Is Hamas Considering Recognition Of Israel? As a step toward international recognition, Hamas is seeking to be removed from the US terrorist organizations list, and for that purpose even considers acknowledging Israel in its 1967 borders, reveals Shlomi Eldar. By Shlomi Eldar
Israel Should Seek to Re-Establish Good Relations With Turkey Present-day Turkey is completely different from the country Israel knew in the not-too-distant past, writes Arad Nir, and it is precisely because of this that Israel should restore its relations with Ankara. By Arad Nir
Sunni Iraqi Leaders Accused Of Supporting Terrorism As tribal leaders and other prominent Sunnis in Iraq defend themselves against accusations of supporting terrorism, sectarian tensions rise in Iraq, writes Ali Abel Sadah. By Ali Abel Sadah
Gaza's Orthodox Church Celebrates 1,606 Years One of the oldest churches in the world, the St. Porphyrius Greek Orthodox church in Gaza, recently celebrated its 1,606th year, writes Asmaa al-Ghoul. By Asmaa al-Ghoul
'Irish Sam' Joins Fight in Syria Housam Najjair, also known as "Irish Sam," discusses his forthcoming book and his experiences waging war against former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, writes Ali Hashem. By Ali Hashem In Doha, reporting on Iran, regional politics, conflict
Maliki Puts Kurds on Spot Over Oil Payments After the Iraqi Council of Representatives passed its 2013 budget law despite a boycott by Kurdish parliamentarians, the Kurdistan Regional Government is struggling to determine how it will pay foreign oil contracts, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari. By Abdel Hamid Zebari
Iraqi Journalists Divided Over Saddam-Era Union Law In their fight against a Saddam-era union law, Iraq’s journalists show their new divisions, which demonstrate political differences rather than sectarian loyalties, writes Mushreq Abbas. By Mushreq Abbas
Turks and Kurds Must Prepare for 'Truth' Orhan Kemal Cengiz calls for Truth Commissions to complement peace talks between the Turkish government and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). By Orhan Kemal Cengiz
Iranian Parliamentarian SaysAssad Could Win Elections In an exclusive interview with Mojtaba Mousavi for Al-Monitor, Iranian parliamentarian Ismaeil Kowsari downplayed hopes for a breakthrough in P5+1 nuclear talks with Iran and suggested that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad could win elections in 2014. By Mojtaba Mousavi
Israeli Center Keeps Focus On Human Rights Naela Khalil reports on B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights center that documents Israeli violations in the Palestinian territories. By Naela Khalil
Egyptian Leftist Bloc Leader Calls Morsi 'New Mubarak' Hamdeen Sabahi, Egypt’s former presidential candidate and head of powerful leftist bloc, has described President Mohammed Morsi as a “new Mubarak,” writes Mohannad Sabry from Cairo. By Mohannad Sabry
Obama Should Re-Launch Peace Process Some are expecting US President Barack Obama to relaunch Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, but this should not mean negotiations just for the sake of negotiations that eventually go nowhere, writes Nassif Hitti. By Nassif Hitti
Palestinians Mourn Chavez Following the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Palestinian groups of all affiliations have offered their condolences for a man who championed their cause, writes Hazem Balousha. By Hazem Balousha
Lebanon's Gathering Storm Over Syria As the Syrian conflict enters its second year, Lebanon's security situation is weakening as sectarian tendencies rise, signaling a coming crisis, writes Scarlett Haddad. By Scarlett Haddad
Bahraini Opposition Competes For Western Support Bahrain’s opposition is working overtime to woo the West to its cause, but it would be better served forging local and regional links, Omar al-Shehabi writes.
Iraq’s New Sunni Awakening A resurgence of Sunni identity and demonstrations against the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is weakening Iraqi nationalism and intensifying sectarianism, writes Harith Hasan. By Harith al-Qarawee