John Kerry's Syria File Secretary of State John Kerry, a veteran and critic of the Vietnam war, is now himself a decision maker regarding U.S. policy toward the civil war in Syria, writes Geoffrey Aronson. By Geoffrey Aronson
Palestinian Youth Suffer High Unemployment, Frustration A new report by the Sharek Youth Forum highlights the challenges faced by Palestinian youth, including high unemployment, obesity and frustration in the political process, writes Hazem Balousha. By Hazem Balousha
Attack on Purim Highlights Trend in Israeli Racism The attack on an Israeli-Arab sanitation worker in Tel Aviv last week has underlined racism inherent in parts of Israeli society and brought to light those who are fighting it, reports Shlomi Eldar. By Shlomi Eldar
Iraq Reconstruction Report Documents Waste, Corruption Stuart Bowen, the US official in charge of monitoring $60 billion spent by the US on Iraqi stabilization and reconstruction, says 15% was wasted, millions were stolen and the US government is still not properly organized to carry out such operations, writes Barbara Slavin. By Barbara Slavin
Lebanon Beset by Kidnapping,Drugs and Jabhat al-Nusra Instability, kidnapping and terrorism have taken hold of Lebanon during a period of turbulence exacerbated by the civil war in neighboring Syria, writes Jean Aziz. By Jean Aziz (Lebanon Pulse)
Despair Fuels West Bank Protests The Palestinian protests in the West Bank reflect the desperate social and economic conditions there, writes Ahmad Azem. By Ahmad Azem
Palestinian Finance Minister Resigns Amid Cash Crisis Minister of Finance Nabil Qassis found himself cornered and unable to deliver proposed reforms to address the Palestinian Authority’s financial crisis, writes Daoud Kuttab. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
Self-Immolation Un-Islamic, Scolds Hamas Another Palestinian recently set himself on fire in Gaza in protest of rising poverty, but Hamas officials have dismissed the protest on religious grounds, Mohammed Suliman writes. By Mohammed Suliman
Is Erdogan 'Anti-Zionist'? Mustafa Akyol writes that Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's comments on Zionism should be understood and analyzed in a Turkish, not just international, context. By Mustafa Akyol
UN Security Council Should Seek End to Israeli Occupation Nassif Hitti argues that a third Palestinian intifada is imminent, and says the UN Security Council should make a serious commitment to ending the Israeli occupation. By Nassif Hitti
Lebanese Unions End Strikes As Economic Crisis Continues Although Lebanese President Michel Suleiman has succeeded in ending a weeklong wave of public sector strikes that paralyzed much of Lebanon, the country’s economy still faces many challenges, writes Elie Hajj. By Elie Hajj
Hagel, Syria, the P5+1 and Iran The Senate confirmed Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense as the United States announced $60 million in non-lethal aid to the Syrian Opposition Council; Israel, Iraq and Lebanon continue to be concerned about the regionalization of the war in Syria; and Iran puts Syria in play after the P5+1 meetings. By Week in Review
Will Netanyahu Surrender To Lapid and Bennett? Prime Minister Netanyahu blames Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid and HaBayit HaYehudi leader Naftali Bennett for his failed attempts to form a coalition, but he will soon have to accept the fact that he is unable to form a government without them, writes Mazal Mualem. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Erdogan Slammed for Comments On Zionism U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, on a visit to Turkey, joined Western leaders in criticizing Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's inflammatory rhetoric on Israel equating Zionism to crimes against humanity, reports Tulin Daloglu. By Tulin Daloglu
Ocalan Peace Plan Irks PKK Militant Leaders Both PKK militants and Turkish officials and politicians committed to the negotiations with Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan are worried that the leaked letters might undermine the process, writes Ilnur Cevik. By Ilnur Cevik
Presidential Politics and Iran's Food Stamp Program Barely a week after Iran's parliament passed a food stamp plan, there's an effort to scuttle the scheme and use it to advantage in the upcoming presidential election. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics