Obama and ErdoganSmile for the Camera US President Barack Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan appeared to come closer on Syria, but challenges remain. By Tulin Daloglu
Will Israel Take Out The Russian Missiles in Syria? Israel considers its options if Russia goes ahead with its plan to sell S-300 missiles to Syria. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Does Lebanon’s Political System Need an Update? As Lebanon’s governmental crisis moves forward, traditional alliances may be shifting as inefficiencies in the old confessional system come to the surface. By Jean Aziz (Lebanon Pulse)
Why Did Iran's Foreign Minister Visit Jordan? Did Jordan's King Abdullah II charge Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi with sending a "friendly message" to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad? By Nasser Chararah
Saudi-Qatar Honeymoon In Lebanon Is Over Seemingly eager to turn the regional unrest to their advantage, both Qatar and Saudi Arabia are carefully strategizing their diplomatic efforts in the Mideast. By Nasser Chararah
'Rebel' Egyptian Movement Defies Morsi Through Petitions The increasingly popular 'Rebel' (Tamarod) Movement is collecting signatures to force early elections in Egypt. By Ahmed Ateyya
Armed Militias in Libya Push for Political Control Libya’s armed militias are consolidating their authority in key parts of the country and pushing to entrench their power politically. By Abdullah Elmaazi
Israel’s Mistake in Attacking Syria Israel’s air strikes on Syria have set back its interests in the region. By Kayhan Barzegar
US Should Heed Russia, Include Iran in Syria Talks Russia is asking the US to include Iran in the upcoming "Geneva II" conference on Syria, a move that could also benefit the stalemated nuclear talks. By Barbara Slavin
Secular, Religious Israeli Activists Flock to Lod Tensions are rising in the ethnically mixed Israeli city of Lod between progressive and religiously motivated Israeli activists over the city's demographic future. By Daniel Ben Simon
Israeli Outposts Remain Illegal Under International Law Despite Israel's attempts to "legalize" four outposts in the West Bank within its own judicial system, the legal maneuvering will not change international law. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
Netanyahus Take Flack For Royal Lifestyle The Netanyahus continue enjoying an extravagant lifestyle despite criticism from the public, which faces a new austerity plan. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Spillover Effects of Syria’s Sectarian Conflict on Turkey The Reyhanli attack not only weakens Prime Minister Erdogan's hand in his meeting with President Obama, but also has ramifications for Turkey's stability. By Cengiz Candar
Controversy Erupts Over Settlement On Eve of Kerry Visit to Israel A report from the settlement of Beit El, north of Ramallah. By Shlomi Eldar
PKK Members Withdraw To Iraqi Kurdistan Following a call by PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan from prison on Imrali island, members of the party have begun to move from Turkey into the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. By Abdel Hamid Zebari
Basra Becomes Battleground For Iraqi Politics Basra has become Iraq’s latest political battleground as the country’s prominent Shiite factions seek to win over the local population of the majority-Shiite city in southern Iraq. By Mushreq Abbas