Trump taps Senate staffer as National Security Council’s Middle East director

Eric Trager, a Republican Senate staffer and Egypt expert, is President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Middle East advisor on the National Security Council, multiple news organizations reported. As senior director for the Middle East and North Africa, the top advisory role on Middle East issues, Trager would replace Brett McGurk, who has played a central […]

Continue Reading

Dept. of Education opens Title VI antisemitism investigation at Sarah Lawrence College, where Hillel alleged atmosphere of intimidation

The federal Department of Education is opening a Title VI antisemitism investigation into Sarah Lawrence College in response to a complaint from the campus Hillel chapter that the school fostered a hostile environment for Jewish students. The private liberal arts college in Westchester, New York failed to properly respond to harassment of Jewish students in […]

Continue Reading

Investing firm to stop assessing human rights risk in ‘contiguous territorial disputes’ after scrutiny from pro-Israel groups

When investors need help navigating business decisions in conflict zones they turn to specialized firms that are supposed to help them keep clear of human rights abuses. But one of the biggest firms offering advice on environmental, social, and governance issues recently announced that when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it will no longer […]

Continue Reading

Antony Blinken says he conditioned Biden’s first trip to Israel after Oct. 7 on aid to Gaza

Outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed that he spent nine hours urging Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to provide aid to Palestinians in Gaza in the days after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack. “In the course of that argument, when I was getting resistance to the proposition of humanitarian assistance getting in, […]

Continue Reading

Trump names a former critic as Middle East aide — but says, ‘These things usually don’t work out’

Announcing his deputy envoy for Middle East peace, President-elect Donald Trump made it clear that he chose Morgan Ortagus reluctantly. Trump said he picked Ortagus, a spokesperson at the State Department when it was led by Mike Pompeo — who in 2024 considered running against him — because others lobbied hard for her. “These things […]

Continue Reading