Al-Qaeda Sees Opportunity In Iraq’s Sectarian Conflict As Sunni demonstrations and sectarian tensions throughout Iraq continue to escalate, al-Qaeda is focusing all its efforts on taking advantage of Sunni vulnerabilities, writes Mushreq Abbas. Iraq
Iran, P5+1 Diplomacy Just Getting Started The good news about the talks between Iran and the P5+1 in Kazakhstan may be the shared interest in turning the talks from events into a diplomatic process to allow time to bridge the gulf between positions, writes Mohammad Ali Shabani. Iran
Beirut on Edge After Nasrallah Speech The speech by Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah on Feb. 26 holds many similarities to his speech on May 6, 2008, writes Jean Aziz. Lebanon
Turkey’s National Action Party Resists Peace with PKK The National Action Party (MHP) is poised to oppose peace with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) on the grounds that it will compromise Turkish identity, writes Caleb Lauer. Turkey
Israel Braces for Cyberwarfare With Palestinians After a series of cyberattacks and incidents of hacking from Palestinians, Israel has amped up efforts to protect its vital computer systems, reports Adnan Abu Amer. Palestine
Lebanese Political Crisis Related to Rise in Crime The increase in security concerns around the war in Syria has led to a sharp rise in crime in Lebanon, writes Elie Hajj. Lebanon
Ocalan's Words Expose Risks To PKK-Turkey Peace Plan Kadri Gursel writes on how the letters of Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned head of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), signal both a first step in building confidence and the difficulties to achieving a final agreement. Turkey
Egypt Still Can Spare Itself From Political Disaster Bassem Sabry comments on the implications of the National Salvation Front’s call to boycott the upcoming parliamentary elections and the intransigence of President Mohammed Morsi and the Islamists. Egypt
Iraq and Russia Going Ahead With $4 Billion Arms Deal Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs Hoshyar Zebari confirmed that Baghdad will go ahead with the arms deal it signed with Russia in 2012, but is waiting on the budget approval to begin payment, reports Ali Abel Sadah. Iraq
Water Riot Breaks Out in Iran Protests have erupted following a dispute over a water pipeline in Iran's Esfahan Province, reports an Al-Monitor correspondent there. Iran
Palestinian Reconciliation Ends in Angry Exchange A reconciliation meeting between Hamas and Fatah officials may have made matters worse, and set back reconciliation talks. Palestine
Gangnam Gaza Style Two Gazan brothers recently filmed a parody of the famous Korean song "Gangnam Style," in which they address major social problems facing Gazan society, reports Asmaa al-Ghoul. Palestine
Hezbollah Probes Detente With Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood Hezbollah leaders look to improve relations Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, or at least refrain from criticism, while emphasizing their shared interests, writes Nasser Chararah. Egypt
Women Challenge Saudi State Within a State Women's protests against Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior have brought to light the extraordinary power this ministry enjoys in the kingdom, Madawi al-Rasheed writes. Saudi Arabia
Mistreatment of Palestinian Inmates Provokes More Anger, Protests Arafat Jaradat is not the first Palestinian to die in Israeli prisons, highlighting Israel's general mistreatment of Palestinian detainees, Linah Alsaafin writes. Palestine
Exclusive: Hamas OfficialPredicts Third Intifada Salah Bardawil, senior Hamas leader and member of parliament, in an exclusive interview with Abeer Ayyoub, warns that if President Barack Obama visits the al-Aqsa Mosque with Israeli security, "it will result in the biggest political disaster in the history of Palestinian-American relations." Palestine
