search
Karin Laub
This July 6, 2019, photo shows residential towers in District 22 that consists of apartment high-rises and shopping malls arranged around an artificial lake called Chitgar, under construction on the northwestern edge of Tehran, Iran (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
July 23, 2019, 1:42 pm
US sanctions squeeze Iran middle class, upend housing sector
Families are hit hard by the collapse of the national currency, accelerating inflation, eroding wages and spike in housing prices — fallout from unprecedented American measures
By Karin Laub and MOHAMMED NASIRI
In this Tuesday, July 2, 2019 photo, youngsters spend an afternoon while siting on steps outside a shopping mall in northern Tehran, Iran (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
July 15, 2019, 9:35 am
In Iran, some take off their hijabs as hard-liners push back
The headscarf debate polarizes Iranians at a time when the country is buckling under unprecedented US sanctions
By Karin Laub and Mohammad Nasiri
An Israeli soldier stands near a burning bus after it was hit by an anti-tank missilel fired from Gaza Strip near the Israel-Gaza border, Monday, November 12, 2018. (Tsafrir Abayov/AP)
December 18, 2018, 3:00 pm
In 2019, Mideast economic troubles loom as wars wind down
The end of fighting may be on the horizon for conflicts in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Libya, but for the Israelis and Palestinians there is no peace in sight
By Karin Laub
Illustrative: Jordanian rescuers with sniffer dogs search for survivors of flash floods at the Dead Sea area, Jordan, on October 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Omar Akour)
November 9, 2018, 11:10 pm
Floods kill 7 in Jordan, visitors seek high ground in ancient Petra
At least 4 swept away in torrential rains south of Amman, two weeks after 21 killed in Dead Sea flash floods; thousands evacuated from tourist city
By Karin Laub
German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks to Israel's Channel 10 news in an interview aired on April 22, 2018. (screen capture, Channel 10)
April 22, 2018, 10:22 pm
Merkel to Israel TV: Imperfect Iran deal better than no deal
German chancellor understands Israel’s ‘great worries’ about Tehran, says Germany won’t move embassy to Jerusalem until there’s a deal with Palestinians
By Karin Laub
In this Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018 photo, Palestinian-American Yasmeen Mjalli displays a jacket with the slogan 'Not Your Habibti (darling),' as a ready-made retort for cat calls, in the West Bank city of Ramallah. (AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi)
February 3, 2018, 10:35 am
Palestinian-American brings #MeToo campaign to West Bank
Yasmeen Mjalli wants to encourage Palestinian society to confront taboo subject of sexual harassment
By Karin Laub
Palestinians protest against the visit of US Vice President Mike Pence outside the Church of Nativity, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on January 21, 2018. (Wisam Hashlamoun/ Flash90)
January 22, 2018, 10:03 pm
Palestinian Christians slam Pence’s pro-Israel faith
Bethlehem mayor says US vice president’s vision contradicts his declared aim of helping Christians in the Middle East
By Karin Laub
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, speaks during a meeting with the Palestinian Central Council, a top decision-making body, at his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, January 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
January 16, 2018, 10:58 pm
With a vent at Trump, Abbas exits ‘peace process’
In speech to PLO council, PA leader may have unleashed forces that will end Oslo Accords and bring down his rule
By Karin Laub
Bedoins seen riding camels in tdesert in Jordan, February 8, 2013. (Lucie March/Flash90)
December 9, 2017, 1:57 am
Jordan’s plan of shiny city in the desert met by skepticism
Government says new metropolis will draw population away from Amman and inject momentum into a sluggish economy plagued by high unemployment
By Karin Laub
This photo from October 23, 2017, shows a stretch of the King Abdullah Canal, the largest irrigation system near the town of Northern Shouneh, Jordan. (AP Photo/Omar Akour)
November 1, 2017, 12:29 pm
Jordan water crisis worsens as Mideast tensions slow action
With rising temperatures sapping already scarce water resources, importance of desalination, regional projects grows for Amman
By Karin Laub
US President Donald Trump reaches to shake Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's hand before a meeting at the Palace Hotel during the 72nd United Nations General Assembly on September 20, 2017, in New York. (AFP Photo/Brendan Smialowski)
September 21, 2017, 10:06 am
Bet on Trump or challenge Israel? Palestinians mull strategy
After more than two decades of failed talks, Palestinians question their leaders’ efforts to reach statehood through negotiations with Israel
By Karin Laub
A lion rescued from a zoo in the war-torn Syrian city of Aleppo cuddles her newborn cub in the Ma’wa Wildlife Reserve in northern Jordan, August 12, 2017.(Four Paws/Ahu Savan An, via AP).
August 13, 2017, 9:57 pm
Lioness saved from Syria zoo gives birth in Jordan
Dana among 13 animals, including 4 other lions, 2 bears and 2 tigers, who barely survived war-torn Aleppo
By Karin Laub
Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III (C) speaks during a press conference in the Jordanian capital Amman on August 12, 2017. (AFP Photo/Khalil Mazraawi)
August 13, 2017, 8:31 am
Greek Orthodox church aims to block Jerusalem property sales in court
Theophilos III calls on world leaders to intervene after sale of church properties in Old City to Jewish group upheld
By Karin Laub
Palestinian women pray near the Lions Gate in Jerusalem's Old City, Tuesday, July 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
July 27, 2017, 1:21 am
Jerusalem Palestinians find voice through prayer protests
Through prayers in the streets, Muslims show newfound unity after being sidelined by Israeli and Palestinian leaders
By Mohammed Daraghmeh and Karin Laub
In this Friday, July 7, 2017, file photo, US President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit, in Hamburg. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is at left, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is at right. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
July 8, 2017, 2:38 pm
South Syria truce seeks to allay Israel, Jordan fears about Iran
Jerusalem and Amman worry Tehran aims to carve out a Shiite-controlled land corridor through Iraq, Syria and Lebanon to the Mediterranean
By Karin Laub
Load More
Join us!
A message from the Editor of Times of Israel
David Horovitz

For as little as $6 a month, you can help support our independent journalism — and enjoy an ADS-FREE experience, as well as special benefits and status as a Times of Israel Community member!

Read more

The Times of Israel covers one of the most complicated, and contentious, parts of the world. Determined to keep readers fully informed and enable them to form and flesh out their own opinions, The Times of Israel has gradually established itself as the leading source of independent and fair-minded journalism on Israel, the region and the Jewish world.

We've achieved this by investing ever-greater resources in our journalism while keeping all of the content on our site free.

Unlike many other news sites, we have not put up a paywall. But we would like to invite readers who can afford to do so, and for whom The Times of Israel has become important, to help support our journalism by joining The Times of Israel Community.

So join now - and for as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel website ADS FREE on desktop and mobile, as well as special benefits and status as a Times of Israel Community member.

* The ADS-FREE experience will still show sponsored content. It will become available on the TOI smartphone app in the near future.

Join the times of israel community Join our community Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this