Sabahi won't run for Egypt presidency without NSF support In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Wafd Party leader Sayyid al-Badawi comments on the upcoming presidential elections, US aid to Egypt and his views on criticism directed at the current authorities. By Walaa Hussein
Palestinian teachers strike over pay dispute Palestinian teachers in the West Bank have gone on a full strike, demanding a pay increase from the Ramallah government. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
Egypt protests intensify after student death The killing of a student demonstrator is stoking further confrontations between police and protesters. By Shadi Rahimi
Egyptian protesters detained indefinitely Those arrested in the crackdown on supporters of former President Mohammed Morsi face seemingly indefinite incarceration. By Brenda Stoter (Syria Pulse)
Leak deepens AKP-Gulen rift The leaked National Security Council advisory ruling in 2004 about the state aiming to weaken the Gulen movement is another headache for Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. By Tulin Daloglu
Israel's right of self-defense should not include attacking Iran An Israeli attack on Iran could not be legally justified as self-defense, considering that Iran so far has not breached the NPT, to which Israel is not a signatory. By Akiva Eldar
Israeli defense official slams nuclear deal with 'evil' Iran In an interview with Al-Monitor, Amos Gilad, director of the diplomatic-security bureau of the Israeli Defense Ministry, claims that Iran's acceptance of the recent nuclear deal is just a ploy to continue developing nuclear capabilities. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Allen mission key to Israeli-Palestinian security talks Gen. John Allen, former commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, quietly pursues the security talks required to support an Israeli-Palestinian agreement. By Geoffrey Aronson
Israel should freeze the Bedouin relocation bill The Israeli plan to relocate Bedouins cannot be properly discussed before a series of actions to mend the rift between them and Israeli authorities rebuild trust. By Shlomi Eldar
Syrian refugees in Istanbul sent from pillar to post Over 200,000 Syrian refugees, most of them without legal papers, struggle to find shelter and work in Istanbul as winter sets in. By Yasemin Çongar
Change in Hezbollah will be true sign of change in Iran Although many have applauded the recent deal between the P5+1 and Tehran on the latter’s nuclear program, a fundamental change in Iranian policy in the region remains to be seen. By Sami Nader
Turkish culture popular among Gaza Palestinians Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's support for Palestine, in particular Gaza, has prompted strong interest in Turkish culture among Gazans. By Rasha Abou Jalal In Gaza City, reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Iran nuclear deal may be start of new era in Persian Gulf The Iran nuclear deal could be a breakthrough on regional ties. By Seyed Hossein Mousavian
Elderly in Iran suffer as economy falters Iran's senior citizens feel the toll of Iran's faltering economy and record pollution. By Mehrnaz Samimi In Washington, DC, reporting on Iranian culture
Turkey’s Laz awakening Turkey’s Laz people are awakening to their language and culture, though it is still premature to speak of a “Laz Renaissance.” By Fehim Tastekin In Paris, reporting on Turkish politics
Iranian government builds bridges to Sunni minority Iran’s Sunni community is estimated at 9% of the country's population. By Ali Mamouri