Palestine needs stronger laws against incest Palestinian law, both in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, fails to clearly prohibit incest and does nothing to protect female victims of sexual abuse within families. Palestine
Palestinians stand firm on prisoner release The Palestinians are standing their ground on Israel releasing the last group of long-term prisoners, including Palestinian citizens of Israel. Palestine
Who calls the shots in Egypt? The 529 death sentences are yet another embarrassment to the Egyptian government. Egypt
Europeans say human rights on agenda with Iran European officials say that it should be possible to negotiate a nuclear agreement with Iran without neglecting its human rights abuses. Iran
Members press Obama to raise human rights in Saudi Arabia Seventy members of Congress are asking US President Barack Obama to raise concerns about human rights during his meetings in Saudi Arabia on Friday. Saudi Arabia
ISIS emerges as threat to Turkey Most Turks would prefer that Ankara step back from its current Syria policies and distance itself from any support for jihadist groups. Syria
Israeli defense minister closes debate on US security plan Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon has rejected the US security plan for the West Bank. Palestine
Jenin and Nablus refugee camps: enclaves of fear The dire economic situation, coupled with disappointment in the Palestinian Authority, have turned West Bank refugee camps into enclaves of violence, led by armed youths from various organizations. Palestine
Lapid pushes plan to fix housing crisis For the first time since he was elected, Finance Minister Yair Lapid has justified the trust placed in him by his voters and advanced his program to lower housing costs. Israel
Ganji: Human rights improved, still short of expectations in Iran Akbar Ganji, one of Iran’s most recognized political dissidents, discusses the political atmosphere under the new administration, human rights and the nuclear talks, and how the United States can help Iranian students. Iraq
Turkey’s Twitter problem Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s advisers try to explain the indefensible, which has set back Turkey’s image abroad. Turkey
Kidnapped Iranian border guard killed by militants One of the five Iranian border guards kidnapped by a Sunni militant group has been killed, drawing the ire of Iranians online about a perceived lack of effort by the Iranian government to get them released. Iran
Ayatollah Sistani for Nobel Peace Prize? Iraqi Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who has been increasingly critical of the Iraqi government, is getting support for a bid for Nobel Peace Prize. Iraq
Multi-billion dollar project will not solve Egypt's housing crisis The Egyptian army's $40 billion deal with the UAE company Arabtec to build 1 million homes for low-income earners is beyond the affordability of Egypt's poor. Egypt
Syria's Islamist rebels force Christian activist to wear veil Aggression by Islamist rebels against civilian opposition activists has only increased disillusionment with what started as a noble revolution. Syria
Egypt’s unprecedented execution verdicts Egypt's 529 death sentences are likely to further radicalize and polarize Egypt. Egypt
