Is Turkey Giving Up on EU Membership? Turkey’s Middle East policies would benefit from joining the European Union. Turkey
Impressions From Turkey’s Syrian Frontier A visit to Turkey’s border with Syria provides context for the complexity of Ankara’s choices in dealing with the Syria war. Syria
Abu Dhabi’s Foreign Assistance Steals Spotlight While Abu Dhabi has developed a reputation for its generous foreign aid, little attention is paid its significant internal aid, which keeps the other emirates afloat. United Arab Emirates
New School Year Challenges Iraqi Families While some posit that there have been improvements in Iraq’s educational system since 2003, the country still grapples to accommodate its student population just as families struggle to cover basic school expenses. Iraq
Alevi Anger Boils Over in Ankara Simmering anger in Ankara’s iconic Alevi neighborhood of Tuzlucayir suggests that the prime minister might be too late in addressing Alevi grievances. Turkey
Iraqi Kurdistan Must Ensure Minority Rights While the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has long been touted as a stable refuge in an otherwise turbulent region, there have been increasing complaints from the region’s non-Kurdish minorities of discrimination and harassment. Iraq
Iraqi Civil Society Struggles To Stay Relevant, Effective With millions of dollars of foreign aid pouring into Iraq toward civil organizations since 2003, it is time to examine how effectively this money is being used. Iraq
Iran To Be Included by US In Middle East Affairs The United States and its allies need to adapt their foreign policy strategies in the Middle East to include President Hassan Rouhani's Iran. Lebanon
Syrian Opposition, Kurd Agreement Irrelevant Without PYD The Syrian National Coalition will need to reach an agreement with the powerful Democratic Union Party if it truly wants to win Kurdish support. Syria
Palestinian-Israeli Conflict Comes to Head in Area C The manhandling of EU diplomats by Israeli soldiers in the Jordan Valley is evidence of just how sensitive this area is to peace talks. Palestine
Rouhani Heads to New York, Offers Help On Syria Talks Al-Monitor’s analysis and coverage of what to expect at the UN General Assembly this week. Israel
Radical Islam Movement Gains Momentum Among Israeli Arabs The leader of the extremist northern faction of the Islamic movement, Raed Salah, drew tens of thousands of Muslims to a rally in support of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and against coexistence within Israeli society. Palestine
Israel's Dismissal of Iran A Lost Opportunity It's arrogant for Israel to dismiss Rouhani's overtures and refuse to consider the possibility of a new era in Iran. Israel
Who Is Egypt's Next President? Egypt would benefit most from a president who does not hail from the military. Egypt
US Should Reform, Not End Military Aid to Egypt Egypt’s democratic transition is served by a new approach to US military assistance. Egypt
Rouhani Enlists Iran Jewish MP Against Hard-Liners Iranian President Hassan Rouhani looks to put behind the charges of Holocaust denial by his predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Israel
