Iraqi Kurds Seek Recognition Of Genocide by Saddam Nearly 25 years after the Iraqi Kurdish city of Halabja was attacked with chemical weapons, the Kurdistan Regional Government continues to seek international recognition of the Anfal as genocide, reports Abdel Hamid Zebari. By Abdel Hamid Zebari
Fear of Islamic Extremism Brings Eastern Churches Closer There are growing links between the various churches of Eastern Christianity, driven by what they see as the threats to Christianity in the Middle East as a result of the Arab Spring, writes Nasser Chararah. By Nasser Chararah
Gaza Sees Rise in Violence, Crime Violence and lawlessness are on the rise in Gaza, reports Hazem Balousha. By Hazem Balousha
Israeli Authorities Mostly Ignore Settler Attacks on Palestinian Village The inhabitants of the Palestinian village of Qusra are regularly attacked by the Israeli settlers from nearby settlements, with the Israeli authorities doing little to help, reports Naela Khalil. By Naela Khalil
Syrian Kurdish Militia Takes Over Oil Fields Syrian Kurdish groups have seized control of several key oil fields, provoking concerns among the Syrian opposition and Turkey about the coming division of Syria, writes Wladimir van Wilgenburg. By Wladimir van Wilgenburg (Syria Pulse)
Israel: From Kitchenette to Octet Akiva Eldar wonders why women in Israel are excluded from all focal points of crucial decision-making. By Akiva Eldar
Will 'Almaty 2' Talks in April Win Breakthrough on Iran? The Iran-P5+1 talks in Almaty last month were just a start, but the stage is set for a possible breakthrough in the next round, Almaty 2, scheduled for April, writes Seyed Hossein Mousavian. By Seyed Hossein Mousavian
Speaker Accuses Maliki of Meddling In Iraq's Independent Commissions Iraqi Speaker of the Council of Representatvies Osama Al-Nujaifi has criticized Prime MInister Nouri Al-Maliki for interfering in Iraq's independent commissions, provoking strong responses from Maliki's State of Law Coalition, reports Ali Abel Sadah. By Ali Abel Sadah
Israel Restricts Entry of Foreigners Into Palestinian Territories Israel is increasingly preventing foreign passport holders from entering the Palestinian territories, Linah Alsaafin reports. By Linah Alsaafin
Next Israeli Government Will Be 'Short Term,' Says Knesset Member Knesset member Moshe Gafni from the ultra-Orthodox Yahadut HaTorah party explains to Mazal Mualem the failings of both Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid and HaBayit HaYehudi Chairman Naftali Bennett, predicting political disaster if they are included in the next Israeli government. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Finance Minister's Resignation Escalates Iraqi Crisis Mustafa al-Kadhimi asks whether Iraq’s politicians have abandoned negotiations to exploit the ongoing protests for electoral gains. By Mustafa al-Kadhimi
Yair Lapid, Beppe Grillo And Social Justice Nadav Eyal compares the aftermath of the Italian Five Star movement to the Israeli social justice protest and considers that new Israeli faces can and might deliver. By Nadav Eyal
'Cyrus Cylinder' a Reminder Of Persian Legacy of Tolerance Iran’s government encouraged the British Museum to send the Cyrus Cylinder, an ancient artifact celebrating religious liberty, to the United States, the museum director says. By Barbara Slavin
Iraqi Politician Attacks Central Bank Corruption The Iraqi Sunni politician Ahmed al-Alwani claims that Iraqi private banks have been involved in schemes to bypass the sanctions imposed on Syria and Iran, reports Omar al-Shaher. By Omar al-Shaher
Hamas Bars Women From Gaza Marathon Hamas' decision to bar women from UNRWA's annual Gaza marathon might have more to do with politics than religion, Abeer Ayyoub reports. By Abeer Ayyoub In Istanbul, reporting on Palestine
Hugo Chavez’s Mixed Legacy in the Middle East The late president of Venezuela won the support of large numbers of Arabs for his anti-Israeli positions, but his stock dropped after the Arab Spring and his continued backing of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, writes Ali Hashem. By Ali Hashem In Doha, reporting on Iran, regional politics, conflict