Economic Aid to Palestine Offers No Substitute for Legal Clarity Even with new offers of economic assistance to Palestine by the US, there will be no movement on the peace process until the Israeli occupation is recognized as such, writes Clovis Maksoud. Palestine
To Understand Israel, Understand the Holocaust The scars of the Holocaust are ingrained in the Israeli experience, and in Israel's relations with — and fears of — its neighbors, writes Ben Caspit. Israel
Sinai Opium Growers Repent, Turn to Medicinal Herbs Sinai herbalist Ahmed Saleh, a 38-year-old Bedouin tribesman, tells Mohannad Sabry how he persuaded local opium growers to switch their crop to herbal gardening. Egypt
Lebanon Is Pivotal For Syria’s Jihadists Ali Hashem writes that Lebanon has been home to various jihadist groups since the 1990s, but that it wasn’t until the Sept. 11 attacks that the connection with al-Qaeda became clear. Lebanon
Israeli Apology Pushes Hamas Away From Turkey Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s apology to Turkish counterpart Erdogan over the Mavi Marmara incident has brought Turkey closer to Israel but pushed Hamas away, writes Adnan Abu Amer. Palestine
Hamas Friction Continues With UN Relief Agency The United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Gaza faces increasing difficulty in carrying out its work, as the Hamas-led government claims some of its activities are not in line with the Strip’s Islamic culture and values, writes Hazem Balousha. Palestine
Can Yachimovich Keep Her Job As Israel's Labor Party Leader? Sources within the Labor party told Mazal Mualem that an initiative is being kicked around to hold "lightning primaries," to bring an “end to the Yachimovich dictatorship era.” Israel
Censored Iranian Artists Find Refuge in Erbil After more than 30 years of oppression and censorship following the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iranians and their most beloved artists are able to celebrate their culture in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
US Tries to Reconcile Ankara and Baghdad The tensions between Ankara and Baghdad continue to increase and the US is trying to bring both sides together, writes Semih Idiz. Iraq
Erbil-Baghdad Relations Still Lack Substance Despite ongoing negotiations and talks between Iraq’s central government in Baghdad and the country’s Kurdistan region, reconciliation efforts still lack the substance necessary to bring about effective solutions, writes Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Iraq
Obama's Lesson in Zionism During his visit to Israel, President Barack Obama reminded the world of the values of liberation and self-determination on which Zionism is based, writes Einat Wilf. Palestine
Iranian Presidential ElectionIn a State of Confusion Two months before Iranian presidential elections, the political factions are still in disarray in their search to put forward a winning candidate, writes Shahir ShahidSaless. Iran
Syria Civil War Causes Return Of Saudi Influence to Lebanon Since the beginning of the Syrian civil war, there has been a resurgence in Saudi Arabian influence in Lebanon, as the desert kingdom attempts to fill the vacuum left by Syria, Nasser Chararah writes. Saudi Arabia
Unexploded Devices Leave Hazard for Gaza Children Gaza's children are most likely to come into contact with unexploded ordnances left by Israeli and Palestinian forces, Mohammed Suliman writes. Palestine
Lebanon Back in the Saudi FoldWith Salam's Selection In its successful backing of Tammam Salam as Lebanon’s next prime minister, Saudi Arabia is back in charge of the Lebanese file but questions remain regarding its motives, writes Scarlett Haddad. Saudi Arabia
Promises of Reliable Electricity Offer Little Reassurance in Iraq The Iraqi government has pledged to provide the country with 24-hour electricity, heralding the end of years of energy blackouts, but doubts remain over the government’s ability to deliver on their promises, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
