Kurdish National Congress Seeks Unity Amid Divisions The Kurdish National Congress, to be held in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region on Aug. 24, will seek a common agenda for Kurds divided over the war in Syria. Iraq
Iranian Reformists Return To Public Sphere Like bears emerging from a four-year hibernation, Iranian reformists are beginning to speak out again, empowered by the election of President Hassan Rouhani and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's departure. Iran
Turkey’s Secret 'Ancestry Codes' Track Non-Muslim Minorities Turkey has been secretly coding its Armenian, Greek, Jewish, Syriac and other non-Muslim minorities since the beginning of the republic in 1923. Turkey
Is Hamas Considering A Move to Beirut? Beirut has been the scene of intense political activity by Hamas as it seeks to restore ties with Hezbollah and Iran. Palestine
Is Maliki Considering Postponing Iraq's Parliamentary Elections? There is speculation in Baghdad that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki may consider postponing Iraq's parliamentary elections scheduled for next year. Iraq
Turkish Judicial System Takes Blow in Ergenekon Verdict Huseyin Celik, spokesman of the ruling Justice and Development Party, says if Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founding father of Turkey, was alive, he would not even allow the defense lawyers in the Ergenekon trials to "peel potatoes." Turkey
Will Eid al-Fitr Bring Hope For Arab World? Eid al-Fitr is being celebrated with an especially heavy heart this year, with massacres still taking place in Syria, hatred in Egypt boiling over and the closure of Gaza continuing. Palestine
Israeli Arabs' Views Reveal Gap With Political Leaders Polls suggest that Israeli Arabs feel attached to their country, but their political leaders do little to strengthen that feeling or fight to improve their rights. Palestine
The White, Black and Gray Of the Ergenekon Trial That fervent belief in secrecy is behind the excesses of the Ergenekon case in Turkey. Turkey
Forced Underage Marriages Continue in Gaza Forced marriages of teenage Palestinian girls in Gaza remain frequent, despite laws prohibiting the marriage of those under 17. Palestine
Nasrallah Calls for Muslim Solidarity In Quds Day Speech Celebrating Quds Day at a particularly polarized moment in the Arab world, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah reminds his Sunni counterparts of the need for solidarity with the Palestinians. Lebanon
Ultra-Orthodox Shas Party Flourishes in Opposition The chairman of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, Aryeh Deri, is working closely with left-wing and Arab parties, creating an unexpected but efficient opposition. Israel
Syrian Rebel Forces Set Sights on Latakia Al-Qaeda and affiliated jihadist groups have reportedly taken the lead in an offensive on Syrian Alawite villages. Syria
Netanyahu Must Prepare Israelis for Peace If the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations yield an agreement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must harness all his powers of persuasion to win the support of the Israeli public. Palestine
Turkey’s Tentative Iranian Spring Although Iran is not expected to change its Syria policy, working with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani may help ease regional tensions. Turkey
Rouhani’s Cautious Pick For Defense Minister Iran’s new defense minister is a sign of President Hassan Rouhani’s interest in balancing moderate and conservative forces. Iran
