Who's Insulting Islam: Fazil Say or His Punishers? The conviction of composer Fazil Say for blasphemy based upon a series of tweets has elicited outrage among pro-democracy advocates, writes Orhan Kemal Cengiz. Turkey
Unique Memorial Ceremony Unites Israelis, Palestinians Akiva Eldar took part in an alternative Memorial Day ceremony where Israeli and Palestinian bereaved families shared their pain and their hopes for a better future. Palestine
Turks Question Endgame Of Kurdish Peace Effort Many analysts and writers who enthusiastically support the government’s “resolution process” with the Kurds argue that the nation-state has come to an end, writes Tulin Daloglu. Turkey
Kerry’s Shuttle Diplomacy Without a Map John Kerry has launched his shuttle diplomacy, with previous benchmarks such as the Clinton Parameters of 2000 and the Olmert-Abbas understanding of 2008 all but forgotten or ignored, writes Alon Pinkas. Palestine
Iraqi Army Voting Mired In Factional Politics The April 13 elections for representatives of the Iraqi army and police in provincial councils revealed familiar Iraqi factionalism, writes Ali Abel Sadah. Iraq
Israel Fears Hamas PlanningArmed Action in West Bank Israel and the Palestinian Authority are growing increasingly concerned that Hamas is seeking to renew armed operations in the West Bank, Adnan Abu Amer writes. Palestine
Yemen’s Military Earthquake President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi's reshuffling of Yemen’s military leadership may provoke further opposition, writes Farea al-Muslimi from Yemen. Yemen
Palestinians Reopen EmbassyIn Kuwait After Two Decades Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas traveled to Kuwait to reopen the embassy there, marking a new chapter in Kuwaiti-Palestinian relations, writes Dalia Hatuqa. Palestine
Palestinian Choreographer Finds Expression in Modern Dance Raja Shehadeh reviews "Ordinary Madness," a modern-dance performance directed by Farah Saleh and scheduled to play at the Ramallah Contemporary Dance Festival on April 23. Palestine
Tunisian Journalists Tread With Caution Freedom of the press is still more aspiration than reality in Tunisia two years after the fall of Ben Ali, writes Katharina Pfannkuch. Culture & Society
Obama and Bibi; Hezbollah and Syria; Jihadists and Lebanon The backstories on the meeting between US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; Hezbollah’s debate over Syria; and the role of jihadists in Lebanon. Israel
Iranian Presidential Campaign To Address Economic Troubles Iran’s economic woes are to be at the core of the forthcoming presidential elections, writes Bijan Khajehpour. Iran
Israelis Divided Over Artists Who Dodge Draft Knesset member and former IDF chief education officer Eliezer Stern explains in an interview with Mazal Mualem why he strongly objects to performers who dodge army service to perform at Memorial and Independence Day official events. Israel
Kurdish Language Is Key Demand In Peace Talks The Kurdish language is considered central to Kurdish demands in the Turkish-Kurdish peace talks, writes Sibel Utku Bila. Turkey
Israeli Women Visit Palestinian Hunger Striker Israeli women take turns visiting Palestinian hunger striker Samer Issawi at Kaplan Hospital, writes Shlomi Eldar. Palestine
Israeli-Palestinian Treadmill Diplomacy Pressing on the need to reform the peace process, Nassif Hitti asks whether such a change would actually happen in light of the recent developments and Kerry's visit to the region. Lebanon
![Ordinary Madness Dance Performance by Sareyyet Ramallah – First Ramallah Group (FRG), at the National Theatre - Jerusalem (Photography by: Nabil Darwish [ndproductions::digital imaging::] Copyright © 2013)](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2013/04/ordinary-madness070312-lr-10.jpg/ordinary-madness070312-lr-10.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=W39068V2)
