Misreading The 'Syria Transition Act' In Turkey The Senate Foreign Relations Committee bill does not signal the imminent arrival of US arms to the Syria opposition. Syria
Iran’s UN Ambassador Welcomes Geneva II Conference on Syria Mohammad Khazaee, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, discusses Iran’s position on Syria in an email interview with Al-Monitor. Turkey
Israeli Labor Party Plots Comeback Veteran Labor members are planning to replace party chair Shelly Yachimovich with popular former Israeli chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi. Israel
Kerry’s 'Shawarma Diplomacy' Wins Mixed Palestinian Response US Secretary of State John Kerry’s unscheduled detour in the West Bank to buy a shawarma sandwich has given rise to speculation about his motives. Palestine
The Israel-Egypt-Hamas Triangle in the Sinai The threat posed by Salafists and other jihadists in the northern Sinai has resulted in Hamas, Egypt and Israel recognizing their mutual interests. Palestine
Turkish-Kurdish Leader Cautious, Hopeful on Peace Plan Ahmet Turk, a pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party member, draws attention to a new legislation bringing municipalities under direct tutelage of governors, and argues that is in direct contradiction to the government’s Kurdish initiative. Turkey
AKP Wages Jihad Against Alcohol in Turkey The AKP’s draft law of aggressive alcohol restrictions aims not only to engineer an Islamic society but to prevent possible losses in its conservative electoral base. Turkey
Australian Visit Highlights Syrian Refugee Problem in Lebanon Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr calls for an end to the fighting in Syria and support for Lebanon. Lebanon
Tunisian Youth Disillusioned With Politics Young Tunisian independent activists are sitting out party politics and looking for other outlets of change. Culture & Society
Maliki Scrambles to Address Deteriorating Iraqi Security Iraq's leaders have no answers as they struggle to reassure Iraqis after a wave of terrorist bombings. Iraq
Lod: Israel’s Troubled City Hoping for Better Days Jewish and Arab activists join hands fighting crime, poverty and mutual mistrust in efforts to rescue Lod. Israel
Memo to John Kerry: 'Two-State Solution' Bankrupt Kilometers of fine roads testify to the fact that illegal outposts in the West Bank flourish under the auspices of the Israeli government. Palestine
Report Blasts Women's Exclusion From Israel's Public Sphere Though Israel prides itself as being enlightened, the Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein has recommended criminalizing the exclusion of women from the public sphere. Israel
Lebanese Politics Affected By Syrian Battle for Qusair The fall of the Syrian town of Qusair to regime forces will likely have consequences for Lebanon. Lebanon
The Limits to Europe's Pivot to the Gulf As the US strategic posture pivots toward Asia, Europe is looking again at the Gulf. Gulf
Syrian Minister Defends 'Legitimate Right' to Fire on Israel An exchange of fire between Israel and Syria on the Golan Heights raises the question of whether Damascus has adopted a new policy toward Israel and the possibility of an active Golan front. Israel
