anti-Hate Activist’s Defense of Hamas Sympathizer Khalil
A Senate committee met Thursday to expose and combat antisemitic disruptions on college campuses around the country with the aim of ensuring safe learning environments for all students. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee member Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., took one of the witnesses to task for criticizing the decision of the Trump administration…