Ocalan a No-Show at Funeral For PKK Activists The funeral of the three murdered PKK activists in Diyarbakir proceeded without incident, and without posters of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, writes Kadri Gursel.
Syria’s Reconciliation Minister: Turkish Role in Syria 'Very Bad' In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor from his office in Damascus, Ali Haidar, Syria's minister of national reconciliation, said that President Assad’s Jan. 6 speech constitutes "a step forward toward solving the crisis” and that Turkey's “role is based upon a sectarian position, and they are supporting some of the Syrian people at the expense of others.” By Antoun Issa
Maliki Makes Concessions on De-Baathification In what might be a bid to appease Sunni demonstrators, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has eased enforcement of de-Baathication laws, writes Ali Abel Sadah. By Ali Abel Sadah
Rabbi Amsalem Offers Alternative For Israeli Voters Rabbi MK Haim Amsalem, one of the real surprises of the Israeli elections, explains to interviewer Mazal Mualem why he rebelled against his mother party, Shas, and called on rabbinical college students to enlist in the army. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Obama Urged to Step Up Iran Diplomacy: Laura Rozen Reports National-security experts from across the political spectrum are urging US President Obama to pursue bolder diplomacy with Iran, including offering a nuclear deal that would include sanctions relief, reports Laura Rozen.
Kurdish Issue Key To Erdogan’s Success Resolving the Kurdish issue is critical for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to re-establish Turkey’s role in the region, writes Tulin Daloglu. By Tulin Daloglu
US Fails to Use Leverage With Israel Daoud Kuttab laments that the US no longer seems able to influence Israeli politics, despite the aid and assistance it provides. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
Ultra-Orthodox Parties Not in Netanyahu’s Pocket Politicians from the ultra-Orthodox Shas and Kadima center parties might be joining forces to create a bloc against Prime MInister Benjamin Netanyahu in advance of the elections next week, writes Akiva Eldar. By Akiva Eldar
Will Israel Miss Ahmadinejad? Nadav Eyal discusses whether Israel will benefit from a new Iranian president, who is likely to be just as committed to Iran's nuclear program and perhaps an even more formidable adversary. By Nadav Eyal
US Withholds Evidence for Iran Cyberattacks Computer experts say they believe Iran is responsible for a barrage of attacks on the websites of US banks but that the Obama administration should reveal how it knows this and acknowledge responsibility for its own cyberattacks on Iran. By Barbara Slavin
Palestinian Refugees From Syria Seek Refuge in Gaza Some Palestinian refugees from Syria have endured hardships and sought refuge in Gaza, reports Mohammed Suliman. By Mohammed Suliman
Iraqis Divided Over Iranian Car Ban The recent ban on Iranian car imports is expected to increase the price of automobiles in Iraq, writes Omar al-Shaher. By Omar al-Shaher
Questions About Practices Of Private Iraqi Banks Iraq's private banks rarely engage in traditional banking activities such as offering loans and credit and have lost the trust of the Iraqi people, writes Omar Al-Shaher. By Omar al-Shaher
Iraqi Divorce Rates, Social Problems On Rise Divorce rates have risen sharply in Iraq amid fears of violence and abuse against women, writes Ali Abel Sadah. By Ali Abel Sadah
Where Are Iran’s Reformists? Sune Engel Rasmussen reports from Tehran that the reformists and green movement have been reduced to “near invisibility” in the run-up to the presidential elections scheduled for June.
Embarrassment at Israeli President Shimon Peres' house Daniel Birnbaum, CEO of SodaStream, explains to interviewer Shlomi Eldar why he challenged the rules of official protocol at the president's house, and protested on behalf of his Palestinian employees who were searched like criminal suspects before meeting the president. By Shlomi Eldar