Israeli Job Market Closed To Arab Women Graduates The Israeli economy loses an estimated NIS 30 billion annually because most Arabs are not being employed. Israel
Erdogan Tells Student Protesters To 'Go and Live in Forest' Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan suggests university students protesting the construction of a road, which requires the cutting of 3,000 trees, should “go and live in a forest." Turkey
Israeli Artists Pay Price For Political Views The decision by singer Ehud Banai to perform at the Susya settlement reignited the debate over the political commitment of Israeli artists. Palestine
Will Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Reduce Economic Role? President Hassan Rouhani is carefully asking Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps to cut back on its economic projects. Iran
US-Russia Cooperation Opens New Era in Middle East It may be time to "think big" about addressing the Arab-Israeli conflict. Palestine
Is Turkey, After Gezi Protests, On Path to Democratization? The democratization package to be proposed by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyep Erdogan may address some of the concerns of Turkish citizens. Turkey
Does Rouhani's Style of Diplomacy Mean Change in Iranian Policy? The United States should take signals from Iran seriously. Lebanon
Abu Mazen's Hollow Popularity Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas continues to poll well among Palestinians because of a lack of a viable alternative, not due to public affection for his rule. Palestine
Vedrine: Threat of Force Key To US-Russia Initiative on Syria Hubert Vedrine, a former French minister for foreign affairs, talks to Al-Monitor about the Syrian crisis. Syria
Terrorist Groups Exploit Palestinians In South Lebanon Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups based in a neighborhood adjacent to Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp in southern Lebanon are exploiting the Palestinian refugees' dire situation to increase their support base. Lebanon
Israeli Colleges Cut Funding for Humanities The Hebrew University, for generations the breeding ground of Jewish thinkers, is cutting dozens of faculty positions in the humanities, succumbing to the powerful forces of the market. Israel
Iran Frees Political Prisoners Before Rouhani Comes to UN Beyond a public-relations gesture in advance of President Hassan Rouhani’s US trip, the release of political prisoners could ease the divisions in Iran following the disputed 2009 presidential elections. Iran
The Hezbollah Question in Lebanon As developments in Syria and elsewhere around the region continue, a look at the role Hezbollah plays in Lebanon is more pertinent than ever. Lebanon
Delay in Forming New Lebanon Government a Record Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam is still unable to form a new government, leading to even greater uncertainty. Lebanon
Davutoglu: Shooting Down of Helicopter 'Punishment' for Syria Turkey’s frustration with the Damascus regime going unpunished, even for using chemical weapons, played a major role in shooting down a Syrian helicopter. Syria
