Rooftop Gardens Uplift Poor Refugee Camps An initiative to grow rooftop gardens in overcrowded, crammed camps is providing some economic relief for Palestinian refugees, Dalia Hatuqa reports from the West Bank. Palestine
Yemeni Girls Turn to Solar Energy To Keep Power On A team of teenage girls who were “tired of darkness” invented solar-powered appliances and created a company that is selling and distributing them around the country, writes Nafeesa Syeed. Yemen
Sanctions Squeeze Revolutionary Guard Alireza Nader explains how international sanctions are squeezing Iran's Republican Guard and could lead to compromises by Iran's leadership in the nuclear talks. Iran
Sadr and Maliki Battle Over Iraqi Oil Ali Abel Sadah examines the complex relationship between Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Muqtada al-Sadr. Iraq
Trial Is Latest Round In AKP Attack on Military Tulin Daloglu writes that the current trial of former military leaders is another sign that the AKP’s democratization agenda is really about curtailing any threat from the military. Turkey
Closing Iran’s Nuclear File Seyed Hossein Mousavian, former spokesman for Iran’s nuclear negotiators, puts forward a plan for a breakthrough in the nuclear negotiations with Iran. Iran
Iraqi Pipeline to Aqaba Sparks Memories of Kirkuk-Haifa Line The oil pipeline to be constructed between Baghdad and Aqaba raises fond memories among Israelis of the Mandate-era Kirkuk-Haifa oil pipeline, a time that many would be happy to resurrect, writes Jacky Hugi. Iraq
Iraqi Parties to Seek Revenge In Provincial Elections Saleem Al-Hasani writes that the upcoming provincial elections will be seen as an opportunity for settling scores among Iraq's political parties. Iraq
Hamas Imposes a Media Blackout Throughout Gaza Strip The decision to forbid local reporters in Gaza from working for Israeli media outlets will only deepen the sense of estrangement and alienation between Israelis and Palestinians, writes Shlomi Eldar. Palestine
Taking the Europeans Into Account The European Union, on its own, will not be able to “impose'' a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, argues Nadav Eyal. Israel
Demography Favors Rise of Israel's Right Demographic changes are strengthening Israel's right wing, writes Akiva Eldar. Israel
Arab States Must Forge a New Social Contract Nassif Hitti anticipates a "disordered order" in the region in 2013 and calls for a new social contract in Arab states. Lebanon
Whither Fatah? Daoud Kuttab speculates on the future of Fatah, which, despite its victory at the UN, is experiencing a crisis of leadership among Palestinians. Palestine
Hezbollah Weighs Its Options Nasser Chararah considers Hezbollah's options in dealing with Syria and a potential military strike on Iran. Lebanon
Balance Key in Iran, Iraq Ties The history of Iraq and Iran goes back centuries, but looking at their relationship today through just that lens would be a mistake, argues Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Iraq
Iraq's Central Bank a Political Battleground In the midst of ongoing political disputes within Iraq, the country’s central bank is facing a number of problems, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq