New Israeli Defense Minister Seeks Leaner, Smarter Force Budget cuts offer the new defense minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya'alon an opportunity to complete the visionary process he began as chief of staff: to shrink the clunky land army and make the IDF more relevant, given the challenges it faces, writes Alon Ben David. Israel
Hezbollah Again Postpones General Congress Hezbollah's decision to again delay its general congress may be linked in part to regional developments, including Bahrain and Syria, writes an Al-Monitor correspondent in Beirut. Lebanon
Erdogan Softens Zionism Remarks As Obama Lands in Israel Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s attempt to clarify earlier remarks on Zionism may aim in part to repair ties with the United States, which have also been strained by Ankara's refusal to hand over an al-Qaeda official to US authorities, writes Tulin Daloglu. Israel
Iraq: Mixed Legacy In Saddam's Hometown Tikrit, Saddam Hussein’s hometown, has paid dearly for its association to the former dictator, with residents feeling isolated and marginalized from the Iraqi political process, writes Ali Abel Sadah. Iraq
New Iraqi Budget Deepens Housing Crisis Iraq’s most disadvantaged residents continue to suffer from a housing shortage, as the government’s 2013 budget has decreased allocations for home loans, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Palestinians Tire of Israeli 'Games' on Settlements Palestinians are tired of being fooled, and want President Barack Obama to press Israel on its illegal settlements, Daoud Kuttab writes. Palestine
Palestinian Mother Speaks Out About Daughter’s Honor Killing Those who commit so-called honor crimes continue to receive light sentences in the Gaza Strip despite efforts to amend outdated laws in this regard, Asmaa al-Ghoul reports. Palestine
Netanyahu's New Security Team Lacks Experience Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet meetings will now include new, inexperienced members, and it is with them that he will have to make fateful decisions, writes Mazal Mualem. Israel
Obama's Real Reason For Visiting Israel President Barack Obama’s visit to Israel is not motivated by a desire to win over the Israeli public, writes Akiva Eldar, but rather by the need to salvage the standing of the United States as an influential power in the region. Israel
Iraq: The Illegal War Clovis Maksoud writes that there is nothing to celebrate in remembering the 10th anniversary of the Iraq War, except the removal of Saddam Hussein from power. Lebanon
Documenting the Plight Of Palestinian Female Prisoners A new book will recount the experiences of Palestinian women in Israeli prisons, highlighting the abuse that they faced and the challenges they have faced since being released, writes Naela Khalil. Palestine
Resignation Signals New Low For Turkish Journalism Hasan Cemal, after 45 years as a journalist, loses his job because of government pressure. Turkey
The Death of Journalism in Turkey Cengiz Candar writes that when veteran Turkish journalist Hasan Cemal resigned on March 18 from his 15-year stint with daily Milliyet after it refused to print his latest article, it was the death of decent journalism in Turkey. Turkey
IFC Cautiously Confident On Egypt Economy International Finance Corp. CEO Jin-Yong Cai spoke to Sarah el-Sirgany on the challenges for Egypt in attracting investment during his recent visit to the country. Egypt
Sectarianizing Foreign Policy In Egypt Mohamed Elmenshawy discusses the implications of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi’s sectarian foreign policy. Egypt
Iraqi Politicians Stoke Flames Of Religious Sectarianism Ten years after the American-led invasion of Iraq, the fabric of Iraqi society appears to be more frayed than ever, as politicians exploit renewed sectarian sentiments for personal gain, reports Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Iraq
