Middle East

'Behind The Kingdom's Veil' Offers Insights Into The Lives Of Ordinary Saudis

4:04pm September 24, 2020

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with correspondent Susanne Koelbl of Der Spiegel about her book, Behind the Kingdom's Veil: Inside the New Saudi Arabia Under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Scientists Discover 120,000-Year-Old Human Footprints In Saudi Arabia

3:58pm September 18, 2020

Scientists discovered 120,000-year-old human footprints in Saudi Arabia along with those of horses and elephants — hinting the region was once more hospitable to people moving out of Africa.

Rabbi Yehonatan Adouar teaches a shofar blowing course in Rambam Synagogue in Ramat Gan, Israel

Wanted in Israel: More Shofar Blowers For Socially Distanced Jewish New Year

12:57pm September 18, 2020

by Daniel Estrin

The shofar is a hallmark of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. The pandemic means there will be more and smaller prayer gatherings this year, so some cities have offered free shofar-blowing courses.

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World News

Why More Shofar Blowers Are Needed To Celebrate Jewish New Year

7:19am September 17, 2020

by Daniel Estrin

To help people celebrate a socially distanced Jewish New Year, there are free courses in Israel teaching how to blow the shofar — the ritual ram or antelope horn.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (from left), President Trump, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan wave from the Truman Balcony at the White House. The group particip

Israel, Bahrain And UAE Sign Deals Formalizing Ties At White House

5:09pm September 15, 2020

by Bill Chappell

The agreements bring "a pivot in history," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said before a signing ceremony at the White House.

Abraham Accords Fall Short Of Becoming 'The Deal Of The Century'

4:14pm September 15, 2020

by Michele Kelemen

The White House describes the deals being signed by two Gulf Arab states with Israel as a sign of a changing Middle East. But they're not of "the deal of the century" the U.S. was orignally seeking.

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World News

With Signing, White House Touts Efforts To Reshape Middle East

6:44am September 15, 2020

by Daniel Estrin

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain will establish diplomatic relations in a formal signing at the White House on Tuesday.

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News Brief: Trump Denies Climate Change, Latest Hurricane, Israel-Arab Relations

6:27am September 15, 2020

In California, President Trump is pressed on climate change. Gulf Coast communities brace for Hurricane Sally. And, Israel is set to sign deals opening formal relations with two Arab nations.

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World News

Some in Bahrain Oppose Normalization Of Relations With Israel

3:50pm September 14, 2020

by Daniel Estrin

Peace between Bahrain and Israel might start off slowly. But some in this small Arab country have doubts, and neighboring Saudi Arabia is still holding off normalizing ties with Israel.

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World News

After The Big Explosion In Beirut, Volunteers Are Helping Out

3:50pm September 14, 2020

by Ruth Sherlock

In Lebanon, volunteers have stepped in to do the aid work still needed after the blast that ripped through Beirut a month ago. Many blame the government for inaction.

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