Iraqi Kurdistan Offers Loans to Tourism Sector To keep up with its quickly growing tourism sector, the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government has begun offering loans to those wishing to build hotels and other touristic facilities. Iraq
Israeli Deputy: 'Abu Mazen Is a Political Corpse' Israeli Deputy Interior Minister Faina Kirshenbaum states that Palestinian Chairman Abu Mazen has no internal legitimacy to negotiate an agreement which will include the Gaza Strip. Palestine
Bibi’s Choice: Make Peace Or Lose the Right Wing If Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is sincere in seeking an agreement with the Palestinians, he must distance himself from his party's extreme right-wing faction that opposes peace. Palestine
Erdogan Confronts Himself Over Protests Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is more challenged by policies of his own making than his political opposition. Turkey
Lebanese Shiites' Divisions Intensify Over Syria The murder of a student leader of an anti-Hezbollah Shiite group has served as a reminder of historical and shifting divisions within Lebanon’s Shiite community. Lebanon
Syria's rebels in rift with Aleppo's civil opposition Aleppo's civil opposition has been swept aside as hard-line armed groups assert their power in the city. Syria
Morsi Attacks Opposition, Further Infuriates Egyptians In a highly anticipated speech, President Morsi offered little new on national reconciliation and confirmed to his opponents that he is incapable of confronting the worsening challenges the country faces. Egypt
Erekat: No Plans for Kerry, Abu Mazen, Netanyahu Summit Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is stuck between US Secretary of State John Kerry and the Palestinian street. Palestine
Harsh Reality of Israeli Occupation Persists in Spite of Kerry's Efforts Weekly protests in West Bank villages against the Israeli occupation continue, with little hope that Kerry’s initiative will bring positive results. Palestine
Egypt’s Gas Shortage Fuels June 30 Protests Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi provided neither political nor economic answers in his June 26 speech. Egypt
Israel, Hamas Watching Change of Leaders in Qatar Israel closely follows the change of leadership in Qatar, and the impact of the change on the Arab Peace Initiative. Qatar
Neo-Sunni Alliance Accentuates Regional Sectarian Conflict The Syrian crisis has deepened sectarian divisions in the region. Pan Arab
Israelis Still Attached To Their Jewish-Berber Identity French-Moroccan film director Kamal Hachkar reveals Morocco’s Jewish past in a moving documentary. Israel
Poll Shows Hezbollah Losing Support Among Palestinians The decline of Hezbollah's public image in the Palestinian territories is attributed to its support for the Syrian government. Palestine
Egypt's Musicians: Revolutionaries Or Opportunists? As Egyptians prepare for massive protests on June 30, the nation's musicians debate their role in the revolution. Egypt
Before Piling on New Sanctions, Give Rouhani a Chance The election of Hassan Rouhani as president of Iran may be a diplomatic opening to prevent an Iranian nuclear weapon, so the US Congress should not undermine it with more sanctions. Iran
