Lebanon government talks stall again Developments at the Geneva II conference and in the Western-Iranian nuclear talks may have stalled Lebanon’s government formation Lebanon
Rajoub: an agreement with Israel is within reach In an interview with Al-Monitor, Fatah senior official Jibril Rajoub is optimistic on peace talks: "If the Israelis are willing, creative solutions can be found for everything.” Palestine
Opposition claims Erdogan may be media owner Leaked investigation documents suggest Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan may have an ownership interest in media companies. Turkey
Shared blame for state of Turkish media Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan admits personally intervening to remove a news ticker. Turkey
Israel’s ultra-Orthodox key to peace In an interview with Al-Monitor, ultra-Orthodox strategic expert Itzik Sudri claims that the ultra-Orthodox should be integrated as more active partners to the diplomatic process, considering their politically moderate worldview. Palestine
Hamas isolated as Iran boosts ties with Islamic Jihad, Fatah A high-level Islamic Jihad delegation visited Iran one week after a senior Fatah official made a similar trip, leaving Hamas isolated. Palestine
Iraqi election commission in spotlight Although the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq has established itself as a relatively credible and transparent organization, there are concerns that the upcoming parliamentary elections could be plagued by fraud. Iraq
Malta, Israel's new gateway to Europe Malta, one of Israeli tourists' prime destinations, stands out for its exceptional Maltese-European citizenship sale for rich immigrants and for having the highest number of asylum seekers per capita in Europe. Israel
Gul reignites debate on Turkey’s shopping malls Turkey is trying to find the best way to control the impact of shopping malls on Turkey’s urban culture. Turkey
The political roots of the Anbar crisis The current crisis in Iraq’s Anbar province can only be solved through a political solution. Iraq
Controversy surrounds alleged Iraq-Iran arms deal An Iraqi diplomat has been reported as claiming that Baghdad will sign an arms deal with Iran, but other officials from both sides refute his alleged assertions. Iraq
PA's Abbas moves toward creating vice presidency The Palestinian leadership might appoint a vice president as an insurance policy against a US-Israeli backlash should President Mahmoud Abbas reject a final peace deal. Palestine
Gulf labor policies need context Western institutions should take the GCC's unique labor challenges into account when addressing migrant worker protection in the Gulf. Saudi Arabia
Abortion on the rise in Iran According to government statistics an estimated 250,000 Iranian women each year have illegal abortions. Iran
Iran not dealing on missiles On the eve of negotiations on a comprehensive nuclear package, Iran’s missile program becomes part of the pre-talks political maneuvering. Iraq
Energy reserves add new twist to Cyprus talks The negotiations over the future of Cyprus are linked to energy reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean. Israel
