Israel has progressed with plans for more than 2,000 new homes in six West Bank settlements, an official said Thursday, in a move likely to further endanger peace talks.   Guy Inbar, a spokesperson for the Defense Ministry unit responsible for civilian affairs in the...

A Saudi court has sentenced 13 men to up to 14 years in prison for security offences including material support to wanted Islamist militants, aiding terrorism and helping young men go to  Iraq ,  Syria  and  Afghanistan  to fight. The conservative...

Kuwait is seeking to mediate an end to the standoff between Qatar and three Gulf countries – Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain – ahead of a planned Arab summit to be held on March 25, a prominent Kuwait lawmaker has said. Ali al-Rashid, the head of the foreign affairs committee at...

President Abdullah Gul has dismissed suggestions that outside forces are conspiring against  Turkey , openly contradicting Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's assertions that a corruption scandal shaking the country is part of a foreign-backed plot. The graft inquiry swirling...