EU Stance on Settlements Pleases Palestinians Palestinian efforts to obtain support from the European Union bore fruit this week with the adoption of economic sanctions against the settlements. By Shlomi Eldar
Maid in Saudi Arabia Human trafficking and abuse of domestic workers continue in the kingdom. By Madawi Al-Rasheed
Why Turkey Has 'Anti-Capitalist Muslims' İhsan Eliaçık, the group's leader, believes that the Islamic duty is not just caring for the poor, but overthrowing the capitalist “system” that he thinks makes them poor. By Mustafa Akyol
Gaza Hospitals Suffering Due To Border Closure with Egypt Egypt's closure of the border tunnels is hampering the ability of Gaza's health sector to treat those in need. By Rasha Abou Jalal In Gaza City, reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Turkey’s 'Erdogan Problem' Although Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared in September 2012 that he won’t run for parliamentary office again, his decisions on his next step will determine the future of Turkish politics. By Tulin Daloglu
Erdogan Flips on Turkey’s 'Interest Lobby' Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had blamed the “interest lobby,” or domestic and foreign financial institutions, for the Gezi Park protests, but now he is raising interest rates. By Erdal Sağlam
Erdogan’s Muddled Plan For Yassiada Memorial Erdogan uses a historical tragedy to initiate a profit-oriented project on Yassiada Island, the symbol of the 1960 coup that resulted in the execution of then-premier Adnan Menderes, the man Erdogan idolizes. By Fehim Tastekin In Paris, reporting on Turkish politics
US Succeeds in Alienating All Parties in Egypt The US is searching for an anchor for its policy toward the coup in Egypt. By Geoffrey Aronson
Iraq's Anbar Province Struggles To Form Government Three months following elections in Iraq’s protest-riddled Anbar province, its various factions have still not managed to create alliances and form a local government. By Ali Abel Sadah
Egyptian Revolution Broadcast in Hebrew Events in Egypt are now being interpreted in the Israeli news media, and on social media, by Hebrew-speaking Egyptians who are shattering the image of the Arab world in Israel. By Jacky Hugi
Israel’s Plague of Self-Censorship A series of new academic studies reveals that the self-silencing and mouth-muzzling phenomenon regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has turned into an Israeli plague. By Akiva Eldar
Lebanese Alliance Shifts Ultimately Depend on Syria After Lebanon’s parliament failed to pass a new electoral law, speculation began to circulate that Gen. Michel Aoun might end his long alliance with Hezbollah and Amal. By Jean Aziz (Lebanon Pulse)
Is Egypt's Media Inciting Hatred Against Palestinians? A hate campaign against Palestinians in the Egyptian media has irked Palestinian journalists. By Asmaa al-Ghoul
Kurdish Rebel Group in Turkey Re-Focuses on Syria A change in the PKK leadership has prompted debate over Turkey’s Kurdish peace initiative and Syria policies. By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Iraq’s Sex Trade Thrives Given the lax security situation since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, the country’s sex trade has proliferated. By Wassim Bassem