Ongoing Political Deadlock Spurs Iraqi Civil Activists Iraqis headed to the polls six times in 10 years, and they continue to live in a society that is insecure and has an inadequate infrastructure and deepening gap between the different groups. Iraq
Egyptian Twitter Post Pushes Turkey's Buttons A Twitter message that suggested the interim government in Cairo might recognize the Armenian genocide exposed a raw nerve in Turkey. Egypt
UN Leader's Visit to Israel Shows Waning US Influence in Mideast UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's visit to the region and his meetings with Israeli leaders show how the West is losing control over Middle East events. Israel
Is Hypernationalism The New Islamism? Islamism in the Middle East may have met a match in the hypernationalism taking hold in Egypt and Syria. Egypt
Maliki's Own Party Urges Him Not to Run Leaders in the State of Law Coalition, led by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, are trying to convince the prime minister not to run in the upcoming legislative elections, fearing that it could spell the end of the coalition itself. Iraq
Israeli Volunteers Invite Palestinian Children to Beach Israeli women accompany Palestinian children and their mothers to Tel Aviv on a trip that for most is their first visit to the beach. Palestine
Israel-Palestine Peace Depends On International Involvement Israel's insistence on keeping the United States and other world powers out of the negotiating room will only result in the failure of current talks with the Palestinians. Palestine
Hamas Accused of Targeting Fatah Activists in Gaza Palestinian rights groups have called on Hamas to cease harassing Fatah members, after several were detained in Gaza in recent weeks. Palestine
Erdogan’s Blaming of Israel Might be Funny If It Weren’t So Sad Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of being behind the Egyptian military coup only to be met with strong criticism from Egypt, Israel and the United States. Egypt
Tensions Mount Between Iraqi Government, Najaf Though influential, Iraqi politicians claim Najaf religious scholars have no right to influence the state of affairs in the country. Iraq
Hezbollah-Hamas Relationship Strained News reports suggest that Hezbollah's relationship with Hamas is under more pressure than ever, which is good news for Israel. Israel
Palestinian Bank Pioneers Sign-Language Banking Gaza's Palestine Islamic Bank is the first Palestinian retail bank to launch sign-language services. Palestine
Gaza Salafist Leader Calls For Jihad Against Egyptian General Head of the Salafist Jaysh al-Umma militant group in Gaza has called on Muslims to "stop the bloodshed by the tyrant Sisi." Palestine
Turkish-Israeli Military Ties Damaged by Ergenekon Trial The Ergenekon trial has made it clear to the decision-makers in Jerusalem that the Turkish army will no longer be able to serve as a bridge between the two countries. Israel
Lebanon Caught in Middle Of Iranian-Saudi 'Cold War' Lebanon’s unique position in the Arab Levant means it has been inevitably caught up in the back and forth of Iran and Saudi Arabia’s proxy war in the region. Saudi Arabia
Knesset Member Wants Fellow Arab-Israeli MPs to Get in the Game Arab Israeli Knesset member Issawi Frej explains the backstory of his joining a left-wing Zionist political party. Israel
