Middle East: News and Reviews from The New York Times

Here is the latest Middle East News from The New York Times.

Mother Facing Kidnapping Charges in Australian Custody Dispute Is Released
Sally Faulkner and a four-person television crew were charged with kidnapping at gunpoint and threatening the lives of children.

Obama Arrives in Saudi Arabia Amid a New Round of Contention
President Obama arrived in Riyadh barely a day after expressing support for the release of documents implicating Saudi officials in the U.S. in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Judge Rejects Challenge to Searches of Emails Gathered Without Warrant
The ruling is notable because some lawmakers want to require agencies to get a warrant before searching emails for an American’s name or email address.

U.S. Penalizes Libyan Politician in Effort to Bolster Unity Government
Libya’s new unity government, which was formed in December, has struggled to enforce its authority, which rival factions refuse to acknowledge.

Senator Says He May Back Bill Exposing Saudis to 9/11 Lawsuits
Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, said he would drop his opposition to the bill if its sponsors agreed to changes seeking to protect American interests abroad.

Saudi Threat to Sell U.S. Assets Could Hurt, but Mostly the Saudis
A move by the kingdom to sell off holdings worth billions if Congress passes a bill allowing the Saudis to be sued over 9/11 would have little impact on America, experts say.

Syria Cease-Fire Crumbles as Bombings Kill Dozens
Government warplanes attacked the towns of Maarat al-Noaman and Kafr Nabl a day after the main Syrian opposition group said it would no longer participate in talks in Geneva.

Op-Ed Contributor: Obama Shouldn’t Trade Cluster Bombs for Saudi Arabia’s Friendship
Washington is trying to buy off Riyadh with weapons. The results are deadly.

Israeli Convicted in Murder of Palestinian Teenager
A judge rejected an insanity defense by Yosef Haim Ben-David, who could face a life sentence for the abduction and death of Muhammad Abu Khdeir.

Obama to Visit a Saudi Arabia Deep in Turmoil
As the kingdom prepares to greet the president, it faces low oil prices, rising Iranian influence and fears of a widening rift with the United States.

Yemen Peace Effort Falters as Houthis Refuse to Attend Talks
The rebels accused government-allied forces of violating a truce and said delegates would not engage in negotiations until there was a cease-fire.

Obama Calls on Putin to Help Reduce Violence in Syria After Peace Talks Stall
Preparing for an overseas visit, President Obama urged President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to press Syria’s leader, Bashar al-Assad, to stop attacks against opposition forces.

Israelis Find New Tunnel From Gaza Into Israel
The tunnel, the first discovered since the war in 2014, was “neutralized” after it was found in a breakthrough method the Israelis did not specify.

Obama to Send Military Advisers Closer to Front Lines of ISIS Fight in Iraq
The move, announced by Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter, puts the Americans closer to the Iraqi soldiers involved in combat, allowing for timely guidance.

16 Injured in Jerusalem Bus Fire
The blaze stirred fears of a terrorist attack, but the Israel police said they were still investigating the cause.

Civilian Casualties in Afghan War Are Unabated in 2016
The United Nations mission documented 600 civilian deaths and 1,343 wounded in the first three months, expected to be a bloody year.

An Old Alliance Faces New Pressures as Obama Heads to Saudi Arabia
After close relations for more than 70 years, has President Obama ‘unfriended’ Saudi Arabia over issues such as Iran, Syria and oil? It’s complicated.

Labor Protesters to Resume Guggenheim Demonstrations
The museum had broken off talks with a group that advocates for workers in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Israel Will Never Give Golan Heights to Syria, Netanyahu Vows
During a cabinet meeting held in the Israeli-controlled portion of the territory, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the world to recognize Israel’s sovereignty there.

9 Guantánamo Prisoners From Yemen Are Sent to Saudi Arabia
The transfer of the Yemenis, who have been difficult to resettle, completed a long-sought diplomatic deal ahead of President Obama’s planned visit to the Saudi capital.

U.S. Plans to Step Up Military Campaign Against ISIS
The administration is considering expanding its involvement in Iraq and Syria, and may announce its new plans in the next several days.

Opinion: Syria’s Future: A Black Hole of Instability
Peace talks have restarted, but Bashar al-Assad and the rebels are fighting over a state that is beyond salvaging.

Families of Americans Held by Allies Say U.S. Is Keeping Its Gloves On
Relatives have complained of a lack of high-level attention from American officials — stemming, they fear, from reluctance to confront Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Criticizing Israel, Bernie Sanders Highlights Split Among Jewish Democrats
Mr. Sanders’s comments at Thursday’s Democratic debate buoyed critics of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government but worried pro-Israel Jewish groups.

Saudi Arabia Warns of Economic Fallout if Congress Passes 9/11 Bill
The kingdom has bristled over a bill that would allow its government to be held responsible in American courts for any role in the Sept. 11 attacks.

Path of $681 Million: From Saudi Arabia to Malaysian Premier’s Personal Account
Despite assurances from Malaysian and Saudi officials, suspicions persist surrounding the $681 million that was deposited into Najib Razak’s bank account last year.

Egyptians Denounce President Sisi in Defiant Public Protest
The demonstration was the largest in two years and the most significant challenge by protesters forced into the shadows by a violent state crackdown.

Saudi Arabia Moves to Curb Its Feared Religious Police
The kingdom announced steps to overhaul the force, saying members could no longer detain or pursue suspects, and should be “gentle and kind,” rather than heavy-handed.

The Saturday Profile: Artist Nurtures a Creative Oasis in Conservative Saudi Arabia
Abdulnasser Gharem has taken artistic aim at what he sees as the kingdom’s byzantine bureaucracy, religious dogmatism and dependence on oil.

At U.N., Ambassadors Hold Auditions for Next Secretary General
He or she will face daunting challenges, from stopping wars, to holding peacekeepers accountable for rape, to nudging governments to tackle climate change.

Israeli Soldier to Be Charged With Manslaughter in Shooting of Palestinian Assailant
The episode, captured on video, has pitted military and defense officials who say procedures were breached against those who see the soldier as a hero.

Iran’s President Is Squeezed by Opposition Leader’s Demand for a Trial
The request by the opposition leader, Mehdi Karroubi, who is under house arrest, highlighted a deepening rift in Iran’s reformist wing.

Obama Reports Gains, and ‘Momentum,’ Against ISIS
After meeting with national security officials, the president said an American-led effort had reduced Islamic State forces to the lowest level in two years.

In West Bank, Israel Carries Out a Crackdown Road by Road
Closures that force drivers to take winding detours are affecting small areas at a time, and thus not drawing widespread outrage among Palestinians.

Senate Votes to Ban Imports of Syrian Art and Antiquities
The measure is aimed at choking off the trade of so-called blood antiquities that militant groups use to help finance their operations in Syria and Iraq.

Syrian Parliamentary Elections Highlight Divisions and Uncertainty
Large parts of the country did not participate in the voting, which was held on the first day of a new round of diplomatic talks in Geneva.

In Online Magazine, ISIS Paints a Portrait of Brussels Attackers
The purpose of the latest issue of the magazine, Dabiq, is clear: to show the West that the attackers really were sent from the heart of the group’s terror machinery.

Jordan Shuts Down Muslim Brotherhood Headquarters
The group lost its official registration last year after it failed to comply with new government requirements. It had been operating in legal limbo since then.

Iranian Parliament Cancels Cash Subsidies to 24 Million People
Analysts said the action was a stick in the eye for President Hassan Rouhani, forcing him to figure out how to put the unpopular measure into effect.

Swiss Widen Inquiry Into Malaysian Fund to Include 2 Emirati Officials
The officials were being investigated for suspicion of fraud, criminal mismanagement, money laundering, bribery and forgery, the Swiss attorney general’s office said.

U.S. Military Campaign Takes Toll on ISIS’ Cash Flow
Nearly two years after the United States entered the fight, officials say the Islamic State has lost thousands of fighters, millions of dollars and much of its territory.

Syria’s Partial Cease-Fire Shows Signs of Crumbling
Ground clashes and airstrikes intensified as the government promised a new offensive and prepared to hold controversial parliamentary elections.

Australian Mother and 8 Others Face Charges in Lebanon Custody Dispute
Sally Faulkner had tried to take her two children from her Lebanese ex-husband, officials said. Four television journalists were also among the eight facing charges.

Op-Ed Contributor: Haider al-Abadi’s Dangerous Gamble
Iraq’s prime minister is taking his country to the brink of political crisis. Now it’s up to the United States and Iran to save him.

Op-Ed Contributor: Tensions at the Syrian Border
Jordan borders Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Israel and the Palestinian territories. Patrolling it is a big challenge for Jordanian troops.

Op-Ed Contributor: Bono: Time to Think Bigger About the Refugee Crisis
It is time for a Marshall Plan to address the problem.

Op-Ed Contributor: Refugees in ISIS’ Shadow
Turkey is the largest host country of refugees. But its resources are being stretched, and there are reports it is forcibly returning some Syrians.

Israel to Release Palestinian Girl Imprisoned at Age 12
A girl who confessed to planning a stabbing attack in a West Bank settlement will be released from prison early, the Israeli authorities said Monday.