North African Oil and Gas Sites On High Alert The terrorist attack against oil and gas workers in Algeria two weeks ago has caused the region to step up security measures and cooperation, reports Kaci Racelma. North Africa
Straight Talk Needed From Hamas About Israel For Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, there is no contradiction between attempting to reach a political agreement and the vision of Greater Palestine, writes Shlomi Eldar. Palestine
The Return of the Jordan Option for Palestine? Adnan Abu Amer surveys some of the latest "outside the box" thinking on a territorial solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestine
Iraqi Housing Initiative Fails to Deliver Iraqi investment authorities have misstepped with the country’s largest residential housing project as they attempt to solve the country’s housing crisis, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Islamization in Gaza Erodes Women's Rights Increasing Islamization in the Gaza Strip is eroding the rights of women, the latest sign of which is a new regulation at Al Aqsa University requiring all women to dress with “modesty,” writes Asmaa al-Ghoul. Palestine
Israel Worries Syria War Will Spread From Majdal Shams, the Druze village in the Israeli-annexed Golan, and throughout Israel, people are voicing concerns about the spread of the Syrian conflict and the threat of chemical weapons, reports Inna Lazareva. Israel
UN Report Sets Stage for Hague Case Against Israel Daoud Kuttab writes that the UN report calling on Israel to vacate its settlements in the West Bank paves the way for legal action against the Jewish state at the International Criminal Court. Palestine
Opposition Parties Accuse KRG of Mishandling Budget Kurdish oppposition politicians have accused the Kurdistan Regional Government of mismanagement ahead of deliberations on the 2013 federal budget, of which the region will receive an estimated $18 billion, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
Iraqi Oil Contracts Reward Kuwait, Punish Turkey The signing of the latest round of oil contracts in Iraq has been a victory for the Iraq-Kuwait detente, but comes at the cost of deteriorating relations with Turkey, writes Omar al-Shaher. Kuwait
Lapid Plan for Ultra-Orthodox to Serve In Israeli Military Must Go Forward Yair Lapid, the chairman of Yesh Latid, must seize this historic opportunity and impose a real plan for drafting the ultra-Orthodox into the army, writes Mazal Mualem. Israel