Middle East : NPR

Palestinians Seek To Join International Criminal Court

December 31, 2014 • Membership in the ICC could allow the Palestinians a means to pursue war crimes charges against Israel. But the move is likely to draw sharp response from Israel and the U.S.

Obama's Iran Remarks Labeled Conciliatory, Naive

Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep interviews President Obama in the Oval Office. Kainaz Amaria/NPR hide caption

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Kainaz Amaria/NPR

Obama's Iran Remarks Labeled Conciliatory, Naive

December 31, 2014 • In an interview with NPR, the president left open the door to reopen the embassy in Tehran, called Iran's defense concerns "legitimate" and said it could become a "successful regional power."

There And Back Again For U.S. Military In Iraq

U.S. soldiers patrol the Taji base complex, which hosts Iraqi and U.S. troops north of the capital Baghdad. Taji is one of an eventual five sites where the U.S. and allied countries aim to train 5,000 Iraqi military personnel every six to eight weeks for combat against the so-called Islamic State. Ali al-Saadi /AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Ali al-Saadi /AFP/Getty Images

Parallels

There And Back Again For U.S. Military In Iraq

December 31, 2014 • Three years after the U.S. military officially withdrew from Iraq, 2,000 U.S. troops are back restoring the old buildings they'd left behind and renewing former contacts with Iraqi officers.

There And Back Again For U.S. Military In Iraq

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Jordan Stops Bombing ISIS After Jet Goes Down In Syria

December 30, 2014 • Robert Siegel talks to Rula Al Hroob, a member of the Jordanian Parliament, about the capture of First Lt. Moaz al-Kasasbeh by the Islamic State last week.

Jordan Stops Bombing ISIS After Jet Goes Down In Syria

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Obama Conciliatory Toward Iran In NPR Interview

December 30, 2014 • Robert Siegel talks with the Carnegie Endowment's Iran researcher Karim Sadjapour about President Obama's comments to NPR.

Obama Conciliatory Toward Iran In NPR Interview

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The Two-Way

U.N. Security Council Rejects Palestinian Statehood Resolution

December 30, 2014 • The proposal failed to get the necessary nine votes to pass. The Palestinian plan called for, among other things, an end to the Israeli occupation by late 2017.

Looking Back On Last Summer's War In Gaza

December 30, 2014 • As a year of conflict in the Mideast comes to a close, we look back at how Israeli and Palestinian parents explained the Gaza war to their children as the rockets flew.

Looking Back On Last Summer's War In Gaza

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Egyptian Court To Hear Journalists' Appeals On Jan. 1

December 30, 2014 • Egypt and Qatar are trying to repair relations ahead of the appeals by the Doha-based Al Jazeera journalists. The 3 were arrested and convicted on terrorism charges, causing an international outcry.

Egyptian Court To Hear Journalists' Appeals On Jan. 1

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United Arab Emirates Shows Off Its Military Might

Maj. Mariam Al Mansouri, the first Emirati female fighter pilot, flew in the first UAE airstrikes in the American-led campaign against ISIS. AP hide caption

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AP

United Arab Emirates Shows Off Its Military Might

December 29, 2014 • Known for its wealth, the United Arab Emirates has emerged as an ally in the U.S.-led fight against the self-proclaimed Islamic State.

United Arab Emirates Shows Off Its Military Might

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The Two-Way

Iranian General Reportedly Killed By ISIS Sniper In Northern Iraq

December 28, 2014 • Brig. Gen. Hamid Taqavi, a veteran of the brutal Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, was killed while training Iraqi troops and Shiite militiamen, Iran says.

Citing 'Historical Inaccuracies,' Egypt Bans 'Exodus' From Theaters

December 27, 2014 • The movie Exodus: Gods and Kings has been banned in Egypt on the grounds of "inaccuracies" and a "Zionist view of history."

Citing 'Historical Inaccuracies,' Egypt Bans 'Exodus' From Theaters

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With Each New Upheaval In Iraq, More Minorities Flee

An Iraqi Christian prays inside a shrine on the grounds of the Mazar Mar Eillia Catholic Church in Irbil, in northern Iraq. Irbil has become home to hundreds of Iraqi Christians who fled their homes as the Islamic State advanced earlier this year. Matt Cardy/Getty Images hide caption

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Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Parallels

With Each New Upheaval In Iraq, More Minorities Flee

December 27, 2014 • "We like Iraq, but Iraq doesn't like us," says a displaced Christian man. He's just one of example of religious minorities who have been dislodged from parts of Iraq where they have ancient roots.

With Each New Upheaval In Iraq, More Minorities Flee

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World

For Iran And The West, A Rocky Year For Nuclear Diplomacy

December 26, 2014 • Next year could be a make-or-break moment for efforts to ensure Iran can't acquire a nuclear weapon. But experts said the same about 2014. Instead, two deadlines came and went with no progress.

For Iran And The West, A Rocky Year For Nuclear Diplomacy

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Already Bleak Conditions Under ISIS Deteriorating Rapidly

December 26, 2014 • Liz Sly of The Washington Post speaks with Audie Cornish about how the so-called Islamic State's attempt to govern and administer services like a state is breaking down, with food and power shortages.

Already Bleak Conditions Under ISIS Deteriorating Rapidly

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Saudi Women Reportedly Referred To Terrorism Court For Driving

A Saudi woman poses in this picture to illustrate driving a car in Jiddah as part of a June 2011 protest. An advisory council recently recommended for the first time lifting a ban on female drivers. Susan Baaghil/Reuters/Landov hide caption

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Susan Baaghil/Reuters/Landov

The Two-Way

Saudi Women Reportedly Referred To Terrorism Court For Driving

December 26, 2014 • The two women were arrested as they tried to cross the border from UAE, where they had legally obtained driver's licenses. The two also are said to have been active online against the ban.