New party linked to Barzani makes play for Turkey’s Kurds KDP-Bakur, a group linked to Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government President Massoud Barzani, has caused a stir with plans to become a formal party in Turkey. Turkey
Break in Turkey-Egypt relations deepens regional divide International mediation may be the next steps to rebuild trust among the countries of the region. Egypt
The lost promise of Turkey-Egypt relations Though Turkish-Egyptian relations have sunk to new lows with the reciprocal removal of ambassadors, ties between the two countries once promised economic and strategic development. Egypt
Kurdish militia aims to connect Kurdish enclaves in Syria Syria's central Kurdish militia attempts to garner enough support in northern Syrian to create a contiguous Kurdish zone. Syria
Turkey resets ties with US Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu boldly characterizes the relationship with Washington as "the backbone of Turkey’s foreign policy." Iraq
Should Reformists go conservative in parliamentary elections? As former Iranian Reformist presidential candidate Mohammad Reza Aref begins to form a broad coalition of Reformist groups, analysts and activists are taking public positions on what is the best strategy for Reformists to take over the parliament and aid President Hassan Rouhani's moderate policies. Iran
Water cooperation for a secure world The Blue Peace framework provides a new opportunity for cooperative approaches to the management of global water resources. Pan Arab
Russia's turnaround in the Middle East Russian foreign policy in the region has benefited from a steady, nonideological focus as well as the missteps and neglect of other powers. Syria
Turkey's Syria dilemma The deepening crisis in Syria should make Turkey consider how it will deal with near permanent chaos in its borders. Syria
Egyptian activists protest military trials in new draft constitution The approval of an amendment by a constitutional committee allowing military trials for civilians is considered a setback by democracy activists. Egypt
Israel's Labor Party wants power Isaac Herzog won the battle for Labor Party chairman because he represents the opposite image and a more flexible agenda than that of outgoing Labor Chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich. Israel
Can Isaac Herzog rebuild Israeli left camp? Incumbent Labor Party Chairman Isaac Herzog does not intend to rush into Netanyahu's government, striving first to reconstruct the Israeli center-left camp. Israel
Sadr blends religion, populism in Iraqi politics The populist Shiite Sadrist Movement demonstrates its leader’s ability to bring a new dynamic to the political scene in Iraq, which is too often marked by polarization and extremism. Iraq
Israeli police battle ties between rabbis, organized crime Israeli police arrested Israeli Rabbi Yoram Abergel for involvement in an extortion deal, unraveling a dangerous triangle of rabbis, criminals and local politics in Netivot. Israel
The next frontier in US-Iran relations: Reducing Iran-Israel tensions As the US brokered the normalization of ties between Egypt and Israel, the same could happen in Iran-Israel ties. Israel
Jews from Arab countries: the forgotten refugees A UN conference addresses the status of Jews from Arab states who were expelled from their homeland after the creation of the state of Israel. Palestine
