Netanyahu Pummels Obama, And the Public Cheers If in the past Israelis resented a PM pummeling the US president, nowadays they are indifferent to these words and leave it to Prime Minister Netanyahu to sink the ship, writes Ben Caspit. Israel
Obstacles to Measuring Progress In Arab Civil Society Mehrunisa Qayyum reports on how the lack of reliable social and economic data hinders the measurement of progress in Arab civil society. Jordan
Syrian Christian Refugees in Lebanon Have Little to Celebrate This Season Syrian Christian refugees in Lebanon will celebrate Christmas but worry for their future, writes Fernande van Tets. Lebanon
Hagel Victim of Ferocious, Unfair Campaign The attack on senator Chuck Hagel is unfair and disturbing, writes Clovis Maksoud. Israel
Turkey-Iran Relations Deteriorate Semih Idiz explains the breakdown in Turkey-Iran relations over Syria. Turkey
Turkey Needs 'Zero Problems' With Its Own Kurds First A Turkey that can’t resolve its own Kurdish problem through peaceful means can’t talk of “zero problems” with the Syrian Kurds today or tomorrow, writes Kadri Gürsel. Turkey
Are the Palestinians Serious About Reconciliation? Despite the talk of Palestinian national reconciliation, it is still undetermined how a political reconciliation can proceed and who will make the first compromise, Mohammed Suliman writes from Gaza. Palestine
So Far, Israeli Election Campaign Quiet on Iran Nuclear Issue While Iran is so far not part of the Israeli election campaign, Israel is still preparing for all possibilities, writes Alon Ben David. Israel
Egypt's Draft Constitution: How Democratic Is It? Egypt's draft constitution may be imperfect, but it's still the most democratic constitution the country has ever seen, Omar Ashour writes. Egypt
PA Mass Arrests Include Democracy Activists Linah Alsaafin reports on the mass arrests of students, activists and journalists in the West Bank as part of the Palestinian Authority’s crackdown on dissent. Palestine
Gaza Farmers Return to Fields Farmers in Gaza are reaping the benefits of the latest cease-fire, returning to their borderland farms after years of Israeli occupation — but how long will the peace hold, asks Rami Almeghari from Gaza. Palestine
Return of Hamas to West Bank Certain to Be Uphill Battle Though the first Hamas demonstration in years in the West Bank drew thousands, there is no sign that public support for Hamas is growing there, writes Daoud Kuttab. Palestine
Can Turkey Afford Kurdish Gas? Turkey may be hurting its broader economic interests in Iraq by pursuing energy ties with the Kurdistan Region, writes Guven Sak. Turkey
Surviving Sanctions, Iran Girds For Further Economic War Iran is not cracking under sanctions, writes Mohammad Ali Shabani, who suggests the Islamic Republic is preparing for extended economic warfare with the West. Iran
Libyans Fear for Their Future In Rocky Transition to Democracy Libyans are split on whether the fragile transition will lead to better days, or further instability and strife, reports Eileen Byrne from Tripoli. She visited Tripoli as a guest of the Libyan Culture Ministry's Media Development Centre, which paid for her accommodation there during its First International Media Forum. Libya
Palestine Needs More Than Just Recognition Despite Palestine being recognied as a non-member occupied state by the United Nations General Assembly, concerns are growing about the lack of a unified government, writes Clovis Maksoud. Palestine
