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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opinion
Trump Administration Slaps Sanctions on Iran for Missile Test and Other Provocations
The Trump administration followed through on Friday with a new round of sanctions on Iran, two days after National Security Advisor Michael Flynn announced that it was “officially putting Iran on notice” for a missile test and its hostile regional policies. The sanctions were targeted at 13 individuals and 12 entities for their support for… -
opinion
Iran’s Ballistic Missile Test Defies UN, Trump Administration
The more things change, the more they stay the same. On Sunday, Iran “welcomed” President Donald Trump into office by conducting a medium-range ballistic missile test in defiance of United Nations Resolution 2231, which endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (i.e. the Iran nuclear deal) and lifted nuclear-related sanctions on Iran. Iran’s actions are… -
opinion
Russia-Turkey Relations Unlikely to Be Derailed by Shooting of Ambassador
The shocking assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey at an Ankara art exhibition on Monday by a Turk seemingly motivated by the situation in neighboring Syria clearly will not help stabilize a region that is rife with trouble—especially since it involves two of Eurasia’s key players. Ties between Russia and Turkey were already both… -
opinion
Hostage Deal Is Latest Example of Obama’s Sell-Out to Iran
The only thing more pathetic than the Obama administration paying the Islamist Republic of Iran ransom for American hostages, and thereby ensuring more Americans will be taken hostage by thug regimes around the world, is that they expect us to believe, despite evidence to the contrary, that they didn’t. Right. First, President Barack Obama and… -
opinion
The Attempted Coup Reveals Turkey’s Instability. That’s Bad News for the US.
An attempted military coup in NATO member Turkey was foiled over the weekend. At the time of writing, at least 265 people have been killed and another 1,400 wounded. Thousands of judges have been dismissed or arrested. Tanks shelled the parliament in Ankara and at one point President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was forced to address… -
news
As Turkey Attack Unfolds, Cruz Faults Obama for How He Talks About Terrorism
As Sen. Ted Cruz convened a hearing intended as a platform to criticize how President Barack Obama talks about Islamist extremism, news broke of suicide bombers attacking an airport in the capital of America’s NATO ally, Turkey. While families of the 41 people murdered in Turkey mourned, and world leaders and politicians expressed condolences, there… -
news
America’s Iran ‘Tilt’ Likely Topic as Obama Visits Saudi Arabia
President Barack Obama will visit Saudi Arabia Wednesday trying to salvage what he can from a historically stable partnership that has frayed over differing priorities related to major issues like the Syrian civil war and Iranian influence. As the Obama administration has focused its policies on defeating the Islamic State in Syria over ousting its… -
news
GOP Opens Investigation Into Allegations of White House Spying on Congress, Netanyahu
Republicans in Congress vowed to investigate the Obama administration after a report revealed that U.S. intelligence collection ensnared private conversations between lawmakers and top Israeli officials during negotiations on the Iran nuclear agreement. The House Intelligence Committee opened a probe Wednesday into The Wall Street Journal report that the White House eavesdropped on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu… -
opinion
Leading Muslim Voice Speaks Out Against Islamic Extremism
In the aftermath of the massacre in Paris and the shooting this week in San Bernardino, Calif., the debate over the threat of Islamic terrorism is again front and center. Many political leaders, including President Barack Obama, refuse to make the connection between the terrorist acts of groups like ISIS and the religion of Islam…. -
news
Netanyahu: Iran Deal ‘A Grave Mistake’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told ABC News that the nuclear agreement with Iran endangers the safety of the entire world. “I think this puts all of us in danger. Israel, our Arab neighbors, the Middle East as a whole,” Netanyahu told ABC. Netanyahu tweeted that the United States and Israel are especially endangered by… -
news
McCain: Obama Needs to ‘Get Over’ His ‘Temper Tantrum’ About Netanyahu’s Reelection
This morning on CNN’s State of the Union, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., blasted the president’s priorities when it comes to U.S.-Israeli relations. McCain said that Israel had a “free and fair” democratic election, is “the only nation in the region that will have such a thing,” and that if President Obama doesn’t like the results,… -
opinion
Angry at Netanyahu, Obama Administration May Stop Defending Israel at UN. Why They Shouldn’t.
On Thursday, Obama administration officials indicated that the president was considering a fundamental shift in U.S. policy. Instead of using its veto to block United Nations Security Council pressure on Israel in peace negotiations with the Palestinians, the administration is now reportedly considering endorsing this effort. It is hard to overstate the seriousness of such… -
opinion
Netanyahu Is Back in the Driver’s Seat in Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scored a major victory and won a fourth term as Israel’s top leader in Tuesday’s elections. Although the last public opinion poll before the election indicated that Netanyahu’s Likud party was trailing the opposition Zionist Union coalition by 4 seats, Netanyahu surged at the end of an acrimonious campaign to win… -
opinion
Netanyahu’s Speech Alerted Americans to Obama’s Risky Iran Deal
Putting both countries’ politics aside (talk about heavy-lifting!), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress was essential—if for no other reason than it threw a spotlight on an issue hiding in diplomatic darkness. Few probably realized, especially outside Washington, D.C., that while Netanyahu was speaking to Congress, Secretary of State John Kerry was in… -
news
What Members of Congress Tweeted About Netanyahu’s Speech
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed members of Congress today. The speech focused on the deal that President Barack Obama and his administration is trying to reach with Iran over nuclear capabilities. During and after Netanyahu’s speech, members of the House and Senate took to Twitter to react. I welcome opportunity to hear Israel PM… -
opinion
Congress Should Listen to Netanyahu’s Warnings on the Obama Iran Deal
Jimmy Carter had one of the worst foreign and defense policy records of any modern president. But, at least he cut one good deal. The speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu before a joint session of Congress makes clear President Obama can’t even match Carter’s level of competency. The high point of Carter’s… -
news
Lone Jewish Republican in Congress on What You Should Expect From Benjamin Netanyahu’s Speech Today
The lone Jewish Republican in Congress says American leaders should present a united front in support of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech before lawmakers this morning. In an interview with The Daily Signal, Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., called on his Jewish colleagues to uniformly embrace Netanyahu's appearance before Congress and to empathize with Israel’s concern… -
opinion
Why Netanyahu’s Speech to Congress Is Churchillian
Tomorrow, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address a joint session of Congress, warning against the military potential of Iran’s nuclear program. The Israeli leader will do so at the invitation of House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and much to the dismay of the White House, which is close to signing an agreement with Tehran… -
opinion
What Netanyahu Should Say to Congress
What do you get when a foreign prime minister slights the president of the United States by accepting a secret invitation from the speaker of the House to address Congress in an attempt to thwart U.S. policy two weeks prior to an election? Well, you get a plot worthy of “House of Cards.” But those… -
news
Why Won’t Obama Use the Words ‘Islamic Extremism’? Watch What This Democrat Says
In a recent interview with Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, was asked why President Obama avoids the phrase “Islamic extremism.” Gabbard, an Iraq War veteran, said, “If you are at war, which we are, you have to know who your enemy is in order to defeat them.” She criticized Secretary of…