Israeli Students Show Little Interest In Learning Arabic In contrast to the revival of Hebrew studies in Gaza, Israeli students are reluctant to learn Arabic, writes Shlomi Eldar. Palestine
Iraqi MP: Oil Dispute Could Lead To Iraq’s 'Disintegration' In an exclusive interview, Iraqi Parliament member Haidar Al-Abadi calls for a "political solution" in Syria and a resolution to the dispute over oil revenues between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Iraq
Iranian Official: We Welcome 'Humane Efforts' Against Sanctions Iran's minister of economic affairs and finance puts a positive spin on a sanctions-burdened economy and says he welcomes more "people-to-people" ties with the United States. Iran
Sheikh With Lebanese Ties Linked to Marathon Bombers Excerpts of speeches from jihadist Sheikh Feiz Mohammad were allegedly found on the YouTube account of one of the Boston Marathon bombers, Jean Aziz reports. Lebanon
Turkey’s New 'Sunni Islam' Taboo The 10-month suspended prison sentence of pianist Fazil Say on grounds of his (re)tweets is the signal for an introduction of a new taboo called “Sunni Islam” in Turkey, writes Kadri Gursel. Turkey
The Gaza Doctor’s Story On Israeli Stage The best-seller “I Shall Not Hate,” depicting the life of Ezzeldeen Abu al-Aish, "the doctor from Gaza" and bereaved Palestinian father, has been adapted for the stage at Habima national theater, Michal Aharoni reports. Palestine
Playing with Fire On the Temple Mount Provocative visits to the Temple Mount by Knesset members and ministers from the right could prove costly, writes Nadav Perry. Palestine
Palestinian Refugees in Egypt Palestinian refugees in Egypt still face many challenges and discrimination, writes Mahmoud Omar. Palestine
Brotherhood Demands Judicial Purge in Egypt Muslim Brotherhood supporters protest after South Cairo Criminal Court acquits deposed President Hosni Mubarak of killing protesters, writes Zenobia Azeem. Egypt
US Military Threats Toward Iran Do Not Work Seyed Hossein Mousavian and Shahir ShahidSaless write that demonstrating good will, such as sanctions relief, would be the best option for a peaceful, diplomatic resolution to the nuclear negotiations with Iran. Iran
Is Turkish Foreign Policy Paranoid? Pinar Tremblay reports on a perception of defensiveness and paranoia that has accompanied the rise in Turkey’s power and influence. Turkey
Why Hezbollah Is Fighting in Syria Ali Hashem explains Hezbollah’s decision to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Syria
Erdogan Has Tricky Path To Constitutional Referendum Yavuz Baydar asks whether a draft referendum on a new constitution is progress for Turkish democracy. Turkey
Ex-EU Officials Seek New Approach To Peace Process Former EU leaders sign on to a letter addressed to Catherine Ashton and John Kerry calling on them to take a lead in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, writes Akiva Eldar. Palestine
Blasphemy in Turkey — And the Fazil Say Affair Mustafa Akyol argues that Fazil Say should not be convicted either of blasphemy or hate speech, although Say is guilty of insulting and denigrating pious Muslims. Turkey
Israel Bars Gaza Palestinians From Bethlehem Marathon Daoud Kuttab laments Israeli restrictions to prevent runners from Gaza from participating in a marathon in Bethlehem. Palestine
