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More than One Month Ago
Putin concerned about Christians' mass exodus from Middle East (Interfax-Religion)
Patriarchs press for preservation of Christian presence in Middle East (Catholic News Service)
Iraqi PM Abdul-Mahdi refuses to resign over deadly protests (Suadad Al-Salhy, Arab News)
Why Israel should expand work permits for Palestinians (Yossi Beilin, Al-Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Lebanon protests stir clash of priorities between Hezbollah and its base (Makram Najmuddine, Al-Monitor: Iran Pulse)
Secret synagogue in Dubai prays for Persian Gulf revival (Aron Heller, Associated Press)
Pakistan hopes to ease hostility between Iran, Saudis (Sabena Siddiqui, Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East)
Church in Syria and Iraq could ‘vanish’ if Islamic State regroups, new report claims (Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
World Evangelical Association deeply concerned at suffering of vulnerable, including Christians, on Syria-Turkey border (Ecumenical News)
Month old church demolished by Indian authorities (Premier)
Turkey’s invasion has thrown a once-stable corner of Syria into chaos (The Economist)
Kurdish evangelicals: Amidst the current war, here's one angle the media isn't getting (Julia Duin, Get Religion)
Who are the Kurds, and why is Turkey attacking them? (Siobhán O'Grady, The Washington Post)
UN has handed Assad a way to win the ‘peace’ (Faisal Al Yafai, Asia Times)
Brownback: Christianity’s future in Middle East has reached defining moment (Josephine von Dohlen, Catholic News Service)
Israeli PM pays pre-election trip to volatile West Bank city (Moshe Edri, Associated Press)
Is Salafism making comeback in Egypt? (Rami Galal, Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East)
New fronts open up in the conflict between Israel and Iran: Israel is taking the threat of an attack by Hizbullah seriously (The Economist)
An openly gay candidate is running for president in Tunisia, a milestone for the Arab world (Claire Parker, The Washington Post)
Spot the news here: First openly gay presidential candidate in 'Arab' or 'Muslim' world? (Terry Mattingly, Get Religion)
Jordan halts film that refers to historical Jewish presence (Mohammed Daraghmeh, Associated Press)
Muslims clash with Israeli police at Jerusalem holy site (Ilan Ben Zion, Associated Press)
Clashes undermine fragile truce over Jerusalem holy site (Ilan Ben Zion, Associated Press)
OrthodoxChurch files new suit in Jerusalem property battle (Associated Press)
Federal Court orders removal of ‘Product of Israel’ labels from West Bank wines (Sean Fine, The Globe and Mail)
Canadian court says West Bank wines cannot be labeled "Products of Israel" (Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Right-wing alliance, Arab bloc formed ahead of Israeli vote (Associated Press)
Demolitions in East Jerusalem set a 'dangerous precedent,' says World Council of Churches head (Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Jerusalem has a shared past and future for three religions. world churches body tells UN forum (Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Lieberman: Religion cannot be separated from state in Israel (Middle East Monitor)
1,400-year-old Christian site in UAE opens to public (MENAFN)
Blasphemy laws in Middle East leave minorities holding their tongues (Julia Altmann, The Jerusalem Post)
The Latest: Islamic summit defends Palestinian statehood (Associated Press)
Why Christians in Iraq are 'close to extinction.' Here's what the U.S. is doing (Herb Scribner, Deseret News Faith)
Russian Foreign Ministry confirms support to Christian communities' role in Middle East (Interfax-Religion)
The impossible future of Christians in the Middle East (Emma Green, The Atlantic)
“The precarious state of Christianity,” and of religious pluralism, in the Middle East (Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
Coptic pope: Displacing Christians is bad for Middle East, Europe (Hicham Driouich, Deutsche Welle)
Russia's chief rabbi calls on Israelis to make no compromises with Hamas (Interfax-Religion)
Mitt Romney: Two-state solution is all there is (Ron Kampeas, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Jordanian king vows to protect Jerusalem holy sites (Associated Press)
Israel briefly detains senior Muslim official in Jerusalem (Associated Press)
Israeli police arrest 5 Palestinians at flashpoint holy site (Associated Press)
Israeli city breaks with status quo on the Sabbath (Mordechai Goldman, Al-Monitor: israel Pulse)
Pope in historic UAE visit urges faith leaders to reject war (Nicole Winfield and Jon Gambrell, Associated Press)
In heart of Muslim world, Pope calls for true religious freedom (Inés San Martín, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Pope Francis arrives on historic visit to UAE for interfaith meeting in Abu-Dhabi (Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Pope Francis makes ‘historic’ Gulf tour amid Yemen crisis and Christian repression (Jason Horowitz, The New York Times)
Jews, evangelicals reach out to Sunni Gulf Arab leaders (Aya Batrawy, Associated Press)
Libya: 20,000 migrants held in detention centers (Memo: Middle East Monitor)
Jordan to host talks between Yemen’s warring parties (Associated Press)
Mutual respect is crucial to the peaceful co-existence of religions in the Middle East (Press Release, Conference of European Churches)
Middle East Christians and the West A pivotal time for embattled religious minorities in the Middle East (The Economist [Erasmus: Religion and public policy])
Israel to seek $250bil in compensation from Arab, Muslim countries (Tamar Beeri, The Jerusalem Post)
John Bolton visits Western Wall, angering Palestinians (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
The New York Times wishes us a Merry Hezbollah Christmas (Julia Duin, Get Religion)
Vatican secretary of state celebrates Christmas in Baghdad (Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service)
Biblical city of Bethlehem boasts largest Christmas in years (Isabel Debre, Associated Press)
What if the Israel-Palestine conflict cannot be solved? An interview with Micah Goodman (Michael Schulson, Religion & Politics: Fit for Polite Company)
Prince Charles lauds inspiring role of Christians in the Middle East (Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Israel boycott movement takes on US law enforcement (Bryant Harris, Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East)
Prince Charles praises ‘extraordinary grace and forgiveness’ of Christians in Middle East (World Watch Monitor)
Congress approves measure to combat crimes targeting religious minorities in Iraq and Syria (Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
Turkey-Israel relations: flourishing trade but little trust (Aykan Erdemir, The Brief)
Senate vote on Yemen rebukes Trump administration's pro-Saudi stance (Julian Borger, The Guardian)
New Tunisia protests against Saudi crown prince's visit (AFP, France 24 Internaitonal)
New report says Islamic extremism spreading with defeat of IS in Mideast (Simon Caldwell, Catholic News Service)
Church rebuilding lifts spirits of Iraqis post-ISIS (Rudaw.net)
Sisi tackles discrimination, religious freedom in his talk at WYF (Egypt Today)
Saudi Arabia, Shi’ism and the illusion of reform (Robert G. Rabil, Syria Comment)
The plight of the Druze hostages held by ISIS & the war on the Islamic State (Talal el-Atrache, Syria Comment)
Pope, Assyrian patriarch jointly call for end of violence in Middle East (Elise Harris, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
A hint of hope for a ceasefire in Yemen: The Americans call for a truce (The Economist)
Turkish-Israeli relations back to square one again (Yasar Yakis, Arab News)
Scuffle at Jerusalem holy site angers Egypt, churches (Ilan Ben Zion, Associated Press)
West Bank attack leaves Israeli security scrambling (Ben Caspit, Al-Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Pope's Nuncio in Iraq: Half of Christians have been able to return home (Rome Reports)
The Druze: A secretive religion tries to secure its future (Erasmus, The Economist [Erasmus: Religion and public policy])
Kosovo will open an embassy in Jerusalem if Israel recognizes it, president says (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Differing opinions among practicing Muslims in Middle East on role religion should play in government (George Diepenbrock, Phys.org)
Lebanese bishop praises courage of Muslim Grand Mufti in defending Mideast Christians (Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Algerian government allows three churches to re-open in June, but now closes another (World Watch Monitor)
Israel 'not ruling out' eventual ties with Syria's Assad (Dan Williams, Reuters)
A giant of Vatican diplomacy: Jean-Louis Tauran opposed the Gulf war and mended fences with Islam (Erasmus, The Economist [Erasmus: Religion and public policy])
Pope condemns ‘complicit silence’ in suffering of Middle East Christians (Claire Giangravè, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Bari archbishop says papal visit will focus on ecumenism (Hannah Brockhaus, Catholic News Agency)
Prince William tours Jerusalem on final day of royal visit (Aron Heller, Associated Press)
The politics of the Middle East aren’t just about religion any more (Shlomo Ben-Ami, Market Watch)
Patriarch Kirill urges UN Secretary-General to help Middle Eastern Christians return home (Interfax-Religion)
Islamic cleric preaches compassion between Israelis and Palestinians (Greer Fay Cashman, The Jerusalem Post)
Iran’s Jewish and Christian leaders condemn Israeli, U.S. meddling (Jason Lemon, Newsweek)
Israel must answer for the deaths in Gaza. But it is time for Palestinians to take up genuine non-violence (The Economist)
At OIC, Turkey urges Muslim nations to support Palestinians (Zeynep Bilginsoy, Associated Press)
World Council of Churches worried that some Christians celebrating move of US embassy to Jerusalem (Ecumenical News)
US embassy in Jerusalem opens amid violence: 4 essential reads (Danielle Douez, The Conversation)
At least 61 killed by Israeli forces in Gaza protests as US opens embassy in Jerusalem (Dawood Rehman, Daily Pakistan)
Israeli violence met with global condemnation (Maureen Clare Murphy, The Global Intifada)
Hamas official: 50 of the 62 Gazans killed in border violence were our members (Judah Ari Gross and TOI Staff, The Times of Israel)
Hamas leader says 50 members killed in Gaza protests (Mairead McArdle, National Review)
The Hanas martyrdom operation (The Editors, National Review)
Eyeless in Gaza (Jeffrey Salkin, RNS Column: Martini Judaism (for those who want to be shaken and stirred))
Pakistan condemns Israel's state terrorism in Gaza at UN; calls for independent probe (Mahmood Idrees, Daily Pakistan)
Israel demands UN condemn Hamas’s use of children, civilians as human shields (The Times of Israel)
Israel defends Gaza crackdown as self-defense: 'We are saving human life' (Ben Sales, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Israel has the right and obligation to defend its border with deadly force (David French, National Review)
Nikki Haley stands up to the U.N.’s Israel hatred (Video, National Review)
Dianne Feinstein blasts Nikki Haley for stopping UN Gaza query (Ron Kampeas, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Guatemala moves Israel embassy to Jerusalem, 2 days after US (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
'Freedom Flotilla' sets sail from Sweden to the Gaza Srip (Juliane Helmhold, The Jerusalem Post)
Lutheran body calls for de-escalation of violence in the Holy Land after day of deadly violence (Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Public diplomacy of USA and its relationship with Israel – OpEd (Rabiya Shamsheer, Eurasia Review)
Mahmoud Abbas’ remarks on the Holocaust explain why two-state solution is dying (Andrew Silow-Carroll, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Pope to focus on fate of Christians in Middle East on July 7 (Associated Press)
Syria, Islam and Christianity: The West’s bombing of Syria meets some approval from Muslims (Erasmus, The Economist [Erasmus: Religion and public policy])
Palestinians skeptical about Arab League support for Jerusalem (Daoud Kuttab, Al-Monitor: Palestine Pulse)
On Syria: Trump may be right (David W. Lesch, Syria Comment)
Will Jordan reclaim sovereignty over controversial land on Israeli border? (Osama Al Sharif, Al-Monitor: Jordan Pulse)
Congress seeks to exert more control over Middle East wars (Bryant Harris, Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East)
Parliament votes to disband Tunisia's truth commission (Amel al-Hilali, Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East)
Creating a new Syria: Property, dispossession, and regime survival (Erwin van Veen, Syria Comment)
Syria, deterrence of chemical weapons and U.S. policy in the Middle East (Joshua Landis, Syria Comment)
Peak fragility: Why the Middle East is doomed (Ehsani, Syria Comment)
Jewish Congress members circulate letter urging Israel not to demolish Palestinian villages (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Hopeful signs for religious reform in the Arab world (Edward Gabriel, The Hill)
Saudi Crown Prince makes surprising statement that Jews have a right to Israel (Amanda Casanova, Christian Headlines)
The real story behind the Israeli-Jordanian peace deal (Efraim Halevy, Haaretz)
In Easter Urbi et Orbi, Pope Francis prays for 'swift end' to bloody war in Syria, peace in Holy Land (Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Area around Jesus’ baptism site being cleared of land mines (Tia Goldenberg, Associated Press)
Metropolitan Hilarion believes western countries do not pay attention to the provoked by them exodus of Christians from the Middle East (Interfax-Religion)
Turkish-Arab ties marked by fear and loathing (Semih Idiz, Al-Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Protest & protection: Preserving the Christian presence in Jerusalem’s Old City (Santiago Ramos, Commonweal)
What does Mike Pompeo as secretary of state mean for Israel and the Jews? (Ron Kampeas, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Iran dismisses Saudi talk of 'triangle of evil' as 'childish' (Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East)
Is Greece about to Recognize Jerusalem as Israel's Capital? (Maria Polizoidou, Gatestone Institute)
Demolitions in the West Bank highlight a deep inequality (Josh Newmark, UK Human Rights Blog)
Mideast braces for war: Israel vs. Iran-backed Hezbollah (Mona Alami, Al-Monitor: Syria Pulse)
Europe starts preparing Mideast peace initiative (Uri Savir, Al-Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Sinai monks and Bedouins hope for tourist return (Nadia Blétry, La Croix International)
Religion and politics in the Middle East: Is Kuwait showing the way ahead? (Robert Parsons, France 24)
Russia seriously concerned about Christians' persecution in Middle East - Russian deputy FM (Interfax-Religion)
Arab religious leaders create first-ever platform for social cohesion (World Council of Churches and KAICIID)
Syria's Eastern Ghouta faces 'another Aleppo' (Tamar Osman, Al-Monitor: Syria Pulse)
Trump negotiators welcome Abbas’ recognition of Jerusalem as holy to Jews (Ron Kampeas, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
'It's not a war. It's a massacre': scores killed in Syrian enclave (Kareem Shaheen, The Guardian)
Stand up to Erdogan, protect ethnic and religious minorities in Syria (Diliman Abdulkader, The Jerusalem Post)
Chaldean archbishop: Time to be ‘honest’ in dialogue with Muslims (Mark Pattison, Catholic News Service)
Omani FM concludes West Bank, Jerusalem visit with tour of Temple Mount (Adam Rasgon, The Jerusalem Post)
Religion must rise above politics in Jerusalem, says Father Nicodemus (Christoph Strack, Deutsche Welle)
Patriarch Kirill meets with Abbas, favors preserving Jerusalem's special status (Interfax-Religion)
Why Jewish leaders are fighting about Qatar (Ron Kampeas, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Pope, Patriarch say mass for “persecuted Christians of the Middle East” (John L. Allen Jr., Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Israel strikes Syria, downs Iranian drone, as F-16 crashes (Aron Heller and Srah el Deeb, Associated Press Top News)
How Iran uses a compulsory hijab law to control its citizens – and why they are protesting (Moujan Mirdamadi, The Conversation)
Hijab protests expose Iran's core divide (Robin Wright, The New Yorker)
UNESCO: Yemen war threatens history (Al-Jazeera)
Catalogue of Christian shrines destroyed in Syria compiled by Orthodox and Catholics will be represented in Vienna (Interfax-Religion)
Macron issues stark warning to Turkey as incursion against Kurds in Syria deepens (Gareth Browne, The National)
US Policy toward the Levant, Kurds and Turkey (Joshua Landis, Syria Comment)
A Sustainable United States Policy for North Syria, the Kurds, Turkey and the Syrian Government (Joshua Landis and Matthew Barber, Syria Comment)
Egypt: Two Minya churches obtain legal recognition, officially open (Egypt Independent)
Republicans and Democrats grow even further apart in views of Israel, Palestinians (Pew Research Center U.S. Politics & Policy)
New Pew poll reveals Republican embrace, Democratic ambivalence, in American public’s support of Israel (Ben Cohen, The Algemeiner)
Palestinian Christians slam Pence’s pro-Israel faith (Karin Laub, Religion News Service)
Jordan urges Pence to ‘rebuild trust’ after Jerusalem pivot (Ken Thomas, Religion News Service)
Pence speaks to Israel's Knesset (Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Remarks by Vice President Mike Pence in special session of the Knesset (The White House)
EU reiterates support for future Palestinian capital in Eastern Jerusalem (Reuters and Algemeiner Staff, The Algemeiner)
Police expel Jewish group from Temple Mount, citing provocations (Udi Shaham, The Jerusalem Post)
Visiting bishops praise Gazans, but say Christian presence is shrinking (Judith Sudilovsky, Catholic News Service)
What’s at stake when Francis and Erdogan sit down to talk Turkey (John L. Allen Jr., Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Amb. David Friedman sends condolence letter to family of slain West Bank rabbi (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Mideast leaders increase efforts to fight U.S. decision on Jerusalem (Dale Gavlak, Catholic News Service)
From bad to worse? 5 things 2018 will bring to the Middle East (James L. Gelvin, The Conversation)
France’s foremost female rabbi faces flak over Jerusalem stance (Cnaan Liphshiz, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Palestinian Christians attack Greek Orthodox Patriarch to protest land deals (Samantha Raphelson, NPR)
If Iran protests successful it's much better for Mideast Christians, experts say (Brandon Showalter, The Christian Post)
Was Trump right to praise the Iranian protesters? (John Paluska, Christian Headlines)
Israel wants to fight BDS. Here’s how. (Jeffrey Salkin, RNS: Martini Judaism)
Islamic State claims attack on Shiite center, 41 dead (Amir Shah, Religion News Service)
Iraqi Christians return after IS amid safety concerns (Judit Neurink, Al Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
Iraqi Christians in Mosul celebrate Christmas for first time in 3 years (Anugrah Kumar, The Christian Post)
Israel minister plans to name train stop at Western Wall after Trump (Reuters, The Christian Post)
Israel minister proposes a Trump train station at Western Wall (Ilan Ben Zion, Religion News Service)
Jerusalem as Israel's capital: Smart politics or provocation? (Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Evangelicals and Jerusalem (Responding to: Jerusalem as Israel's capital: Smart politics or provocation?) (Melani McAlister, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Trump’s Jerusalem decision creates more problems without changing facts on the ground (Responding to: Jerusalem as Israel's capital: Smart politics or provocation?) (Marshall J. Breger, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Declaring Jerusalem the capital of Israel: The Destruction or Building of True Peace? (Responding to: Jerusalem as Israel's capital: Smart politics or provocation?) (Daniel Roth, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Suicide bombers attack church in Pakistan, killing 9 (Abdul Sattar, Religion News Service)
White House signals Western Wall has to be part of Israel (Ken Thomas, Associated Press)
Lebanon’s religious oppose Trump’s Jerusalem move; Jordanians march (Doreen Abi Raad, Catholic News Service)
Muslim leaders declare 'East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine' (Deutsche Welle)
Over 800,000 call on UN to protect Christians in Middle East (World Watch Monitor)
Reaction to Trump's Jerusalem move (Nathan Glover, World Religion News)
Egyptian religious leaders to shun US vice president Pence over Jerusalem (Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Egypt's Coptic pope shuns US VP Mike Pence over Jerusalem (Deutsche Welle)
Christian school in Basra welcomes Muslim students (Saad Salloum, Al Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
Can Israel contain violence after Trump's proclamation? (Shalomi Eldar, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Angry protests across Muslim world over Trump decision on Jerusalem (Karen Laub and Ilan Ben Zion, Religion News Service)
Brian Grim speaks at forum on peace in Muslim Societies, UAE (Religious Freedom & Business Foundation)
OSCE should take principled stance on discrimination against Christians in Middle East, effectively defend their rights - Lavrov (Interfax-Religion)
BYU to restrict Jerusalem Center travel after Trump decision (Tad Walch, Deseret News Faith)
What Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel means for the Middle East (Spyros Sofos and Vittorio Felci, The Conversation)
The conflict in Jerusalem is distinctly modern. Here's the history (Mona Boshnaq, Sewell Chan, Irit Pazner Garshowitz, and Gaia Tripoli, The New York Times)
Trump to call Jerusalem Israel's capital, move embassy (Al Jazeera)
Trump to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move US embassy – White House (Julian Borger and Peter Beaumont, The Guardian)
President Trump’s commitment to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem would correct a historic anomaly (James Phillips, The Heritage Foundation)
White House: Jerusalem embassy move a 'recognition of reality' (Jeremy Diamond and Nicole Gaouette, CNN)
Trump's dangerous Jerusalem gambit (Daoud Kuttab, Al Jazeera)
What a US embassy in Jerusalem means to Palestinians (Farah Najjar, Al Jazeera)
Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is ‘naked aggression,’ Islamic nations warn Trump (Ron Kampeas, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
World reacts to US Israel embassy relocation plan (Al Jazeera)
Iran asks Muslims to disrupt Israeli ties in region (Reuters)
Patriarch of Antioch thanks Lavrov for Russia's efforts to settle Syrian crisis (Interfax-Religion)
Pence meets with Iraqi archbishop ahead of Middle East trip (Catholic News Agency)
Christianity and Jerusalem: Donald Trump’s Jerusalem move sparks Christian disputes (Erasmus, The Economist [Erasmus: Religion and public policy])
Iraqi Christians tell UN Christian presence is key to regional stability (Christopher White, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Can Israeli left make peace with Judaism? (Danny Zaken, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Third International Religious Freedom Conference to spotlight persecution of Christians and impending disappearance of Christianity from the holy lands and Middle East (Religion News Service)
The deep roots of Yemen’s famine (Laura Kasinof, Slate)
Christian disappearances in Middle East to get spotlight at DC conference (Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Russians, Anglicans, Sunnis and Shias: As Russian and British clerics concur and spar, Middle Eastern ghosts loom (Erasmus, The Economist [Erasmus: Religion and public policy])
Iraqi authorities clamp down on sectarian hate speech (Mustafa Saadoun, Al Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
New phone app helps Egyptian women fight sexual harassment (Khalid Hassan, Al Monitor: Egypt Pulse)
After ISIS: What it’s going to take to rebuild Syria and Iraq (Julie Bourdon, Mission Network News)
In possible nod to Israel, top Saudi officials visit Paris synagogue (Yaakov Katz, The Jerusalem Post)
Assad-Putin embrace tells story of Russia’s Syria campaign (Associated Press Middle East)
To flee or not to flee? Christians in the Middle East (Jonathan Andrews, World Watch Monitor)
Lebanon possibly pulled from the brink of war (Lyndsey Koh, Mission Network News)
Trump's Middle East peace initiative still on hold (Ben Caspit, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Prince Charles blames ‘foreign’ Jews for Mideast unrest in 1986 letter (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
‘My daughters have no future in the Middle East’ (World Watch Monitor)
Pakistani Christian sent to prison for ‘insulting Islam’ despite mental ill-health (World Watch Monitor)
Driving ISIS out of Iraq isn't enough, contend survivors (Persecution)
Lives in limbo – Iraqi Christians’ long wait for asylum in Lebanon (World Watch Monitor)
Advocacy for Christians returning to Northern Iraq (Julie Bourdon, Mission Network News)
Iraqi Shiite militia will fight Islamic State in Syria border town (Reuters)
Poll: 68% of Israeli Jews want Jewish prayer on Temple Mount (Lahav Harkov, The Jerusalem Post)
Bomb threat cancels Balfour Declaration event at Florida Jewish museum (The Jerusalem Post)
The Guardian view on Israel and Palestine: escape the past (Editorial, The Guardian)
Saudi crown prince rattles Turkish Islamists (Semih Idiz, Al Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
The Balfour declaration isn’t history, it’s an everyday reality for Palestinians (Yasmeen el Khoudary, The Guardian)
Jordan charity ‘restoring dignity’ to Iraq’s refugees (World Watch Monitor)
Vote to expand Israeli settlements in Jerusalem set for Sunday (Veronica Neffinger, Christian Headlines)
You don’t have to be Jewish to love Israel (Jeffrey Salkin, RNS: Martini Judaism)
American aid: The politics of helping Middle Eastern Christians (Erasmus, The Economist [Erasmus: Religion and public policy])
Coptic Pope and Oriental patriarchs pay historic visit to Germany (Ecumenical News)
Mike Pence announces major policy change that Iraqi Christians have been begging for (Samuel Smith, The Christian Post)
Vice President Pence to visit Israel and Egypt to support persecuted Christians (Ken Thomoas and Jill Colvin, Religion News Service)
Mideast church leaders look to U.S., but want voice in own destiny (Bob Fraze, Catholic News Service)
Iraqi Christian politicians denounce church's intervention in politics (Saad Salloum, Al Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
Iraq's Christians ponder future in wake of Kurdish independence vote (Omar Sattar, Al Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
A modern mosque without minarets stirs controversy in Tehran (Saeed Kamali Dehghan, The Guardian)
Holy Land Christians must work together, pope tells patriarch (Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service)
Egypt key to Palestinian reconciliation (Uri Savir, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Kurds in Iraq: Back to square one? (Cengiz Çandar, Al Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Following Islamic State ouster, tribes key to stability in eastern Syria (Mona Alami, Al Monitor: Syria Pulse)
Raqqa liberated: Now what? (Ruth K'lama, Mission Network News)
Hamas: 'We will wipe out Israel' (Laura Lacey Johnson, Christian Headlines)
Though ISIS is losing ground, war may be lost if Christians can't return home (Amanda Casanova, Christian Headlines)
Israel should practice what it preaches to the Palestinians (Akiva Eldar, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
After 1,700 years large section of Western Wall and Roman theater discovered (Derek Welch, World Religion News)
Christians on alert as Iraqi forces take over Nineveh Plains (World Watch Monitor)
Iraqi-Kurdish violence could push Christians who survived IS ‘to flee for good’ (World Watch Monitor)
Caught between camps: Christians in the Holy Land (Santiago Ramos, Commonweal)
Kurdish referendum inspires statehood for Iraq's Sunnis too (Abnan Abu Zeed, Al Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
Tens of thousands participate in Jerusalem march, celebrating unification (Veronica Neffinger, Christian Headlines)
Israel, Hezbollah exchange threats of imminent war (Ali Hashem, Al Monitor: Lebanon Pulse)
Christians returning to former IS-occupied Karamles, Iraq ‘increasing day to day’ (World Watch Monitor)
As some Middle East Christians struggle to stay, others make hard choice to go (Inés San Martín, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
President Trump postpones moving U.S. embassy to Jerusalem (Veronica Neffinger, Christian Headlines)
Catholics jointly with Orthodox believers will restore Orthodox churches in Syria (Interfax-Religion)
Baha'is laud 'unprecedented UN resolution' calling halt to Yemen harassment (Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Tent Schools offers hope to children in the Middle East (Reagan Hoezee, Mission Network News)
Erdogan's Iran visit sparks talk of Iraqi Kurdistan as 'new Israel' (Al Monitor)
Some Turks blame US for Kurdish independence vote (Semih Idiz, Al Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Iranian parents face difficult decision in child education (Julie Bourdon, Mission Network News)
Is this the beginning of the end for Idlib's jihadi groups? (Mona Alami, Al Monitor: Syria Pulse)
Syrian authorities are doing everything to protect Christians – Russian MP (Interfax-Religion)
A trip through Iran's Sunni heartland (Ali Hashem, Al Monitor: Iran Pulse)
Holy Land Christians frustrated by lack of legal action against vandals (Judith Sudilovsky, Catholic News Service)
Sectarianism in Iraq peaks ahead of Kurdistan referendum (Fazel Hawramy, Al Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
Refugees’ fate in limbo as Iraqi Kurdistan referendum nears (Dilshad Hama Khidhir, Al Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
As Iraqi Kurds vote for independence, Turkey dials up hostility (Ayla Jean Yackley, Al Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
'Miracle of the Kurds' author shares why he supports a forgotten people (Josh M. Shepherd, Christian Headlines)
Latest Syria peace talks solidify final de-escalation zone (Anton Mardasov, Al Monitor: Russia Pulse)
The enduring power of Mosul’s rich and diverse past (Stephennie Mulder, Religion News Service)
U.S. Senate committee advances bill to aid Christians in Iraq (Matt Hadro, Catholic News Agency)
D.C. summit to highlight hardships facing Middle East Christians (James Martone, Catholic News Service)
US Senate committee advances bill to aid Christians in Iraq (Matt Hadro, Catholic News Agency)
Prospect of Kurdish independence raises talk of war (Hamdi Malik, Al Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
Human rights are the key to confronting Iran (Ken Blackwell, The Christian Post)
Regional war and the Middle East (HIllel Fradkin & Lewis Libby, Hudson Institute)
Why are Turks flocking to Greece? (Zülfikar Doğan, Al Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
200,000 Jewish Kurds headed for Iraqi Kurdistan, howls Turkish press (Barin Kayaoglu, Al Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Pakistani Christian mother sentenced to death, nominated for prestigious religious freedom prize (Stoyan Zaimov, The Christian Post)
Egyptians make their way to Mecca by many means (Rami Galal, Al Monitor: Egypt Pulse)
Controversy erupts over women's role in political life in Egypt (N.A. Hussein, Al Monitor: Egypt Pulse)
Israel eats up more Palestinian land rights in Hebron (Mohammed Othman, Al Monitor: Palestine Pulse)
The rise and fall of Israel's ultra-Orthodox party (Mazal Mualem, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Israeli legislator quits in dispute over nephew's gay wedding (Reuters Staff, Reuters)
Rights organizations rally to reveal fate of Syria’s disappeared (Florence Massena, Al Monitor: Lebanon Pulse)
Shiite iconography electrifies Iranians on Syria (Fazel Hawramy, Al Monitor: Iran Pulse)
Palestinian refugees to return to Damascus camp after four years in the dark (Tom Rollins, Al Monitor: Syria Pulse)
Churches reject attempts to weaken Christian presence in Jerusalem (Daoud Kuttab, Al Monitor: Palestine Pulse)
Sabbath summit unites Israel's rival ultra-Orthodox parties (Danny Zaken, Al Monitor: Isreal Pulse)
Don’t let the Islamic State slip the noose in Syria (Maxim A. Suchkov, Al Monitor: Russia Pulse)
Egypt: Coptic churches ‘closed for security’ reopen (World Watch Monitor)
Lack of public schools in Palestine fuels boom in private education (Aziza Nofalq, Al Monitor: Palestine Pulse)
Christianity in Iraq: Here are some signs of hope (Harry Farley, Christian Today)
Israel's worst-ever opposition (Mazal Mualem, Al Monitor: Isreal Pulse)
Nineveh Christians rebuild their homes, but threats remain in Iraq (World Watch Monitor)
Ancient seals from first temple period are discovered in Jerusalem (Amanda Casanova, Christian Headlines)
Iraqi Christians in U.S. face deportation (Veronica Neffinger, Christian Headlines)
7 things you should know about the Middle East Christian genocide (Andreas Knapp, Christian Headlines)
Arabs and Jews unite against Netanyahu's divide and rule tactics (SHlomi Eldar, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Pro-Iranian Shiite factions lose popular support in Iraq (Ali Mamouri, Al Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
How Islamic State is undermining peace prospects in Libya (Mustafa Fetouri, Al Monitor)
Who censors access to Iran's Khamenei? (Al Monitor: Iran Pulse)
Will Christianity Survive in the Middle East? A Christian Perspective (Kent R. Hill, Providence: A Journal of Christianity & American Foreign Policy)
Iraq’s Sunnis wrestle with militants’ religious legacy (Hamza Hendawi, Associated Press International News)
Algeria's Ahmadis forced to worship behind closed doors (The New Arab)
The massacre that ended the Arab Spring (Shadi Hamid, The Atlantic)
The Muslim Brotherhood in retreat: Blanket repression is the wrong way to deal with political Islamists (The Economist)
Life returns to northern Aleppo region (Khaled al-Khateb, translated by Pascale Menassa, Al Monitor: Syria Pulse)
Israel, Hamas, Egypt indirectly cooperating against IS (Sholomi Eldar, translated by Aviva Arad, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Iranian labor market on path to gender transformation (Maysam Bizaer, Al Monitor: Iran Pulse)
Iraq, Saudi Arabia to reopen border crossings after 27 years (Mustafa Saadoun, translated by Joelle El-Khoury, Al Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
Turkey, Iran step up coordination in Syria (Week in Review, Al Monitor)
Why did tribes take up arms in Egypt's Sinai? (George Mikhail, translated by Sami-Joe Abboud, Al Monitor: Egypt Pulse)
Iranian return to hajj could help end Saudi deadlock (Saeid Jafari, Al Monitor: Iran Pulse)
Why did Israel now decide to arrest Islamic Movement leader? (Shlomi Eldar, translated by Ruti Sinai, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Saudi suppression of Shiites threatens Canadian arms deal (Bruce Riedel, Al-Monitor: Gulf Pulse)
Armed disputes reveal Iraqi Christians' discord (Saad Salloum, trans. Muhammed Hussein Tal'at, Al Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
What's behind controversial Iraqi cleric's visit to Saudi Arabia? (Hamdi Malik, trans. Sami-Joe Abboud, Al-Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
Saudi Arabia engages Iraq after a quarter century (Bruce Pardy, Al-Monitor: Gulf Pulse)
Al-Aqsa focus of Abdallah-Abbas summit in Ramallah (David Kuttaab, Arab News)
West Bank priests stress nonviolence as youths protest Israeli occupation (Judith Sudilovsky, Catholic News Service)
$2M fundraiser launched to rebuild Christian town decimated by ISIS (Samuel Smith, The Christian Post)
Muslim nations meet to discuss Jerusalem tensions (EuroNews)
EVENT, 3 August 2017: Justice for the Yezidis: ISIS and the crimes of genocide (Hudson Institute)
Archives belie Israel's narrative of Palestinian conflict (Daoud Kuttab, Al Monitor: Palestine Pulse)
Sisi now controls Egypt's top courts (Muhammed Magdy, translated by Pascale Menassa, Al Monitor: Egypt Pulse)
Saudi engagement with Iraqi Shiites stirs talk of opening with Iran (Ali Hashem, Al Monitor: Iran Pulse)
Heads roll at top of Turkey's military (Amberin Zaman, Al Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Blast at Shiite mosque in Afghanistan kills dozens (Amir Shah, Religion News Service)
Saudi Arabia and Qatar battle over Hajj pilgrims (Gary Nguyen, World Religion News)
Saudi Arabia accuses Qatar of 'declaration of war' in row over Hajj (Middle East Eye)
Local Muslims: Rise in Temple Mount visits is attempt to even the score (Udi Shaham, Jerusalem Post)
Eight churches in Baghdad close their doors forever as Christians continue to flee Iraq (Sandra Elliot, Christian Headlines)
Prime Minister of Pakistan steps down (Julie Bourdon, Mission Network News)
Trump’s plan for Mideast peace fades (Ben Caspit, translated by Danny Wool, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
What the Holy See told the UN about Middle East Christians (Catholic News Agency)
Yes, I kissed the Western Wall (Jeffrey Salkin, RNS Column: Martini Judaism (for those who want to be shaken and stirred))
Australian state Labor Party votes to recognize a Palestinian state (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Democracy in Turkey teeters on brink of extinction (Reagan Hoezee, Mission Network News)
Victories put Iranian Reformists on path to repeat past failures (Saeid Jafari, Al Monitor: Iran Pulse)
Netanyahu's crusade against Al Jazeera in Jerusalem (Shlmi Eldar, trans. Danny Wool, Al-Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Kadyrov suggests holy sites on Temple Mount be returned under Jordan's control (Interfax-Religion)
Palestinian Christians, Muslims come together over Al-Aqsa protests (Ahmed el-Komi, translated by Pascale el-Khoury, Al Monitor: Palestine Pulse)
Palestinians cheer Israel's removal of security measures at historic mosque (Bill Chappell, NPR)
Palestinians: The metal detector scam (Khadija Khan, Gatestone Institute)
In apparent de-escalation, Abbas calls for return to prayer at Al-Aqsa mosque (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Al-Qaeda strikes back (attack on the Saudi royal family's legitimacy) (Bruce Riedel, Al Monitor: Gulf Pulse)
Holy Land bishop receives Niwano Peace Prize in Tokyo with call to confront extremism (Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
How can the Catholic Church promote peace in the Holy Land? (Hannah Brockhaus, Catholic News Agency)
Families of Iran's prisoners beg Congress to advocate for their release (Matt Hadro, Catholic News Agency)
Iran wary as Iraqi Kurds vie for independence (Lyndsey Koh, Mission Network News)
Israel bars five US Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders backing boycott effort (Associated Press, The Guardian)
Turkey's Erdogan says Israel damaging Jerusalem's 'Islamic character' (Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay, Reuters)
Erdoğan: Israel is harming Jerusalem’s Islamic character (Peter Beaumont, The Guardian)
Rouhani: US House bill repetition of past sanctions (Al Monitor Staff, Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East)
Women gain foothold at Iran's seminaries (Mahmoud Pargoo, Al Monitor: Iran Pulse)
Netanyahu's scandals run deep (Ben Caspit, translated by Danny Wool, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Russia could assume role in resolving conflict around Temple Mount in Jerusalem - Palestinian ambassador (Interfax-Religion)
Israeli ambassador to Russia hopes Moscow to support security measures on Jerusalem's Temple Mount (Interfax-Religion)
Amid Temple Mount clashes, Jewish activists dream of rebuilt temple (Sam Kestenbaum, Forward)
The Christian example of the Temple Mount conflict (Mark Silk, RNS Column: Spiritual Politics)
Israel commits to preserve full access to holy places in Jerusalem - ambassador to Russia (Interfax-Religion)
Al-Aqsa protests unite Jerusalemites (Daoud Kuttab, Al Monitor: Palestine Pulse)
Vatican: Jerusalem needs “internationally guaranteed” special status (Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Turkish president accuses Israel of trying to take Al-Aqsa mosque from Muslims (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
The ‘Splainer: Why is Jerusalem’s Temple Mount so disputed? (Lauren Markoe and Kimberly Winston, Religion News Service)
Muslim worshippers stay away from Temple Mount despite removal of metal detectors, security cameras (JTA)
Opposition to metal detectors sets off chaotic Friday prayers in Jerusalem’s Old City (Michele Chabin, Religion News Service)
Muslims hold street protests, prayers near Jerusalem shrine (The Associated Press, Religion News Service)
Protests, bloodshed in Jerusalem; Israeli embassy in Jordan attacked (Anugrah Kumar, The Christian Post)
Christian man prays with Jerusalem Muslims as religious tensions flare (Abeer Salman and Oren Liebermann, CNN)
Pope Francis calls for “moderation and dialogue” in Jerusalem crisis (Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Twin suicide bombings in Afghanistan, Pakistan kill at least 36 (Amanda Casanova, Christian Headlines)
Israelis and Palestinians engage in worst clash in years: 8 are killed (Veronica Neffinger, Christian Headlines)
Deadly attack on Jewish home in West Bank follows clashes over Temple Mount (Deutsche Welle)
Palestinians protest metal detectors at Holy Site (Daniel Estrin, NPR)
Temple Mount crisis shows who's really calling the shots at the site (Nir Hasson, Haaretz)
Fatah officials defy Abbas on Temple Mount crisis (Shlomi Eldar, translated by Ruti Sinai, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Islamic body orders Muslim clerics hold Friday prayers near Temple Mount (Adam Rasgon, Jerusalem Post)
Christian leaders worry about Status Quo after metal detectors installed at Jerusalem site (Aron Heller, Associated Press)
Military setbacks don't ensure Islamic State's demise (Metin Gurcan, translated by Timur Goksel, Al Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Palestinian town in Israel shaken by Jerusalem killings (Daoud Kuttab, Al Monitor: Palestine Pulse)
Sinai initiative targets tribal weddings with push for official documents (Reham Mokbel, translated by Cynthia Milan, Al Monitor: Egypt Pulse)
For a two-state solution, Israel must say bye-bye to Bibi (Akiva Eldar, translated by Ruti Sinai, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Jerusalem church leaders' plea for free access to worship at Holy Sites (Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
New Hamas chief's first speech reflects strategic shift (Adnan Abu Amer, translated by Sahar Ghoussoub, Al Monitor: Palestine Pulse)
The good news from Israel (Jeffrey Salkin, RNS Column: Martini Judaism (for those who want to be shaken and stirred))
Israel, play fair with LGBT families! (Jeffrey Salkin, RNS Column: Martini Judaism (for those who want to be shaken and stirred))
Israel’s rigid Chief Rabbinate challenges the identity of Diaspora Jews (Michele Chabin, Religion News Service)
Israeli judiciary’s double standard on Jewish, Arab terrorists (Akiva Eldar, translated by Ruti Sinai, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Fighting revives refugees' hopes of returning to Aleppo (Khaled al Khateb, translated by Joelle El-Khoury, Al Monitor: Syria Pulse)
Pence roots administration’s support for Israel in faith (Lauren Markoe, Religion News Service)
Rohingya Muslims tell of abuses during army crackdown (Simon Lewis, Religion News Service)
Abbas’ Fatah party calls for ‘day of rage’ following Temple Mount clashes (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Jerusalem’s top Muslim cleric detained following deadly Old City shooting (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Liberation from militants leaves devastation in Mosul (Susannah George, Associated Press International News)
Resolving Article 140: Settling the issue of Iraq’s disputed territories ahead of an independence referendum for Kurdistan (Megan Connelly and Matthew Barber, Syria Comment: Syrian Politics, History, and Religion)
Anti-Semitism abroad serves Netanyahu's plan (Akiva Eldar, translated by Ruti Sinai, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Trouble among America's Gulf Allies (John R. Bolton, Gatestone Institute)
Who are we to tell religious Jews what to do at the Western Wall? (Irit Linur, Haaretz)
Palestinians pinning their hopes on Sisi (Uri Savir, translated by Inga Michaeli, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq at risk of fragmentation (Omar Sattar, translated Cynthia Milan, Al Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
Israel's dangerous game in Gaza (Ben Caspit, translated Sandy Bloom, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Have Israel's religious authorities 'blacklisted' 160 Rabbis? (Daniel Estrin, NPR)
Mennonites' resolution is 'antisemitic and unwise,' legal expert says (Benjamin Glatt, Jerusalem Post)
What comes after ISIS? The jihadi group's defeat in Mosul and Raqqa is about to usher in a new era — and new conflicts — across the Middle East (Foreign Policy)
Egypt reportedly spending $22 million to restore historic synagogue in Alexandria (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
No one actually knows where Israel ends and the Palestinian territories begin (Shakked Auerbach, Haaretz)
Islamic State loses Mosul (Alex Anhalt, Mission Network News)
Hamas turns to Iran (Shlomi Eldar, translated by Sandy Bloom, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Netanyahu offers friendship to those ignoring Palestinians (Akiva Eldar, translated by Ruti Sinai, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Iran sentences four more Christians to 10 years in jail for ‘missionary activities’ (World Watch Monitor)
Mennonite Church to divest in protest of Israeli policies (AP staff, Religion News Service)
Shaikh Mohammad issues new law on setting up civil organisations (Gulf News: Government)
Al-Jazeera, insurgent TV station that divides the Arab world, faces closure (Hugh Miles, The Guardian)
ISIS under pressure in Iraqi and Syrian strongholds, launches counter-attack (Reuters, Christian Today)
Turkey’s main opposition changes focus from ‘secularism’ to ‘justice’ (Mustafa Akyol, Al Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
How Turkey fits into the Qatar puzzle (Giorgio Cafiero, Al Monitor: Gulf Pulse)
New political alliance unites Iraqi religious and secular parties (Hassan al-Shanoun, translated by Pascale Menassa, Al Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
Netanyahu must choose between ultra-Orthodox and US Jews (Ben Caspit, translated by Danny Wool, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
United Church of Christ resolution decries Israel’s treatment of underage prisoners (Lauren Markoe, Religion News Service)
ISIS close to defeat in Mosul; Female suicide bombers attack troops (Anugrah Kumar, The Christian Post)
Regional developments accelerate Hamas-Hezbollah reconciliation (Adnan Abu Amer, translated by Cynthia Milan, Al Monitor: Palestine Pulse)
As Mosul battle nears end, Iraqi Christians wary of return (Wassim Bassem, trans. Sahar Ghoussoub, Al Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
The reason Erdogan champions press freedom abroad (Pinar Tremblay, Al Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Iran cracks down on Salafists in wake of Tehran attacks (Fazel Hawramy, Al Monitor: Iran Pulse)
Watch: Secret illegal Jewish wedding on Temple Mount (Ariane Mandell and Eytan Halon, Jerusalem Post)
As ISIL's 'caliphate' crumbles, its ideology remains (Farah Najjar, Al Jazeera)
White House warns Syria may be preparing another chemical weapons attack (Amanda Casanova, Christian Headlines)
Third time, no charm: Eid proves unlucky for Istanbul Pride (Barin Kayaoglu, Al Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Tensions flare between IDF, UN peacekeepers in Lebanon (Ben Caspit, translated Sandy Bloom, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Jewish diaspora angry as Netanyahu scraps Western Wall mixed prayer plan (Harriet Sherwood, The Guardian)
The holy alliance between Netanyahu and the ultra-Orthodox (Danny Zaken, translated by Danny Wool, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
I love Israel. Her government: not so much (Jeffrey Salkin, RNS Column: Martini Judaism (for those who want to be shaken and stirred))
Gazans denounce claims Hamas is training extremists in Libya (Ahmad Abu Amer, translated by Pascale el-Khoury, Al Monitor: Palestine Pulse)
Saudi Crown Prince's ascendancy gives hope of reform – but it may be premature (Martin Chulov, The Guardian)
Dubai residents stock public fridges for needy during Ramadan (Elle Hunt, The Guardian)
Website helps Lebanon's migrant workers expose abuse (Florence Massena, Al Monitor: Lebanon Pulse)
Syria’s women could be key to the future (Khaled al-Khateb, translated by Beatrice Farhat, Al Monitor: Syria Pulse)
Civilians face death, hunger in western Mosul (Mustafa Saadoun, translated by Sahar Ghoussoub, Al Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
Iran launches missiles into Syria in response to Tehran attack (Amanda Casanova, Christian Headlines)
Iraq: Karamles residents face fears as they begin rebuilding (World Watch Monitor)
Kurdish independence in Iraq will take more than a referendum (Cengiz Çandar, Al Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
LGBT community struggles for recognition, rights in Iraqi Kurdistan (Fazel Hawramy, Al Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
Arab-free theocracy: Veteran settler offers rare glimpse into religious-Zionist vision for Israel (Yossi Klein, Haaretz)
Islamic State claims responsibility for Jerusalem attack (Haaretz)
Iraqi Christians targeted for deportation face 'death sentence' in Iraq, lawyers say (Amanda Holpuch, The Guardian)
Hamas crisis could present an opportunity for Israel (Ben Caspit, translated Sandy Bloom, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Influence-rich Saudis blow through Sunni unity (Bruce Riedel, Al Monitor: Gulf Pulse)
For many of Iraq's Yazidis, going home is not an option (Brenda Stoter, Al Monitor: Syria Pulse)
For Christians in Egypt, building a new church can set off violence (Jane Arraf, NPR)
Iraq Christians returning home face many hurdles (World Watch Monitor)
Iraqi senior cleric shown calling for Christians to ‘convert, pay tax or be killed’ (World Watch Monitor)
Believers in Iran sacrifice safety to hear the Gospel (Reagan Hoezee, Mission Network News)
Syrian war has reshaped Ramadan for many (Asaad Hanna, translated by Sami-Joe Abboud, Al Monitor: Syria Pulse)
'Roughly half' of Iraqi, Syrian Christians have fled Middle East since 2011, report says (Anugrah Kumar, The Christian Post)
Jerusalem notebook: The U.S. embassy- to move or not to move? (Lela Gilbert, Hudson Institute)
Man sentenced to death as Pakistan's war against blasphemy intensifies (Gary Nguyen, World Religion News)
Of tribes and terrorism (Lee Smith, Hudson Institute)
Syria, Christians, and Pluralism in the Middle East (Most. Rev. Jean Clément Jeanbart & Carl Anderson, Real Clear Religion)
After rushing to Qatar's aid, Turkey may have to rethink its Mideast ties (Fehim Tastekin, trans. Timur Göksel, Al-Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
How the Six-Day War transformed religion: Six perspectives on how the 1967 Arab-Israeli conflict changed Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and Mormonism (Sigal Samuel, The Atlantic)
Patriarch Kirill urges to continue Russian property restitution in Middle East (Interfax-Religion)
Vatican should help build bridges between Israel and its neighbors (Father Raymond J. de Souza, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Cairo to continue targeting ISIS in Libya following attacks on Christians (Reuters)
'The Body and the Blood' follows exodus of Christians in the Middle East (National Public Radio)
Arab League not to take special measures to protect Christians in its member countries (Interfax-Religion)
Trump in Israel calls for end to sectarian conflict in Middle East (Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
'Plan B' for Turks: move abroad (Zulfigar Dogan, translated by Timur Goksel, Al Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Deputy FM calls on Jews to ascend Temple Mount on Jerusalem Day (Daniel K. Eisenbud, Jerusalem Post)
Trump trip to Middle East, Vatican offers religious opportunities and pitfalls (Michelle Chabin, Religion News Services)
Where does Hamas' policy document leave Islamic Jihad? (Ahmad Melham, translated by Joelle El-Khoury, Al Monitor: Palestine Pulse)
Statues and words tell story of Syrian women's plight (Florence Massena, Al Monitor: Lebanon Pulse)
ISIS reportedly on brink of defeat in Mosul (Veronica Neffinger, Christian Headlines)
Specter of death penalty haunts Egypt’s Brotherhood (Abdelrahmen Youssef, trans. Sami-Joe Abboud, Al Monitor: Egypt Pulse)
Turkey seeks to replenish severely depleted military (Metin Gurcan, translated by Timur Göksel, Al Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Will Turkish opposition rally around Erdogan challenger in 2019? (Mustard Akyol, Al Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Netanyahu’s vision of one-state-one-people solution (Akita Eldar, translated by Ruth Sinai, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Why liberating Mosul won't lead to the end of IS (Shelly Kittleson, Al Monitor: Syria Pulse)
Politics, not religion, is source of Sunni-Shia conflict – OpEd (Nauman Sadiq, Eurasia Review)
Head of ISIS in Afghanistan killed in US-Afghan joint operation (Anugrah Kumar, Christian Post)
Christianity in danger of extinction in Iraq: 1.5 million Christians have fled (Veronica Neffinger, Christian Headlines)
What are European Union’s plans if Trump fails on Mideast peace? (Uri Savir, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Nuclear deal in focus in second Iranian presidential debate (Rohollah Faghihi, Al Monitor: Iran Pulse)