Iraq's religious minorities and Shiite mourning holidays Mandeans and Christians in Iraq adjust to and sometimes join the commemorations of the death of Hussein bin Ali during the lengthy Shiite mourning period. Iraq
Congressman Ted Poe: US-Israeli ties 'very tenuous at best' In an interview with Al-Monitor, Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he hopes "that the United States would mend its relationship with Israel." Israel
Crisis in Lebanon requires urgent action The Nov. 19 bombing of the Iranian Embassy in Beirut underscores Lebanon's need for a cabinet. Lebanon
Turkey’s draft constitution appears dead The deadlock in the Turkish parliament does not come as a surprise and may foreshadow even more polarization. Turkey
Who decides how to rank Arab women? A recent report by Thomson Reuters ranking Arab women is laden with Western cultural stereotypes of Arabs. Egypt
Erdogan rules out general amnesty for PKK Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan denied that he implied he was considering a general amnesty when he said in Diyarbakir that the prisons be should emptied. Turkey
Syria’s criminal gangs As the war drags on and atrocities on all sides continue, criminal and terrorist groups have played a larger role in those forces opposed to the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Syria
Erdogan-Barzani 'Diyarbakir encounter' milestone Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for the first time ever, says "Kurdistan." Iraq
Can Sarigul, the hope of Turkey's left, unseat Erdogan? Some leftist commentators see Mustafa Sarigul as the best hope for the Turkish left, while others believe he is a mere 'hostage' in Erdogan's hands due to corruption allegations. Turkey
Egypt and Israel spar over Gaza as Sinai crisis escalates Egypt-Hamas ties have plummeted while Israel seeks to keep a lid on Gaza. Palestine
Israeli public closes ranks with Netanyahu on Iran Israeli media fails to inform the public on the alternative interpretation of the Iran nuke deal. Israel
Leading Israeli bank involved in nuclear missiles industry While many countries and companies avoid investing in companies that develop weapons of mass destruction, a Dutch organization reveals the funding sources of the global nuclear weapons industry. Israel
Egypt’s 'Muslim Sisterhood' moves from social work to politics Following the ouster of President Mohammed Morsi and the arrest of Egyptian Brotherhood leaders, the "Muslim Sisterhood," the female branch of the Brotherhood, has taken on a more prominent political role. Egypt
The social politics of weddings in Yemen The phenomenon of mass weddings is spreading in Yemen. Yemen
Lebanon in crisis from spillover of Syria conflict Difficulty accommodating the exorbitant numbers of Syrian refugees pouring into the country, as well as growing sectarian tensions between Sunni and Shiite Muslims, highlight Lebanon’s dire situation. Lebanon
USAID halts key project in Gaza The US Agency for International Development has phased out a crucial $100 million project in Gaza that helped many poor Palestinians make ends meet. Palestine
