US and Partners Prepare Modest Offer to Iran Weeks of deliberations among the United States and its fellow negotiators have produced an offer to Iran very similar to the package Iran rejected last summer, casting doubt on chances for breaking the long stalemate over Iran’s nuclear program, Barbara Slavin reports for Al-Monitor. Iran
NGO Head: Israel Erasing Hope Of Agreement on Settlements In an interview with Shlomi Eldar, NGO Ir Amim Executive Director Yehudit Oppenheimer expresses her concern that Israel has already reached the point of no return in approving construction plans east of Jerusalem and erasing any hope for a future agreement with the Palestinians. Israel
Bad Security and Worse Economy Spell Trouble for West Bank A soured Palestinian economy and worsening security relations with Israel could mean fresh violence for the West Bank, Daoud Kuttab writes. Palestine
Liberman's Foreign Ministry Appointment Under Scrutiny The Israeli foreign ministry's appointment committee serves merely as a rubber stamp for the minister, writes Akiva Eldar. Israel
Turkish Intelligence Service Targets Jewish Population While the Jewish community in Turkey — now reportedly under surveillance by Turkish intelligence services — wants to help the Erdogan government heal its rift with Israel, it’s unclear as to what they can do, writes Tulin Daloglu. Turkey
Turkey Prepares for Life After Its Syrian Quagmire Cengiz Çandar writes that Turkey is counting down the last days of the Bashar al-Assad regime and in delight and relief. Syria
Is The Third Intifada Already Here? Hamas seeks to heat up the flame of a third Intifada, but are the Fatah leaders interested in another round of violence, wonders Shlomi Eldar. Israel
Turkey's Popular Jailhouse Authors Turkish military officers, journalists and academicians have published more than 60 books from behind bars recently, writes Tulin Daologlu. Turkey
Who Will Challenge Hamas? Rana Baker writes that while Hamas may seem to be riding a wave of support, it is facing challenges from both other Islamic armed resistance groups and a non-partisan youth movement dissatisfied with all of the established parties. Palestine
Salafist 'Hazemoons' Ponder Next Moves Amid Egypt's Turmoil The Salafist "Hazemoon" movement, which has supported President Mohammed Morsi since his election, may be growing in influence — and making moves toward challenging Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood, reports Maggie Fick in Cairo. Egypt
Israeli Occupation, Gaza Conflict Hold Back Tourism in Bethlehem Tourism to Bethlehem is suffering because of the Israeli occupation and the recent conflict in Gaza, Dalia Hatuqa reports. Palestine
Three Sins of the Israeli Left Polls predict that the Israeli left is bound to lose the upcoming elections, much because it failed to present a progressive narrative of Israel not inherently linked to the Peace Process, or to produce consistent leadership, writes Eyal Nadav. Israel
Civil Rights, Not Statehood, Should Be Palestinian Focus Sadia Ahsanuddin and Linah Alsaafin write that despite Palestine's achieving non-member observer status at the UN General Assembly, the quest for statehood is over and Palestinians should shift their attention to obtaining civil rights within Israel. Palestine
Russia Will Not Change Its Position on Syria Fyodor Lukyanov writes that Russia's fundamental interests in Syria remain unchanged, and that while Moscow will support a political settlement to what it views as a sectarian and regional war, it will not support a Western intervention to depose Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Syria
Al-Monitor Expands 'Pulse' Coverage on Regional Trends Al-Monitor expands its regional coverage with the establishment of four new “Pulses” and offers perspective on the latest trends in Iraq, Syria and Egypt. Originals
Former Shin Bet Heads Question Occupation in New Documentary Israeli director Dror Moreh’s film "The Gatekeepers" features unprecedented interviews with six former Shin Bet heads who question Israel’s occupation policies, reports Mairav Zonszein. Israel
