Solidarity Visits to Gaza Dwindle International solidarity delegations to Gaza have struggled to enter the territory since Egypt's tightening of its blockade, cutting off a vital source of essential medical assistance. Palestine
Iraq’s Film Industry Hits Bottom Once a popular pastime among Iraqis, cinema attendance has all but disappeared since 2003, to the detriment of youth aspiring to study cinema at Iraqi universities. Iraq
Power Outages Send Gaza Children To Study on Streets Palestinian schoolchildren are using streetlights to do their homework as Gaza's electricity crisis continues. Palestine
Why Turks Are Fighting Over Trees The controversy over thousands of trees to be uprooted on a university campus in Ankara for a construction project is reminiscent of Gezi Park. Turkey
Aleppo's war economy Residents of Aleppo have moved beyond the initial shocks of war and are adjusting to make ends meet. Syria
Al-Qaeda Sinks Roots in Mosul Al-Qaeda continues to gain strength in Iraq, taxing the residents of Mosul, attacking minorities and "collaborators" and making the city a base of operations in Ninevah province. Iraq
Turkey's Road to China Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said NATO or any other country does not have the right to question Turkey’s decision to co-produce missiles with China. Turkey
US Forces Israel to Consider Strategic Reset Will Israel finally embrace the Arab Peace Initiative? Israel
Turkey on Defensive Over Hamas Claims that Turkey is obstructing Palestinian reconciliation are fueling the AKP's belief in an international campaign to isolate Ankara politically at an already low point in its foreign relations. Palestine
Apathetic Israeli Voters Shun Municipal Elections The low voting rate in local elections testifies that two years after the social justice protest movement, the Israeli public no longer believes in its power to influence and change their municipalities. Israel
Syria's Impasse Likely to Last Years Former UN official Salman Shaikh contends that neither the Bashar al-Assad regime nor the official opposition represent the true will of the Syrian people. Israel
Iraq's Civil Society Under Siege Increasing reports of hostility against Iraq’s burgeoning civil society organizations have shed light on the way politics motivates violence and divisions in the country today. Iraq
Palestinians in Gaza Express Love, Politics With Graffiti Graffiti continues to decorate the Gaza Strip as young Gazans use it to express everything from politics to love. Palestine
Iran Export-Led Growth Strategy Depends on Sanctions Relief The government of President Hassan Rouhani is seeking to boost Iranian exports in order to grow the economy. Iran
UN Envoy on Yemen Deserves Spotlight Jamal Benomar, special adviser on Yemen to the UN secretary-general, has succeeded with a difficult brief. Yemen
Syrian Opposition Leader Rejects Iran Role in Syria Conference In an interview with Al-Monitor, Salem al-Meslet, vice president of National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, calls for the "London 11" group to relieve the humanitarian crisis in Ghouta. Syria
