Rouhani Presidency Could Bolster US-Iran Exchanges A new report suggests steps to increase academic, scientific and other exchanges between the US and Iran as a cost-effective way to help both countries and lay the ground for normal diplomatic relations. Iran
Erdogan, Taksim Square And the Kurdish Peace The peace process with the Kurds will either be a fatality of the Taksim-Gezi events, or a lifeline for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey
Islamic Jihad Demands Hamas Fire Minister Over Killing Ties between Islamic Jihad and Hamas are under serious strain following the killing of an Al-Quds Brigades leader by Hamas police. Palestine
Morsi Condemnation Of Lynchings Not Enough President Mohammed Morsi should embrace Egypt’s Shiite heritage and end for good the Muslim Brotherhood’s sectarianism. Egypt
Erdogan Holds Key To Economic Stability The way Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan handles the protests will have a big impact on long-term foreign investors. Turkey
Is Turkey's Government Seeking Israeli Scapegoat for Protests? There are questions whether Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is trying to shirk responsibility for Istanbul protests by pointing the finger at Israel. Israel
Netanyahu's Circus Tent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Palestinian President Abu Mazen to meet him in a tent between Jerusalem and Ramallah: Will Abu Mazen rise to the challenge? Palestine
Palestinian Star Is Born On 'Arab Idol' Mohammed Assaf, the winner of ''Arab Idol,'' managed to unite the Palestinians of Gaza and the West Bank, as well as Arab Israeli, giving them reason to be proud. Palestine
Palestinians Refuse Assir's Call To Join Battle in Sidon Hamas is staying out of Lebanon’s sectarian conflict. Lebanon
Yachimovich Braces for Final Battle For Labor Party Labor Party Chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich’s new banner of regional diplomacy helps her fight those who challenge her leadership after the poor results at the elections. Israel
Sheikh Al-Assir's Militants Kill Lebanese Soldiers in Sidon After supporters of Sunni Salafist Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir killed Lebanese soldiers in Sidon, Lebanon seemed on the edge of open conflict. Lebanon
Black Iraqis Struggle To Shake Legacy of Racism Although Iraqis of African descent have had a significant presence in the country since the days of slave trade, particularly in the port of Basra, this community continues to face racism today, as it has for centuries. Iraq
Iranian Youth Hedge Hopes on Rouhani Iranian youth, who voted in large numbers for Hassan Rouhani for president, are mixed on whether he can deliver on Iran’s economy. Iran
Production-Sharing Contracts Could Help Renew Iran Oil Market Iran is changing its oil contracts to try to overcome sanctions and compete with Iraq. Iran
Lebanese Expert: Constitutional Council Must Be Restructured Speaking to Al-Monitor, Mahfouz Skina, a former adviser to Lebanon’s State Council, comments on the country’s political crisis and says the Constitutional Council must be restructured. Lebanon
The Decline of Iran’s Hard-Liners The election of Hassan Rouhani as president of Iran has revealed Iran's Principlist camp as a house of cards. Iran
