Khamenei's Criteria For Next Iranian President Meir Javedanfar examines what may qualify or disqualify Iran’s presidential candidates, according to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran
International Law Is Key To Israeli-Palestinian Solution If Secretary of State John Kerry cannot get Israel to acknowledge that it is an occupying power in the Palestinian territories, then his visit is an exercise in futility. Palestine
Memo to Kerry: Interim Agreement Best Bet in Mideast With US Secretary of State John Kerry about to shuttle across the region, Ben Caspit recommends he stop thinking in terms of “making history” and focus on achieving a gradual interim agreement. Palestine
Is There a New 'Jordan Option'? A meeting in Jordan between King Abdullah II and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, soon after the visit of US President Barack Obama to Jordan, may signal a new role for Jordan, writes Akiva Eldar. Palestine
Conflict Intensifies In Syria's Kurdish Area Clashes have broken out between the Kurdish People’s Defense Units and the Syrian government in Qamishli, in northern Syria, writes Wladimir van Wilgenburg. Syria
Iraq: Shiite Delegation Seeks To Build Ties With Kurds A delegation from the National Iraqi Alliance, a Shiite electoral coalition, has visited the Iraqi Kurdistan Region in hopes of revitalizing Shiite-Kurdish ties, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
Al-Qaeda Seen Expanding Influence in Lebanon Salafist and jihadist groups, including those affiliated with al-Qaeda, appear to be deepening their roots within Lebanon, writes Nasser Chararah. Lebanon
Next Lebanese Government Faces Same Crises A seeming consensus on Tammam Salam as Lebanon's next prime minister does not assure Lebanon that its many crises, including over the electoral law and the consequences of the war in Syria, will be any easier to address, writes Ali Hashem. Lebanon
New Israeli Government Will Support Settlements Geoffrey Aronson writes that settlement expansion will be a priority under the new Israeli government. Palestine
The 'Great Game' in Levant The vast gas reserves of the Eastern Mediterranean have become the 21st century’s "Great Game" in the Levant, writes Semih Idiz. Turkey
Hamas’ Changing Role in Egypt Hamas has seen improved ties with Cairo following the January 25 revolution and the election of Muslim Brotherhood-backed President Mohammed Morsi, writes Adnan Abu Amer. Palestine
Gaza Family Homeless Following Slum Demolition Following a decision by the Hamas-led government in Gaza to destroy a slum that they claim was illegally constructed, the Abu Amrah family finds itself homeless and with few options, writes Asmaa al-Ghoul. Palestine
Attacks on Iraqi Media Call Press Freedom Into Question Following attacks on the offices of three different Iraqi newspapers on April 1, press freedom in Iraq is once again called into question, writes Mushreq Abbas. Iraq
Iraqi Panel Promotes 'Biden Plan' For Federal Iraq The key to securing Iraq’s political future is to place administrative responsibilities in the hands of the regions, and hold power centrally in Baghdad, writes Mushreq Abbas. Iraq
West Bank Seeing New Wave Of Anti-Israel Violence Palestinian anger is soaring following the cancer death of a prisoner in Israeli custody and the killing of a protester in Tulkarem, reports Daoud Kuttab. Palestine
AKP Flip-Flops on Parliamentary Supervision The opposition parties turned down a government proposal to set up an investigative commission to supervise the talks with the PKK, writes Tulin Daloglu. Turkey
