Houthis shouldn’t be surprised by Israeli response, Pentagon says

Given that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned this week the Houthis that they would pay a heavy price, a reporter asked the Pentagon if it assesses that Israel might target the Yemen-based group next, after Hezbollah and Hamas. “I won’t speak for Israel in terms of its operations. They certainly have a right to defend themselves, and as you know, the Houthis have launched missiles and drones toward Israel,” Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the U.S. Defense Department press secretary, told a reporter at the Pentagon’s Dec. 19 press briefing (Read more at JNS).

US disagrees with HRW ‘genocide’ accusation against Israel

US official: ‘When it comes to a determination of something like genocide, the legal standard is just incredibly high, and so the finding in this scenario we just disagree with ... That does not take away from the fact that there is a dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza’. (Read more at Arab News)

US exempts Turkey from Russian Gazprombank sanctions

Last month, the US Treasury said Gazprombank and its six foreign subsidiaries were subject to sanctions due to their involvement in the Ukraine war. US officials accuse the bank of facilitating payments to Russian soldiers. Turkey, which imported more than 40 percent of its natural gas from Russia last year, paid billions of dollars for these imports through the bank (Read more at Middle East Eye).

FBI arrests university student over alleged plot to attack Israeli consulate

The FBI has arrested an 18-year-old student from George Mason University (GMU), accusing him of being involved in a plot to attack the Israeli consulate in New York, in a case involving an undercover informant or agent who helped the teenager come up with the plan. Abdullah Ezzeldin Taha Mohamed Hassan, a first-year student and an Egyptian national, has been charged with one count of distributing information related to explosives that could be used to murder internationally protected persons (Read more at Middle East Eye).

US has twice as many troops in Syria than previously declared

The Pentagon claimed it had over 2,000 military personnel in Syria to target Islamist rebels before the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Washington has for years said it has some 900 military personnel in Syria as part of international efforts against Islamist groups, which seized swathes of territory there and in neighbouring Iraq before being defeated by local forces backed by a US-led air campaign (Read more at New Arab).

US to ‘hand over’ Saudi-Israel normalisation to Trump administration

“Now the opportunity is there, and I know this is something that the president (Trump) will be focused on, to broaden that out with the Saudis,” Blinken said (Read more at Arab Weekly).

US drops $10m reward for arrest of Syria’s new leader after Damascus talks

The US, however, had designated HTS a “terrorist” organisation in 2018. Al-Sharaa — also known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani — is the group’s leader and was once aligned with al-Qaeda. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf said “Based on our discussion, I told him we would not be pursuing the Rewards for Justice reward offer that has been in effect for some years” (Read more at Aljazeera).

US charges IRGC officer with killing of American citizen in Iraq

The United States has charged an alleged officer of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) with “terrorism and murder” over the killing of a US citizen in Iraq in 2022 (Read more at Aljazeera).

UAE Promises Not to Arm Sudan Paramilitaries as US Warns of Arms Export Ban

Two lawmakers said the United Arab Emirates made the promise to address their concerns and that as a result, they would drop their attempt to block $1.2 billion in arms sales to the Gulf power (Read more at Defense Post).

U.S. diplomats meet Syrian opposition leader in Damascus

They met with the leader of the opposition group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Ahmad al-Sharaa. A U.S. official said the meeting with al-Sharaa was "good and productive." U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs Barbara Leaf said al-Sharaa committed to not allowing terror groups to operate in Syria and threaten the U.S. or neighboring countries. Leaf said that as a result, the U.S. made clear it won't pursue the $10 million "reward for justice" on al-Sharaa (Read more at Axios).

Defense secretary had little scheduled access to Biden amid Israel’s war with Hamas

In the beginning of the current administration’s tenure, Lloyd Austin, the U.S. defense secretary, had regular access to U.S. President Joe Biden. But over the past two years, “a period when the wars in Ukraine and Gaza demanded the president’s attention,” Austin was rarely invited for scheduled briefings (Read more at JNS).

Assad's downfall is a big win for Trump, but if it could be fatal

When, in January, Donald Trump is sworn in for his second, and final, term as president of the United States, he will find the Middle East undergoing tectonic geopolitical shifts that his Israel-firsters and neocon supporters could not have imagined, even in their wildest dreams. Trump must seize this opportunity and accept that lasting peace in the Middle East can only be achieved through a comprehensive approach that leaves nobody behind (Read more at Middle East Eye). 

What Trump's plans to 'finish the job' could mean for Gaza, Iran and beyond

If he is urging Israel to “finish the job” meaning the continued killing of Palestinians and raze what is left of Gaza to the ground, then Israel is definitely complying. Could "finish the job" also mean crossing borders into Lebanon to destroy Hezbollah, Iran's key paramilitary ally in the region? Well, a fragile ceasefire is in place in Lebanon with Hezbollah, and Iran is considerably weakened. In comments made to Israeli media in November, Trump advisor and evangelical leader Mike Evans said the directive to "finish the job" included instructions for Israel to attack Iran's oil facilities and strategic interests (Read more at TRTWorld).

Israel isn't bombing area where Austin Tice may be located

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised the mother of U.S. journalist Austin Tice that the IDF isn't conducting airstrikes in areas in Syria where he might be located (Read more at Axios). 

CIA chief heads to Qatar amid renewed Gaza ceasefire hopes

Burns is due to meet Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, in Doha (Read more at Dohanews).

US warns of imminent Turkish offensive in Syria

Unnamed US officials have warned that Washington is increasingly concerned that Turkiye and its allied militias in northern Syria – predominantly under the umbrella of the Syrian National Army (SNA) – are preparing for a large-scale military incursion into Syrian territory controlled by US-backed Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Citing a reported significant Turkish military build-up and presence – including the deployment of uniformed Turkish commandos, artillery units and allied militias to strategic positions along the border – near the town of Kobani, or Ayn Al-Arab, the officials told the paper that the movements resembled those seen ahead of Turkiye’s 2019 incursion into northern Syria, with one warning that “a cross-border operation could be imminent” yet again (Read more at Middle East Monitor).

Palestinian families sue State Department over US support for Israeli military

The lawsuit, opens new tab filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleged that the State Department under Secretary of State Antony Blinken has deliberately circumvented a U.S. human rights law to continue funding and supporting Israeli military units accused of atrocities in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank (Read more at Rueters).

US lawmakers urge Biden to withhold offensive weapons to Israel

The letter comes after the Biden administration concluded Israel made efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, despite record-low aid deliveries. A group of 20 US members of Congress led by Congressman Greg Casar signed the letter (Read more Middle East Eye).

A US State Department worker resigned over Israel-Gaza policy

Mike Casey, one of only two people explicitly focused on Gaza, left over inaction and doing ‘what the Israelis want’. Mike Casey arrived in Jerusalem in 2020. “The more informed you become on this issue, you can’t avoid realizing how bad it is,” Casey said. Casey resigned in July after four years at the job, discreetly leaving the post unlike other recent high-profile government departures. Now Casey reflected on how, as one of only two people in the entire US government explicitly focused on Gaza, he became an unwilling chronicler of a humanitarian catastrophe (Read more at Guardian).

US expresses cautious optimism on Gaza ceasefire

However, Matthew Miller, the department's spokesperson, in Washington acknowledged that previous hopes for a ceasefire had ultimately been dashed, making the current outlook more tentative (Read more at Middle East Monitor).

US strikes Houthi command center in Yemen

Group used facility to coordinate its operations, including recent attacks on US Navy warships and merchant vessels, says CENTCOM (Read more at Anadolu Ajansı).

At his final presidential Chanukah party, Biden renews pledge to bring hostages home

"I know this year's Hanukkah falls on the hearts that are still very heavy. It's the second Hanukkah since the horrors of Oct. 7. Over 1,000 slaughtered, hundreds taken hostage, unspeakable sexual violence and so much more. The trauma of that day and its aftermath is still raw and ongoing," Biden said (Read more at ABCNews).

Netanyahu meets with Trump’s special envoy for hostage affairs

Adam Boehler is visiting Israel this week amid ongoing negotiations to secure the release of the remaining Hamas captives in Gaza. He also discreetly met with Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. Trump said Monday he is working to secure the release of the hostages in Gaza, who number 100, according to the latest Israeli estimates. Thirty-six have been declared dead (Read more at New York Post).

US engaging with UN to ensure Syrians get answers for mass graves

An international war crimes prosecutor said on Tuesday that evidence emerging from mass grave sites in Syria has exposed a state-run "machinery of death" under toppled leader Bashar al-Assad in which he estimated more than 100,000 people were tortured and murdered since 2013 (Read more at Reuters).

Ceasefire between Turkey and US-backed rebels extended

The ceasefire around the northern Syrian city of Manbij has been extended until the end of this week. Washington brokered an initial ceasefire last week after fighting that broke out earlier this month.  State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, "We continue to engage with the SDF, with Turkey about a path forward." (read more at Reuters) 

Trump says Turkey is behind collapse of Assad

He added Turkey wanted control of Syria 'for thousands of years' and now they have it. "He's a very smart guy and he's very tough. But Turkey did an unfriendly takeover without a lot of lives being lost. I can say Assad was a butcher, what he did to children," Trump said during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, adding that he didn't know what the outcome of Assad's collapse would be (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Netanyahu says he held ‘friendly’ talks with Trump over Syria and Gaza

He said they discussed the need to complete Israel’s victory. A Trump spokesperson on Sunday declined to give further details about the call (Read more at Guradian).

US seeks stronger UN powers to intercept Red Sea shipments to Houthis

The Pentagon is also considering redesignating Iranian-backed Houthis as a terrorist group. Tim Lenderking, the US special envoy for Yemen, last week visited Djibouti where the UN Verification and Inspection Mission for Yemen (UNVIM) is based on the opposite side of the Red Sea. UNVIM’s chief focus is on inspecting ships for armaments entering Houthi-controlled Red Sea ports (Read more at Guardian).

U.S. asks Israel to approve military aid to Palestinian security forces

The security operation to regain control in the city of Jenin and its refugee camp from militants is the largest conducted by Palestinian security forces in years. Palestinian and U.S. officials said Palestinian leadership launched the operation out of fear that Islamist militants — emboldened after armed rebels took control of Syria — could try to overthrow the Palestinian Authority (Read more at Axios).

Egypt's Sisi discusses Gaza ceasefire efforts, hostages with top US officials

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Brett McGurk, the US Middle East and North Africa Coordinator, in Cairo and attended by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Egyptian Intelligence Chief Hassan Rashad, and US Ambassador to Egypt Herro Mustafa Garg, focused on recent regional developments and joint efforts to establish a cease-fire and facilitate the exchange of detainees in Gaza (Read more at Anadolu Ajansı)

Unchanged policy as US Senators remain unwilling to lift Syria sanctions

“The problem is, what comes next?”, said Senator Jim Risch, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Republican and Democratic US senators say it is too soon to consider lifting sanctions on Syria (Read more at Arab Weekly).

Trump Organisation plans new projects in Riyadh

The Trump Organisation plans to build a Trump Tower in the Saudi capital Riyadh as part of a real estate expansion in the region. London-listed Dar Global’s chief executive said the other new joint project planned in Riyadh is a Trump Golf community similar to one launched in Oman in 2022 (Read more at Arab Weekly).

US citizen imprisoned in Syria has been released and flown to Jordan

Travis Timmerman, 29, was imprisoned in Syria after crossing into the country on a Christian pilgrimage in June. United States officials have revealed that Travis Timmerman who disappeared into the Syrian prison system seven months ago, has been released and taken out of the country (Read more at Aljazeera).

Two NYU faculty members arrested at pro-Palestine protest

The arrests occurred during a sit-in at NYU, where students were nonviolently blocking access to the Bobst Library. According to the American Association of University Professors, the professors were not involved in the protest itself but were there to ensure the safety of the student demonstrators (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Blinken visits Iraq to discuss Syria’s post-Assad transition

Washington sees this moment as an opportunity to further push back Iran’s influence in the region. Blinken visited the US embassy in Baghdad and said he spoke to Sudani about the situation in Syria. Blinken and Sudani discussed “the conviction of so many countries in the region and beyond that, as Syria transitions from the Assad dictatorship to hopefully a democracy, it does so in a way that, of course, protects all of the minorities in Syria that produces an inclusive, non-sectarian government,” Blinken said, adding that Syria should not become a “platform for terrorism” (Read more at Arab Weekly).

Blinken meets Jordan's king in Syria diplomacy push

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Jordan’s King Abdullah in the Red Sea town of Aqaba on Thursday as he arrived in the region for talks on Syria following the ousting of Bashar Al-Assad, Reuters has reported. He will also meet Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi today before heading for Turkiye (Read more at Middle East Monitor).

US greenlights Foreign Military Sale worth $300 mln to Kuwait

Additionally, the package covers cables, wiring harnesses, hydraulics, fuel oil pumps, starters, generators, AGT1500 engine parts, testing and limited repair services for communication systems, fire control, night vision, and laser devices (Read more at Army Technology).

Palestinian American released to halfway house after two decades in prison

Mufid Abdulqader was convicted in a terrorism case civil liberties groups say highlights US's disproportionate targeting of Muslim charities. In 2020, Abdulqader had put in a plea for compassionate release on the grounds of the Covid-19 pandemic, which was tearing through the Seagoville federal prison in Texas where he was serving his sentence (Read more at Middle East Eye).

US security adviser Sullivan says Israel is acting in Syria for its own defence

"What Israel is doing is trying to identify potential threats, both conventional and weapons of mass destruction, that could threaten Israel, and, frankly threaten others as well," Sullivan told a press conference in Tel Aviv following a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Read more at Reuters).

Hostage Deal Possible by Month’s End, Says Jake Sullivan

“We’re now looking to close a hostage release deal and a cease-fire, which would stop the war and reunite hostages with their families,” Sullivan said. “Just over one year ago, we reached a deal that brought 78 hostages out of Gaza and home to their families. It’s time to finish the job and bring all of the hostages home.” Sullivan will travel to Doha and Cairo from Jerusalem to advance these negotiations (Read more at Media Line).

US urges Syrian rebels to form ‘inclusive’ government

The US is mounting a fresh diplomatic effort in the Middle East, hoping to end the war in Gaza and push rebels who have taken power in Syria to form a “credible, inclusive, and non-sectarian governance” (Read more at Guardian).

Kurdish-Led Force Announces US-Brokered Truce in Syria’s Manbij

The clashes in Manbij, an Arab-majority city, have killed 218 combatants since Turkish-backed groups launched offensives in the north following the ouster of Assad on Sunday. Syrian Democratic Forces commander Mazloum Abdi said, “Our goal is to reach a ceasefire across Syria and start a political process for the future of the country” (Read more at Defense Post).

Biden aides in Middle East in diplomatic push for Syria, Gaza

Two-pronged diplomatic push sees Blinken covering Jordan, Turkiye, while Sullivan holds talks in Israel, Qatar and Egypt. Washington has acknowledged Ankara’s right to defend itself from what it perceives as a security threat, but has also said it will continue working with the SDF (Read more at Aljazeera).

US again defeats Houthi attacks on American cargo, military ships

For the second time in 10 days, the U.S. military said it defeated attacks by Houthi militia. Destroyers USS Stockdale and USS O’Kane turned back a range of Houthi missiles and drones Dec. 9-10 in the Gulf of Aden (Read more at Freight Waves).

US troops to remain in Syria, White House says

U.S. troops will be staying in Syria after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad as part of a counter-terrorism mission focused on destroying Islamic State militants, a top White House official said on Tuesday (Read more at USNews).

US rushes to contain Turkey-backed offensive against SDF in Syria

Washington was caught off guard by the rapid overthrow of Assad by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)-aligned forces, which occurred in just 11 days. Reports suggest that US officials had been attempting to negotiate a deal with Assad that would have normalised his position in exchange for severing ties with Hezbollah and Iran. The US has expressed concern over Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) operations targeting the SDF, a US partner force (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Trump picks ambassadors to Turkey

Tom Barrack, the chair of his 2016 inaugural committee, has been chosen as the next ambassador to Turkey. He is a longtime friend of the Republican president-elect. He’s also a private equity executive and has previously been charged with unlawfully acting as an agent of the United Arab Emirates and was acquitted in 2022 of all nine counts he faced (Read more at Cyprus Mail).

Family of Turkish-American woman killed by Israel to meet Blinken

They call for an independent US-led probe into her killing. Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old Seattle resident and a new graduate of the University of Washington, was fatally shot by Israeli forces during a protest in the West Bank against illegal Israeli settlements on September 6 amid Israel’s war in Gaza. “For the last three months, Blinken and State Department officials have repeatedly told us to wait for Israel, the government whose army perpetrated the crime against Ayşenur, to investigate itself. This cannot stand,” Özden Bennett, Eygi’s sister, said in a statement (Read more at Turkish Minute).

Assad downfall was planned by US and Israel, claims Iran’s supreme leader

He also claimed Iranian intelligence had sent warnings to the Assad government about a possible attack for three months and predicted Syrian youth would eventually recapture the country, remarks that are unlikely to make it easier for Iran to build strong relations with the new leaders in Damascus (Read more at Guardian).

Biden pushes new Russia, Iran, N. Korea, China effort before Trump term

Biden’s new document orders various arms of the US government to restructure groups currently organised by region to better focus on issues linking the four countries that span Europe and Asia. The document’s strategies and policy suggestions could be implemented — or rejected altogether — by president-elect Trump (Read more at Selangor).

Two U.S. lawmakers push for some Syria sanctions relief after Assad's fall

The lawmakers wrote that while keeping sanctions on former government officials was important, they believed "that other parts of the legislation - such as sectoral sanctions and sanctions related to reconstruction - should be suspended". The letter said the U.S. must issue waivers and general licenses to encourage economic development and foreign investment and "build good will" without impacting sanctions on designated terrorist groups (Read more at New Arab).

Israel Minister Tells US 'Currently A Chance' For Gaza Hostage Deal

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz told his US counterpart Lloyd Austin in a phone call, "We are hoping for the release of all the hostages, including US citizens." (Read more at Barrons)

Palestinian Authority fears being sidelined in Gaza by Trump and UAE

PA's Jenin offensive is driven by fear that Trump will be drawn to a plan floated by UAE to install a different ruling elite. Looming over the Palestinian Authority’s battle with anti-occupation armed groups in Jenin are fears that US President-elect Donald Trump is amenable to sidelining the PA’s current leaders in a future post-war Gaza Strip in favour of the United Arab Emirates and its Palestinian allies (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Blinken lays out US hopes for Syria's political transition

He said, the US would recognize a future Syrian government that amounts to a credible, inclusive and non-sectarian governing body. It is the clearest definition outlined by Washington since Syria's opposition militias overthrew President Bashar al-Assad. Blinken's statement did not mention HTS (Read more at Reuters).

US accuses 2 former Syrian intelligence officers with war crimes

The US Justice Department announced charges against two former Syrian intelligence officials, Jamil Hassan and Abdul Salam Mahmoud, for war crimes related to their roles in the torture of detainees during the Syrian civil war. The charges stem from their actions at Mezzeh Military Airport, near Damascus, where they oversaw brutal treatment of prisoners, including US citizens (Read more at Anadolu Agency).

US officials discussed merits of removing $10m bounty on HTS leader

Meanwhile, Jordan's King emphasised importance of covert US support for the Syrian Free Army during his Washington DC visit. Ahmed al-Sharaa, commonly known as Jolani, has been designated as a terrorist by the United States since 2013, whilst his organisation, HTS, was proscribed by the Trump administration in 2018 when a $10m bounty was placed on his head (Read more at Business Standard). 

US Seeking Ways to Engage With Syrian Rebel Groups After Assad Ouster

The Biden administration is reaching out to partners in the region such as Turkey to help kick start informal diplomacy. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been working the phones and speaking with regional leaders and has twice over the past four days spoken with Hakan Fidan, the foreign minister of Turkey, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said  (Read more at USNews).

Blinken Warns Islamic State Will Try to Re-Establish Capabilities in Syria

But he said the United States is determined not to let that happen. Mr Blinken said Syrians have to choose their future, adding that statements by rebel leaders towards building inclusive governance are welcome but that the real measure will be in the action they take, not just what they say (Read more at Strait Times).

US renews push to find Captive Journalist after al-Assad toppled

Just a day after opposition fighters led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group took control of Damascus, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Monday that finding missing journalist Austin Tice is a “top priority”, while State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that an envoy had been sent to Beirut as part of “intensive efforts” to find Tice. Austin Tice has been missing since 2012 when he was abducted in Damascus while reporting on the popular uprising against al-Assad (Read more at Aljazeera).

Trump’s Middle East envoy warns of consequences if Gaza hostages not released soon

Steve Witkoff, who will formally take up the position when Trump's administration starts, said he hoped and prayed there would be ceasefire in Gaza between Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel before Trump takes office on Jan. 20. "You heard what the president said, they better be released," he said, referring to Trump. "Listen to what the president has got to say. It's not a pretty day if they're not released," Witkoff added (Read more at ArabNews).

Rebels take Syrian city from U.S.-backed group after U.S.-Turkey deal

The United States and Turkey reached an agreement to ensure the safe withdrawal of U.S.-backed Kurdish Syrian forces (SDF) from the northern city of Manbij after an advance by Turkey-backed rebels. The Turkey-backed Syrian opposition groups had earlier taken control of Manbij from the SDF, a Turkish security source said, a day after rebels in the southern capital of Damascus declared Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's ouster (Read more at Reuters).

Trump family and allies to bask in Gulf crypto industry's euphoria

Speakers include the president-elect's son Eric and billionaire Steve Witkoff, the new White House envoy for the Middle East and co-founder of World Liberty Financial, a crypto platform launched in September that Donald Trump and his family helped form (Read more at MSN).

ََA US Asset Manager to Open Abu Dhabi Office

U.S. investment management firm Polen Capital said on Monday it has received preliminary approval for a license to operate from the ADGM, Abu Dhabi's financial centre, as it looks to capitalise on growth opportunities in the region. Rising company registrations, the appeal of sovereign wealth funds, and the relative ease of obtaining a license to operate compared with other financial centres have enhanced ADGM's attractiveness for global firms. Polen Capital, which had approximately $63 billion in assets under management as at Sept. 30, will join other global asset managers and hedge funds in setting up in the ADGM (Read more at USNews).

US Will Remain in Eastern Syria and Seek to Prevent IS Resurgence

"We are aware that the chaotic and dynamic circumstances on the ground in Syria could give ISIS space to find the ability to become active, to plan external operations, and we're determined to work with those partners to continue to degrade their capabilities," Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro said (Read more at USNews)

Trump says Russia abandoned Syria's Assad, never should have been involved

"There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place," Trump wrote. "They lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine ... a war that should never have started, and could go on forever." (Read more at Daily Star)

Biden: U.S. will support Syria and its neighbors after Assad dynasty collapses

President Joe Biden called the toppling of Syria's dictatorship a "historic opportunity" for Syrian people. He also warned about some risks posed by the uncertainty, such as a resurgence of ISIS. The U.S. will support Syria's neighbors, including Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Israel, during the transition period and send senior officials to the region, Biden said (Read more at CNBS).

No concerns over Trump vow to lift LNG exports cap: Qatar minister

Asked about the impact of Trump’s return to the White House on Qatar-US relations, particularly in energy, Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi said oil and gas projects were multi-decade plans and “survive governments”, but later added he thought Trump was “good for business” (Read more at Business Recorder).

Turkey's Halkbank Loses Latest Bid to Avoid US Prosecution in Sanctions Case

A U.S. appeals court on Friday rejected a request by Türkiye’s Halkbank to reconsider a ruling that allows the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to prosecute the state-owned bank for allegedly helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions (Read more at Turkiyetoday).

Qatar PM sees 'momentum' on Gaza talks after US election

The Gulf emirate, along with the United States and Egypt, had been involved in months of unsuccessful negotiations for a Gaza truce and hostage release. But in November, Doha announced it had put its mediation on hold, saying it would resume when Hamas and Israel showed "willingness and seriousness". "We have sensed, after the election, that the momentum is coming back," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani told the Doha Forum for political dialogue (Read more at France24).

Trump says US shouldn’t intervene in Syria as opposition forces gain ground

He argued that Syrian President Bashar Assad did not deserve U.S. support to stay in power. In his post, Trump said Russia “is so tied up in Ukraine” that it “seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years.” He said rebels could possibly force Assad from power (Read more at AP).

Syria war to have ‘massive’ effect on Lebanon: US envoy Hochstein

The top Biden diplomat said a weakened Syrian government will make it difficult for Iran to transfer weapons to Hezbollah (Read more at Aljazeera).

US clears export of advanced AI chips to UAE under Microsoft deal

The US government has approved the export of advanced artificial intelligence chips to a Microsoft-operated facility in the United Arab Emirates as part of the company's highly-scrutinized partnership with Emirati AI firm G42. The approved export license requires Microsoft to prevent access to its facility in the UAE by personnel who are from nations under U.S. arms embargoes or who are on the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security's Entity List (Read more at DecanHerald).

Syrian rebel advance poses risks for U.S. and others

Jeffrey, former U.S. Ambassador to the Coalition to Defeat Islamic State under the previous Trump Administration, said President-elect Donald Trump was likely to ramp up pressure on Syria's ally Iran both there and across the region. "Such a dramatic change in the balance of power in Syria makes everybody nervous because everybody has a chunk of Syria," (Read more at AOL).

US-Backed Syrian Kurds Seize Eastern City of Deir El-Zor

It is the main border crossing with Iraq on Friday, taking effective control of Syria's vast eastern desert in two rapid moves. SDF head Mazlum Abdi told reporters earlier on Friday at a press conference in Hasakeh city that his forces had "channels of communication with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)," particularly in order to protect Kurds living in Aleppo city (Read more at USNews).

Family of journalist missing in Syria since 2012 meets top US official

The mother of Austin Tice, a US journalist captured over 12 years ago in Syria, said on Friday that her family had information that he is still alive. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with Tice's family in the afternoon (Read more at NewArab)

Supreme Court agrees to weigh terrorist victims' bid to sue Palestinian entities

The Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority argue that a law Congress enacted in 2019 to allow victims of terrorism to sue the authorities violates their due process rights (Read more at NBCNews).

Turkish competition body ends Meta probe over Threads data-sharing

Türkiye's competition authority said on Thursday that it has decided to terminate an investigation of Meta Platforms regarding data-sharing between its social media platforms Threads and Instagram (Read more at Daily Sabah).

Trump's pick for Middle East envoy in diplomatic push for Gaza ceasefire before inauguration

Steve Witkoff, who will officially take up the position under Trump’s administration, met separately in late November with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, said the source. Witkoff’s conversations appear to have been aimed at building on nearly 14 months of unsuccessful diplomacy by the Biden administration, Qatar and Egypt aimed at a lasting ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, in Gaza (Read more at Middle East Monitor).

Hezbollah aims to rebuild longer term despite Israeli blows, US intel says

U.S. intelligence agencies assessed in recent weeks that Hezbollah, even amid Israel's military campaign, had begun to recruit new fighters and was trying to find ways to rearm through domestic production and by smuggling materials through Syria, said a senior U.S. official, an Israeli official and two U.S. lawmakers briefed on the intelligence (Read more at AOL).

Trump announces Adam Boehler as special envoy for hostage affairs

Trump said Mr Boehler was a lead negotiator for him on his team that worked the Abraham Accords in 2020, a series of normalisation agreements between Israel and Arab nations. “He has negotiated with some of the toughest people in the World, including the Taliban, but Adam knows that NO ONE is tougher than the United States of America, at least when President Trump is its Leader (Read more at Strait Times).

Trump adviser Waltz to meet with Israel's Dermer

Waltz and Dermer are expected to discuss the efforts to reach a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal and the Iranian threat. The meeting comes just weeks before Trump takes office on Jan. 20 following campaign promises to end the wars in the Middle East and elsewhere, though he has offered scant details on how he plans to proceed (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Russia, US clash at UN over escalation in Syria fighting

They accused each other of supporting terrorism during a Security Council meeting convened over a sudden escalation of fighting in Syria. In remarks directed at Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood, Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said: "You were unable to summon the courage to condemn a clear terrorist attack undertaken against peaceful civilians in peaceful Syrian cities." "There are no illusions that Washington will ever be willing to sincerely combat international terrorism," he said. "To be frank we are pleased that we are on opposite sides of the barricades right now from you." (Read more at Reuters)

Senior US Democrat mounts new push for peace in Sudan

The legislation would sanction leaders on both sides of Sudan’s civil war and prohibit the sale of American weapons to countries fueling the conflict. It would require the U.S. president to submit a strategy to Congress for ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid and establishing peace in Sudan. It also would establish a five-year term for a special presidential envoy for Sudan to coordinate U.S. policy and diplomatic efforts (Read more at MSN).

US deepens sanctions on Iran’s ‘shadow’ oil fleet

The Biden administration ramped up its sanctions on Iran, targeting 35 entities and vessels that it said transported illicit Iranian petroleum to foreign markets. The sanctions build on those previously imposed on Oct. 11 and come in response to Iran’s Oct. 1 attack on Israel and to its announced nuclear escalations (Read more at Boereport).

Israel leaders applaud Trump pledge on hostages, Gazans fear the worst

The reaction in Gaza was less enthusiastic. Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and many of his ministers publicly thanked Trump for his hard-hitting words. Writing on Truth Social, and without naming any group, Trump said the hostages had to be freed by the time he was sworn in. If his demand was not met, he said: “Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America.” (Read more at Middle East Monitor)

US beating weapons not Houthis, says former national security official

"Iran has never been weaker," Michael Doran wrote. "It’s a puffer fish. There’s no reason why the U.S. must tolerate these attacks." U.S. Central Command stated that the U.S. Navy destroyers USS Stockdale and USS O’Kane “successfully defeated a range of Houthi-launched weapons while transiting the Gulf of Aden,” on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 (Read more at JNS).

Talk of a Hamas-Israel Cease-fire Still Premature

Trump wants Netanyahu to make a deal, but experts say the compromises needed to reach a deal with Hamas might bring an end to the Netanyahu government. It is hard to tell whether Netanyahu is a prisoner of Ben-Gvir and Smotrich like many say or that he himself shares their ideas. Hamas is trying to survive, to stop the war in order to not cease [existing] as an organization. If Trump demands the end of the war in Gaza, it will entail steps, such as the release of Palestinian prisoners, that cannot be accepted by the current government. This will lead to an election in Israel, which could be something Trump actually wants (Read more at Media Line).

Top Turkish and American Diplomats Share Call Amid Major Escalation in Syria

A Turkish foreign ministry source with knowledge of the call stated that Fidan assured Blinken of Ankara’s opposition to developments that could destabilize the region. He expressed support for a “finalized” political solution to formally end hostilities between the different rebel factions and Assad’s government while also reiterating Turkey’s stance on concerns surrounding Kurdish terrorist threats (Read more at Media Line).

US-Israeli Cloud Security Firm Upwind Raises $100 Million

The conversations intensified in recent months, the sources said, driven by the possible expiry on Dec. 20 of sweeping U.S. sanctions on Syria and by Israel's campaign against Tehran's regional network, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and Iranian assets in Syria (Read more at USNews).

US Led Coalition Planes Attack Iranian Militia Bases in Syria

International Coalition warplanes overnight Monday targeted sites belonging to the Iranian militias in Al-Quriyah and Al-Mayadeen in the countryside of Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria, using heavy machine guns, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported. There is no information about human losses so far (Read more at Jewish Press).

US Welcomes Israel Lifeline For Palestinian Banking

The United States on Monday welcomed Israel's one-year extension of a lifeline to Palestinian banks, after threats by the far-right finance minister to sever the connection amid the Gaza war. The United States had pressed Israel to maintain the waiver which allows Israeli banks to work with Palestinian ones, fearing otherwise that the comparatively stable West Bank would descend into economic havoc (Read more at Barron's).

US follows France in warning Israel over ceasefire violations

Washington has backed up Paris’s assertions that Israel is violating the terms of last week’s ceasefire agreement with Lebanon, that formally ended 14 months of hostilities with the Hezbollah terrorist group. U.S. presidential envoy Amos Hochstein, who played a pivotal role in brokering the deal, conveyed a message to officials in Jerusalem that they are not abiding by the truce terms (Read more at JNS).

Trump says ‘hell to pay’ if captives in Gaza not released

“Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity,” Trump said (Read more at Aljazeera).

US Says Lebanon 'Ceasefire Holding' Despite Incidents

"When we get reports of potential violations, we have a mechanism that we put in place with the government of France to look at those potential violations, determine if they are in fact, violations, and then engage with the parties to ensure that they aren't repeated," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said (Read more at Barron's).

American-Born Tank Commander’s Death Confirmed 14 Months After Hamas Abduction

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Monday that Captain Omer Maxim Neutra, a 21-year-old lone soldier from New York, was killed during Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack and that his body remains in Gaza. Neutra, a tank platoon commander in the IDF’s 7th Armored Brigade, was among four soldiers abducted during the assault near Nahal Oz (Read more at Media Line).

Biden in photo-op with book on Israel's ethnic cleansing of Palestine

Biden was snapped with a copy of the book The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine, written by renowned Palestinian American author Rashid Khalidi, which he seemingly purchased in a 'Black Friday' sale in a bookshop in Nantucket. Khalidi is a historian and expert on Middle Eastern affairs who teaches at Columbia University, and who is known for his opposition to US policies on Palestine and Israel (Read more at New Arab).

Hamas releases video of US-Israeli hostage in Gaza

 He pleaded for Trump to secure his release. Netanyahu calls video cruel psychological warfare, vows to bring hostages home. Biden administration is working to secure release before Trump's inauguration (Read more at Reuters).

US, France, Germany, UK Urge 'De-escalation' In Syria: Joint Statement

"The current escalation only underscores the urgent need for a Syrian-led political solution to the conflict, in line with UNSCR 2254," read a statement issued by the US State Department, referencing the 2015 UN resolution that endorsed a peace process in Syria (Read more at Barron's).

Trump Picks Massad Boulos to Serve as Adviser on Arab, Middle Eastern Affairs

In recent months, Boulos, the father-in-law of Trump's daughter Tiffany, campaigned for Trump to drum up Lebanese and Arab American support, even as the U.S.-backed Israel's military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Boulos has powerful roots in both countries. His father and grandfather were both figures in Lebanese politics and his father-in-law was a key funder of the Free Patriotic Movement, a Christian party aligned with Hezbollah (Read more at USNews).

Saudi Arabia abandons pursuit of U.S. defence treaty over Israel stalemate

Saudi Arabia is now pushing for a more modest military cooperation agreement. Riyadh also softened its position on Palestinian statehood, telling Washington that a public commitment from Israel to a two-state solution could be enough for the Gulf kingdom to normalise relations (Read more at MSN).

US Admiral Admits Ukraine, Israel Military Aid Affecting Readiness for China

Speaking at an event at the Brookings Institution, Adm. Samuel Paparo, the navy’s top commander in the Indo-Pacific, explained that transferring advanced weapons from US stockpiles is impacting Washington’s worldwide “high-end capability.” (Read more at Defense Post)

The diplomatic push that took Lebanon from Armageddon to ceasefire

With Hochstein shuttling between the countries, meeting Israeli negotiators under Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and reporting back daily to U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, France was also in the picture. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot visited the region in early November at Israel's request despite tensions between the countries. He held long talks with Dermer on the mechanics of a ceasefire with a phased approach to redeployments, with the two delegations poring over maps, two sources aware of the matter said. As things worsened for Lebanon, there was frustration at the pace of talks. "(Hochstein) told us he needed 10 days to get to a ceasefire but the Israelis dragged it out to a month to finish up military operations," a Lebanese official said (Read more at Reuters).

Top Dutch court advised to uphold export ban of F-35 components to Israel

The Dutch Supreme Court has been advised to uphold an eight-month-old ban on the export of F-35 fighter jet components to Israel from a critical regional warehouse in the Netherlands. In February, the Hague Court of Appeal ordered the government to block the exports over concerns Israel was using them to violate international law in its war on Gaza, a decision the government appealed (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Iran, Europeans test diplomacy with Trump term looming

European and Iranian officials made little progress in meetings on Friday on whether they could engage in serious talks, including over Iran's disputed nuclear programme, before Donald Trump returns to the White House in January. A European official said there had been nothing of note in the meeting but that Tehran had shown an eagerness to explore how diplomacy could work in next few weeks (Read more at Reuters). 

25 pro-Palestinian protesters arrested at NYC Thanksgiving parade

This is the second year in a row that pro-Palestinian protesters have used the nationally televised parade to call for a ceasefire in Gaza amid nearly 14 months of conflict following Palestinian militant group Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, invasion of Israel. All of the demonstrators have been released as of Friday, according to the NYPD. (Read more at The Hill)

Separating Hezbollah, Gaza conflicts ‘key’ to Israel cease-fire deal: US envoy

In an interview with Channel 12 News, Hochstein said that “the real issue was the linkage that Hezbollah had made between Lebanon and Gaza, and being able to break that linkage, delinking the two conflicts, was the key to solving this one.” “The Lebanese deal here opens an opportunity on the hostage deal,” he said. “They [Hamas] wake up this morning at 4 a.m. with Hezbollah, that used to be actively supportive of Hamas in the northern front, cutting a deal and ending that conflict.” (Read more at New York Post).

Graham: Israel-Lebanon ceasefire is a step toward regional peace

However, while ending the fighting was necessary to “start the peace” in the region, he added, “I am hopeful but not naïve. The difficulty of achieving normalization after Oct. 7 is extraordinary.” (Read more at JNS)

Israel Foreign Minister looks to Washington to punish the ICC

Israel has said it will appeal the ICC decision. Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, said, “I tend to believe that in Washington, legislation is going to take place very shortly against the ICC and whoever cooperates with it” (Read more at Middle East Monitor).

Biden Advances $680M Arms Deal to Israel Amid Cease-fire with Hezbollah

The sale includes thousands of Joint Direct Attack Munition kits (JDAMs) and hundreds of small-diameter bombs. This comes just a day after a US-brokered cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon took effect. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently emphasized the importance of replenishing weapons stockpiles as part of the cease-fire rationale. “It is no secret that there have been big delays in weapons and munitions deliveries. These delays will be resolved soon,” Netanyahu said Tuesday night (Read more at Media Line).

What does the US-brokered truce ending Israel-Hezbollah fighting include

It includes Halt to hostilities, Israeli troops withdrawing, Hezbollah pulling north, Lebanese army deploys, a monitoring mechanism, and unilateral Israeli strikes(Read more at Reuters).

Trump’s Mideast team: A familiar look for a transformed region

When President-elect Donald Trump named a Middle East team for his second term, it struck some as a bit of déjà vu. The team includes a real estate mogul with no diplomatic experience, a conservative religious leader who views Israel in messianic terms, and an Israel hawk relishing the prospect of taking on the international community. It suggests he liked what he got out of the first team and wants the same, only more and bigger, from this one.” (Read more at CSMonitor)

Biden to push for Gaza ceasefire after Israel-Lebanon deal

The U.S. "will make another push, with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others, to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza," he said. Biden also wants the hostages released and to end the war without Hamas in power (Read more at Reuters).

Biden to push for Gaza ceasefire after Israel-Lebanon deal

The U.S. "will make another push, with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others, to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza," Biden said. He also wants the hostages released and to end the war without Hamas in power (Read more at Reuters).

Türkiye scraps 79 modernization kits from F-16 jet deal with US

This is why we gave up: Our Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) facilities are capable of carrying out this modernization on their own, so we deferred to them," Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler said (Read more at Daily Sabah).

US Will Work With Lebanese Army to Ensure Ceasefire Not Violated

But there will not be U.S. combat troops in the area, a senior U.S. official told reporters on Tuesday. The official called the ceasefire deal showed Hamas militants that the conflict in Lebanon was delinked (Read more at USNews).

Wall Street banks get a lift from trading Israeli currency, bonds

The world's top investment banks are on track to post the highest revenue in five years from trading Israel's bonds and currency thanks to the volatility caused by the 14-month long war in the Middle East. Banks are expected to post $475 million in fixed-income, currencies and commodities trading (FICC) revenue linked to Israel in 2024, a more than 10% increase from 2023 (Read more at MSN).

Israel, Hezbollah Agree to Ceasefire Brokered by US and France

Biden, who made remarks at the White House shortly after Israel's security cabinet approved the agreement in a 10-1 vote, said he had spoken to Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati. Fighting would end on Wednesday at 4 a.m. local time (0200 GMT), he said (Read more at USNews).

US general arrives in Beirut to oversee Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire

Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers and presidential envoy Amos Hochstein will serve as co-chairs of the truce enforcement and monitoring mechanism until a new civilian official is appointed. Lebanese Armed Forces Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun received Jeffers at his office in Yarzeh (Read more at JNS).

US senator warns US allies over Netanyahu arrest

Republican US Sen. Lindsey Graham threatened to sanction US allies if they enforce International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants on Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant. "To any ally, Canada, Britain, Germany, France, if you try to help the ICC, we’re going to sanction you," Graham told Fox News in an interview late Friday (Read more at IRNA).

Saudi Aramco unit in talks to invest $1 billion in US software maker Mavenir

The deal by Aramco Digital, the wholly-owned technology subsidiary of the oil giant, would be its first major transaction in the telecommunications industry as part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 plan, which focuses on technological advancements and economic diversification (Read more at Reuters).

Israeli settlers set sights on Trump support for full control of West Bank

The West Bank has been transformed by the rapid growth of Jewish settlements since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned at the head of a far-right nationalist coalition two years ago. During that time, an explosion in settler violence that has led to US sanctions. In recent weeks, Israeli flags have sprouted on hilltops claimed by some settlers in the West Bank’s Jordan Valley, adding to worries among many local Palestinians of greater control of those areas. Some settlers prayed for Trump’s victory before the election (Read more at Arabnews).

Kurdish forces eye Trump’s return with caution

Various commentators suggest that Donald Trump will withdraw US forces from northeastern Syria. On 8 November, Robert F. Kennedy Jr told political commentator Tucker Carlson that Trump intends to pull American troops from the region to prevent them from becoming “cannon fodder”. Four days later, Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler stated in an interview, “Trump gave instructions to withdraw troops from Syria three times during his presidency.” He expressed confidence that Trump would prioritise this issue and remove US forces from Syria and the broader region (Read more at medyanews).

US Probes JPMorgan's Links With Iranian Oil Trader's Hedge Fund

The U.S. agency is scrutinizing whether JPMorgan complied with all rules and regulations when it took on UAE-based hedge fund Ocean Leonid Investments as a client. U.S. federal law requires financial institutions to monitor for suspicious activity in an effort to prevent illicit funds from flowing through the country (Read more at USNews).

Biden admin: Abbas naming heir ‘strengthens governance’

Rawhi Fattouh, 75, said last year that "Jerusalem belongs exclusively to the Palestinians, the Arabs and the Muslims." Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas’s decision to appoint a longtime confidante, Rawhi Fattouh, 75, as his successor “provides valuable clarity and strengthens governance,” a U.S. State Department spokesperson said (Read more at JNS)

Trump’s effect on the Middle East

Trump is already shaping the calculations of combatants in the Middle East and in Europe, as they seek to guess what he’ll want once back in the White House, jockeying to find favor beforehand. “His resounding victory sent a clear message to the rest of the world that chaos won’t be tolerated. I’m glad to see concrete steps towards de-escalation in the Middle East,” Mike Waltz, Trump’s pick for national security adviser said (Read more at Politico).

Erdogan opposes Ukraine use of U.S. long range missiles

Turkey, a Black Sea neighbour of both Russia and Ukraine, also opposes Western sanctions against Moscow, with which it shares important defence, energy and tourism ties (Read more at MSN).

US Senate rejects bids to block military sales to Israel

Senate votes defeating three resolutions show strong bipartisan support for Israel. Opponents cite threats to Israel from Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. Senator Sanders argues military aid violates U.S. law on human rights (Read more at Reuters).

White House rejects ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant

"The United States has been clear that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over this matter. In coordination with partners, including Israel, we are discussing next steps." a National Security Council spokesperson (Read more at Anadolu Ajansı)

US lawmakers seek to halt weapons sales to UAE, citing Sudan

US Senator, Chris Van Hollen, has introduced legislation seeking to halt American weapons sales to the United Arab Emirates until the United States certifies that the UAE is not arming the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan. “The UAE is an important partner in the Middle East, but the United States cannot sit idly by as it aids and abets the humanitarian disaster in Sudan – we must use our leverage to try to bring this conflict to a peaceful resolution,” Van Hollen said in a statement (Read more at Middle East Monitor).

US envoy says Israel-Hezbollah truce is within our grasp

Amos Hochstein, the Biden administration’s pointman on Israel and Lebanon, arrived as Hezbollah’s allies in the Lebanese government said the militant group had responded positively to the proposal, which would entail both its fighters and Israeli ground forces withdrawing from a U.N. buffer zone in southern Lebanon. However, there was no such optimism in the Gaza Strip, where the looting of nearly 100 aid trucks by armed men worsened an already severe food crisis (Reade more at Associated Press).

Facing Trump 2.0, Palestinians voice rising concern: What’s our plan

A phone call to President-elect Donald Trump, an appeal to Saudi Arabia, checking in with Tiffany Trump’s Lebanese American in-laws, or just hoping for the best. Palestinian officials are pursuing a hodgepodge of diplomatic overtures to secure a productive relationship with a new Trump administration, five years on from a falling-out with the last one (Read more at CSMonitor).

Biden administration pushes Democrats to block $20bn arms ban to Israel

The Joint Resolutions of Disapproval, co-sponsored by Senators Bernie Sanders, Peter Welch, Jeff Merkley and Brian Schatz, target six arms deals involving missiles, tank rounds, mortars, tactical vehicles and F-15 jets, with a vote expected Wednesday. Although the measures are unlikely to pass due to strong bipartisan support for Israel, the push highlights growing divisions within the Democratic Party, following recent elections where Republicans gained control of the White House and Congress. According to The Times of Israel, officials from the White House, State Department, and Pentagon have reached out to undecided Senators, urging them to oppose the legislation (Read more at Middle East Monitor).

US envoy to travel to Israel in bid to seal Hezbollah ceasefire

Hochstein arrived in Beirut on Tuesday, seeking to clinch a ceasefire agreement after the Lebanese government and Hezbollah agreed to a U.S. ceasefire proposal, although with some comments. Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem said the group had given its own feedback on the truce draft and that it was shared with Hochstein. He said whether a ceasefire was reached now depended on Israel and whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was serious about one. Hezbollah stood ready to keep on fighting for a long time, he added (Read more at Yahoo News).

US vetoes UN security council push to call for ceasefire in Gaza

UN security council voted 14-1 in favor of resolution but it was not adopted because of the US veto. The resolution demanded “an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire” in the war between Israel and the Palestinian group, along with “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages”. Robert Wood, deputy ambassador to the UN, said that the US position remained that there had “to be a linkage between a ceasefire and the release of hostages”. (Read more at Guardian)

The makings of a grand Trump deal in the Middle East

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak says it’s possible the new U.S. administration may enter into interconnected talks with Putin about Ukraine, Iran and the Middle East (Read more at Politico).

Ukraine, Middle East Conflicts Eating Into US Air Defense Stocks

Biden’s administration has been steadily arming Ukraine and Israel with its most sophisticated air defenses. The US Navy has been directly defending shipping in the Red Sea in the face of missile and drone attacks from Houthi rebels in Yemen. The United States last month deployed to Israel a THAAD, or the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, and about 100 US troops to operate it. The THAAD is a critical part of the US military’s layered air defense systems. The admission by Admiral Sam Paparo could draw the attention of members of President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration, who are more skeptical of the war in Ukraine and who argue that President Joe Biden has failed to prepare for a potential conflict with China (Read more at Arab News).

Israeli settler group slams US sanctions over West Bank

A statement by the group said the sanctions "result from baseless slander directed at Amana by hostile and extremist elements". "Had the US administration bothered to verify the claims... it would have found them to be factually unfounded and refrained from taking action against us," the statement said (Read more at France 24).

US Senate must vote to finally to end arms transfers to Israel – Oxfam

Ahead of the Senate vote on Bernie Sanders’ resolution to block a shipment of US arms transfers to Israel, Scott Paul, Director of Peace and Security at Oxfam America, said: “We welcome Senator Sanders’ efforts to bring accountability to the Biden administration’s indefensible ongoing military support for the humanitarian nightmare unfolding in Gaza. President Biden has been unwilling to follow US law in order to save Palestinian lives, so we are depending on the Senate to do it with their vote on Wednesday (Read more at Oxfam America).

Senate to Vote on Resolutions to Block U.S. Arms Sales to Israel

United States senators will vote Wednesday on whether the U.S. should halt $20 billion of arms sales to Israel. Bernie Sanders introduced the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval as the Biden administration has continued to violate U.S. laws that prohibit the transfer of weapons to governments committing human rights violations. Six senators have publicly backed the resolutions thus far: Jeff Merkley, Brian Schatz, Elizabeth Warren, Peter Welch, Chris Van Hollen, and Bernie Sanders (Read more at Democracy Now).

US warns Turkey against hosting Hamas leaders

"We don’t believe the leaders of a vicious terrorist organisation should be living comfortably anywhere," US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, adding that this especially applies in the Turkish capital — a "major city of one of our key allies and partners" (Read more at Euronews).

Lebanon agreed to US proposal for ceasefire

"We have made a lot of progress. Lebanon has a very positive view on this proposal," a Lebanese official said. Despite this progress, Israeli officials have yet to formally respond to the US truce plan. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed Monday that Washington has shared proposals with both the Lebanese and Israeli leadership (Read more at ISNA).

US imposes sanctions on 6 senior Hamas officials

The Treasury Department said in a statement the sanctions targeted the group's representatives abroad, a senior member of the Hamas military wing and those involved in supporting fundraising efforts for the group and weapons smuggling into Gaza (Read more at Daily Observer).

US, Israeli officials to discuss civilian harm in Gaza: State Department

"We have scheduled a meeting between senior officials here at the department and senior officials in the Israeli government in early December. It'll be the first meeting of that new channel," spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters (Read more at Anadolu Ajansı).

COP29: US-UAE climate-friendly farming partnership grows to $29 billion

The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) was launched in 2021. Under the program, governments, companies, and non-government organizations pledge funding for projects to reduce the climate impact of agriculture and to make farming more resilient to the impacts of global warming (Read more at Yahoo News).

U.S. hits Israeli settler group with sanctions over West Bank violence

The Amana settler group “a key part of the Israeli extremist settlement movement and maintains ties to various persons previously sanctioned by the U.S. government and its partners for perpetrating violence in the West Bank,” the Treasury Department said in a statement announcing the sanctions. The sanctions block Americans from any transactions with Amana and freeze its U.S.-held assets. The United Kingdom and Canada have also imposed sanctions on Amana (Read more at NBCNews).

Most Gulf markets fall on Fed rate cut concerns

The Fed's decisions have a significant impact on monetary policy in the Gulf as most of the region's currencies are pegged to the U.S. dollar. Most Gulf stock markets fell on Sunday after U.S economic data and comments from Federal Reserve officials pointed to a slower pace of interest-rate cuts. Investors increased bets on the Fed leaving interest rates unchanged at its December meeting and dialled back expectations for easing in 2025 (Read more at ZAWYA).

US sanctions on Burhan spark Sudanese condemnation of UAE and Biden

“The decision came at the 11th hour by the outgoing US administration as a desperate attempt to make up for its failure to take concrete action against the main culprit prolonging the war in Sudan: the UAE,” a senior Sudanese diplomat (Read more at Middle East Eye).

The real estate investor who sealed the Gaza ceasefire

Trump's Middle East envoy epitomises the president-elect's disdain for policy wonks and international relations experts. With Trump saying he will use the hostage deal to expand the 2020 Abraham Accord agreements, Witkoff is likely set to delve deeper into the world of Gulf politics and the Israel-Palestine conflict (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Attempts to reach US-Saudi deal part of struggle for the world order

Fresh attempts by the United States and Saudi Arabia to reach a defense pact are part of a wider effort to reshape regional and global dynamics, and to degrade Iran's influence, according to observers in Israel (Read more at JNS).

Peace through strength: A look into Trump’s Iran policy

“If we look at the recent appointments the president has made, none of them are isolationists and almost all of them have publicly condemned the Iranian terror regime in the strongest possible terms,” said Dan Diker, president of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (Read more at JNS).

Graham tells Netanyahu: ‘Do what you have to’ on Iran nukes

The Republican lawmaker said that he has never been more worried about an Iranian nuclear breakout than right now. “It is in America’s interest to ensure the Iranian regime does not possess a nuclear weapon,” he said (Read more at JNS).

What have Trump administration nominees said about Israel and its wars

While pro-Israel views are common in US politics, Trump’s picks signal support for far-right Israeli aspirations. During the final weeks of the 2024 United States presidential race, former President Donald Trump spoke with sympathy to Arab American and Muslim voters enraged by the country’s support for Israel’s wars in Gaza and Lebanon. But following a thumping victory at the polls, Trump is preparing to return to the White House with a coterie of some of the Republican Party’s most vehemently pro-Israel figures (Read more at Aljazeera).

Iran denies meeting between envoy and Elon Musk

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Saturday strongly denied a reported meeting between Tehran's United Nations envoy and U.S. billionaire Elon Musk (Read more at Ariana).

How do Palestinians perceive a new Trump presidency

Although the previous administration of US President-elect Donald Trump was seen as a staunch ally of Israel, Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, Palestine’s minister of state for foreign affairs and expatriates, says Palestinians remain hopeful about his return to the White House (Read more at Arabnews).

The real estate investor who sealed the Gaza ceasefire

Trump's Middle East envoy epitomises the president-elect's disdain for policy wonks and international relations experts. Witkoff doesn’t speak much in public, but when he does, he is measured and deliberate. Appearing on Fox News in January, he said Trump’s “strong stance, his certitude in asserting that ‘all hell would break loose’ is moving people”, when asked about the ceasefire talks.  With Trump saying he will use the hostage deal to expand the 2020 Abraham Accord agreements, Witkoff is likely set to delve deeper into the world of Gulf politics and the Israel-Palestine conflict (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Muslims who voted for Donald Trump upset by his pro-Israel cabinet picks

Hassan Abdel Salam, a former professor at the University of Minnesota said Trump’s staffing plans were not surprising, but had proven even more extreme that he had feared (Read more at Arabnews).

What to Expect From Trump's Middle East Policy

The choices for key foreign policy and national security roles so far suggest a preference for an activist US policy in the region rather than an isolationist approach. However, it should not be ruled out that future US policy may still retain notable isolationist elements, driven in part by Trump’s own reluctance toward troop deployments and foreign interventions. All things considered, Trump’s victory appears to shift regional power dynamics in favor of Israel and Gulf countries and put Iran in a disadvantageous position (Read more at Foreign Policy Research Institute).

Trump sends conflicting signals on Iran

The meeting between Elon Musk and Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations , if confirmed, could offer an early indication that Trump is not foreclosing the option of diplomacy with Iran. It would also show again the extraordinary influence of Musk, the owner of Tesla and X who has been a near constant presence at Trump’s side, reportedly joining him on telephone calls with world leaders (Read more at Arab Weekly).

US says MetLife unit reached settlement over Iran sanctions violations

The U.S. Treasury Department said on Thursday that New York-based insurer MetLife's (MET.N), opens new tab unit, American Life Insurance Co, agreed to settle its potential civil liability for over 2,300 apparent violations of sanctions against Iran. The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control announced a $178,421 settlement with the MetLife unit (Read more at Reuters).

Democrats urge Biden to sanction Smotrich, Ben-Gvir over West Bank violence

"We write to express our deep concern about the rise in settler violence, settlement expansion, and measures adopted to weaken the Palestinian Authority and otherwise destabilise the West Bank," Nearly 90 Democratic lawmakers say in a letter to Biden. The letter, signed by 17 senators and 71 House members, said Israeli settlers have carried out over 1,270 recorded attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank, averaging more than three violent attacks per day (Read more at TRTWorld). 

Elon Musk meets with Iran’s UN ambassador – report

Contact was reportedly at Trump-allied billionaire’s request and could be significant for dismal US-Iranian relations. It happened on Monday, a day before Donald Trump named the SpaceX founder as one of the heads of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. The meeting was a discussion of how to defuse tensions between Iran and the United States (Read more at Guardian).

Lockheed Showcases Aerospace, Defense Solutions at Bahrain Airshow

On display are some of the company’s flagship platforms, including the F-16 Fighting Falcon, C-130J Super Hercules airlifter, and the Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter. The company presented its portfolio to various high-level officials and representatives, including Air Commodore Said Al Abdali of the Royal Air Force of Oman and Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Deputy King of the Kingdom of Bahrain (Read more at Defense Post).

Trump pick Rubio could harden oil sanctions on Iran

Stricter targeting of Iranian oil could be tempered by China concerns. Trump will need to determine if sanctions can help achieve his goals. Foreign ports, refineries processing Iran exports could be targeted (Read more at Reuters).

Israel expects Trump to take a hard line on Iran

Energy Minister Eli Cohen, in an interview with Reuters said it will create an opportunity for more peace deals with Arab neighbors. Cohen said that incoming U.S. President Donald Trump has been appointing senior staff who "certainly support determined action against Iran" (Read more at AOL)

Families of Israel captives still in Gaza call on Trump, Biden to work together

A delegation of former hostages and hostages’ relatives were visiting Rome for meetings including with the local Jewish community and Pope Francis. During a press conference, they told reporters a deal was swiftly needed to bring back all the captives and said Biden and Trump should work together (Read more at Middle East Monitor).

US gives Lebanon draft truce proposal

Lisa Johnson, the US ambassador, met on Thursday with Berri, who maintains friendly relations with politicians across Lebanon's political spectrum including Hezbollah, to submit the written proposal. There were no details reported about what the proposal entails Read more at Middle East Eye).

Beirut bombing victims' $1.68 billion Iran judgment overturned by US appeals court

It had been won by family members of troops killed and injured in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Beirut. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said a lower court judge should have addressed questions of state law before ruling against Bank Markazi and Luxembourg intermediary Clearstream Banking, a unit of Deutsche Boerse. In a 3-0 decision, the panel also rejected a claim that a 2019 federal law designed to make it easier to seize Iranian assets held outside the United States waived Bank Markazi's sovereign immunity (Read more at Yahoo).

Israeli Cabinet Expands Humanitarian Aid For Gaza Amid US Pressure

This strategic maneuver, approved by the Security Cabinet, reflects growing pressure on Israel, particularly as tensions rise over its military operations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly cautioned his colleagues about potential repercussions from President Biden's administration. His warnings highlighted the possibility of Biden taking steps against Israel during his last months in office, which fueled the urgency of these diplomatic outreach efforts to shore up support from the U.S. (Read more at Pinnacle Gazette).

U.S. wants real, extended pauses in fighting in Gaza

The United States wants real and extended pauses in fighting in Gaza so assistance can get to people who need it, but the best way to help people would be to end the war, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday. “Israel, by the standards it set itself, has accomplished the goals that it set for itself,” Blinken told reporters during a visit to Brussels. “This should be a time to end the war.” (Read more at NBCNews)

Will Biden take a parting shot at Israel

With two months left until President-elect Trump's inauguration, some Israelis are worried that President Joe Biden will replicate President Barack Obama’s actions before leaving office. Before leaving office at the end of his second term, Obama allowed the passage of U.N. Resolution 2334 declaring Judaism’s holiest site “occupied Palestinian territory” (Read more at JNS).

Yemen’s Houthis Attacked US Warships With Drones, Missiles

Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted two US destroyers with drones and missiles as they transited the Bab al-Mandab Strait, but the warships defeated the attacks, the Pentagon said Tuesday. Also, a claim from the Houthis that they also attacked the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is not accurate (Read more at Defense Post).

US Indicts Suspected Leaker of Classified Documents on Israel's Plans to Strike Iran

Asif William Rahman is charged with two counts of wilfully transmitting classified information. The indictment does not provide details about the nature of the leak, but does say it occurred on or about October 17, Reuters reported. That was around the time that a pro-Iranian Telegram account called Middle East Spectator published what appeared to be a pair of documents produced by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency that shared information about Israel's preparations for an attack on Iran. The intelligence in the documents was based on satellite imagery from October 15-16 (Read more at The National).

Trump victory to boost EM equities in Middle East

Donald Trump's re-election could boost emerging markets equities in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region because of a potentially stronger dollar, higher U.S. bond yields and global trade policy shifts, J.P.Morgan said on Tuesday (Read more at Reuters).

Aid groups say Israel misses US deadline to boost humanitarian help for Gaza

Tuesday's report, authored by eight international aid organizations, listed 19 measures of compliance with the U.S. demands. It said that Israel had failed to comply with 15 and only partially complied with four (Read more at Time).

Trump picks former Arkansas Gov. to be the U.S. ambassador to Israel

In a statement congratulating Huckabee, the Republican Jewish Coalition praised him as "a long-time friend" of the group, focusing on his "abounding love of Israel" and promising his appointment would "strengthen the US-Israel relationship to even greater heights." (Read more at NBC News)

Michael Herzog among ‘most effective voices’ for Israel Lindsey Graham says

The outgoing Israeli ambassador in Washington told JNS that he is “deeply grateful” to the senator, who has “unwavering dedication” to the U.S.-Israeli bond. Herzog assumed the role in Washington in November 2021 under then-Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (Read more at JNS).

Israel envoy in New York City: We, the Jewish people, prefer peace

Ofir Akunis, the consul general of Israel in New York said “We will not be in Gaza once the hostages are released and once we are sure that there are no more terrorists or arsenal of terrorists.” (Read more at JNS)

Upward pressure on US Jewish groups ‘hesitant’ to push for release of hostages

There’s not enough acknowledgment that having American hostages in Gaza and having American citizens murdered in Israel … is a national security threat for the United States. Family members of those who have been held captive in the Gaza Strip since the Hamas terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, told a gathering of largely American Jews on Monday that “the most Jewish thing you can do” is speak out on the need for a hostage deal (Read more at JNS).

Israel says it has met most US demands on Gaza aid as deadline looms

There are a number of things that remain under discussion and they touch on safety issues. Among the US demands that Israel appears to have refused is allowing the entry of 50 to 100 commercial trucks a day. Restrictions on the entry of closed containers would also not be lifted due to security risks. Other demands, including the opening of a fifth crossing into Gaza, have been implemented (Read more at Strait Times).

Israeli president meets Biden at the White House

Isaac Herzog thanked Joe Biden for Washington's "steadfast support from the very beginning of the war." Biden spoke briefly, stressing that his administration’s “commitment to Israel is ironclad, and we share a deep friendship.” (Read more at JNS)

Biden administration says it will not embargo arms to Israel

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reviewed the steps that Jerusalem has taken to improve the “humanitarian situation inside Gaza.” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken seemed to indicate that the requirements had been met (Read more at JNS).

Trump appoints real estate investor, golf partner as Middle East peace envoy

"Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE," said President-elect Donald Trump. It is unclear what the role of Middle East special envoy will entail under Trump, as special envoys are not standard diplomats. President Joe Biden appointed two Middle East special envoys, Lise Grande and David Satterfield, who specifically focus on humanitarian issues in the region emerging from the war in the Gaza Strip. And Trump appointed longtime adviser and lawyer Jason Greenblatt as a special envoy to the Middle East to help with the negotiations of the Abraham Accords, which saw Israel and four Arab countries normalize diplomatic relations (Read more at Politico).

Israel’s Smotrich pushes for sovereignty over West Bank amid US transition

Israel's far-right Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, announced on Monday that he hopes to push for Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank by 2025, believing US President-elect Donald Trump would back this move (Read more at Al Ahram).

Newly-elected Michigan senator hailed as ‘big supporter of Israel’

Rep. Elissa Slotkin has always been very popular in the Jewish community because of her strong support for Israel, her background in intelligence services and because she shares the values of the Jewish community on many different issues (Read more at JNS).

Israel's Strategic Affairs Minister Meets With Trump

Axios reported that Dermer passed messages from Netanyahu to Trump. He also briefed Trump on Israel's plans for Gaza, Lebanon and Iran for the next two months before Trump takes office (Read more at USNews).

Turkiye pressing US to rethink Kurdish alliance in Syria

“We are constantly reminding our American counterparts that they need to stop the cooperation they have with the terrorist organisation in Syria,” Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan (Read more at Middle East Monitor)

US set to judge Israel progress on Gaza aid crisis this week

President Joe Biden's administration told Israel in an Oct. 13 letter signed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that the longtime U.S. ally must take steps within 30 days on a series of measures or risk restrictions on American military aid. The United States this week will decide whether Israel has made progress toward improving the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and how Washington will respond, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said (Read more at AOL).

Iran Aware of Reports About Iranian-American Journalist's Arrest

Iran's foreign ministry is aware of reports about the arrest of Iranian-American journalist Reza Valizadeh in Iran, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei. Earlier this month, the Associated Press reported that Reza Valizadeh, an Iranian-American journalist who once worked for a U.S. government-funded broadcaster, was believed to have been detained by Iran for some months (Read more at Reuters).

US military says strikes in Syria targeted ‘Iranian backed groups’

US Central Command said nine targets were hit at two locations in Syria in response to an attack on US forces over the previous 24 hours. “These strikes will degrade the Iranian-backed groups’ ability to plan and launch future attacks,” CENTCOM said (Read more at Aljazeera).

Trump’s return signals US exit from northeast Syria

Donald Trump intends to withdraw US troops from northern Syria to prevent them becoming “cannon fodder” in potential Turkish-Kurdish conflicts, according to revelations by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a Tucker Carlson interview. Kennedy, expected to play a key role in Trump’s administration, said that during a recent flight, Trump had sketched a map of the Middle East, highlighting 500 US troops positioned along the Syria-Turkey border at a vulnerable outpost that had recently faced attacks. He quoted Trump’s direct command: “Get them out!” (Read more at Medyanews)

Netanyahu says he spoke with Trump 3 times in past few days

"We see eye-to-eye on the Iranian threat in all its aspects, and on the dangers they reflect. We also see the great opportunities facing Israel, in the area of peace and its expansion, and in other areas," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added (Read more at Anadolu Ajansı).

US, Britain launch raids on Yemeni capital Sanaa, elsewhere

The facilities contained various weapons used to target military and civilian vessels navigating international waters throughout the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, according to information provided by the Pentagon (Read more at Arabnews).

After Hamas rejection of hostage deal, US asked Qatar to expel the group

Qatar then made the demand to Hamas leaders about 10 days ago. Three Hamas officials denied Qatar had told Hamas leaders they were no longer welcome in the country. The spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for confirmation or comment (Read more at Arabnews)

Donald Trump and Sudan: What to expect from the returning US president

Under Joe Biden, Washington did not engage with the crisis in Sudan at a high level. Under Trump, it will likely be a pawn in a regional deal. Not long after Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential elections was confirmed, Sudanese army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan announced that he was looking forward to “developing relations between our two countries during his presidency for the benefit of both countries”. Burhan’s ally-turned-enemy, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) chief better known as Hemeti, was not far behind, extending his congratulations through the paramilitary group’s media office (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Muslims supported Trump, Jews backed Harris

While Muslims are familiar with Trump’s harsh rhetoric, they also recognize one unpredictable factor: perhaps, in a sudden move, Trump might end the war. This partial belief in Trump’s potential actions has led some Muslims to lean more toward his side. A think tank study in the U.S. found that 75%-80% of Muslims voted for Trump, while 75%-80% of Jewish voters supported the Democrats. In a sense, the Democratic Party, AIPAC and Jews lost (Read more at Daily Sabah). 

Iran denies plot to kill Trump, calls for confidence-building with US

“Now … a new scenario is fabricated … as a killer does not exist in reality, scriptwriters are brought in to manufacture a third-rate comedy,” Araqchi said in a post on X. He was referring to the alleged plot which Washington said was ordered by Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards to assassinate Trump. “The American people have made their decision. And Iran respects their right to elect the President of their choice. The path forward is also a choice. It begins with respect,” Araqchi said (Read more at Iranpost).

Pentagon: Israel made progress on assistance into Gaza but more needs to be done

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Mr Austin wrote to Israeli officials in October demanding concrete measures to address the worsening situation in the Palestinian enclave. Failure to do so could impact US policy, the letter said (Read more at Straits Times).

Blinken holds calls in final Middle East diplomacy push

US officials have said they will make a final push to reach deals on the conflicts, although it is unclear how much leverage they have over Israel and other actors in the region now focused on the incoming administration of former President Donald Trump. The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, spoke to counterparts in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to end Israel’s conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon (Read more at Middle East Monitor).

Palestine President tells Trump he is ready to work together towards peace

The official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, cited a statement by Abbas’ office saying he spoke with Trump over the phone, congratulating him on his election victory earlier this week. Trump told Abbas that he was committed to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza and to work with him and other relevant stakeholders “to promote peace in the region (Read more at Middle East Monitor)

Biden condemns ‘despicable’ attacks on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam

He said it echoes dark moments in history when Jews were persecuted. The president said he has been in touch with Israeli and Dutch officials and that he appreciates “Dutch authorities’ commitment to holding the perpetrators accountable (Read more at The Hill).