Why Erdogan keeps winning Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has managed to fuse Turkey’s center-right and Islamist-right into one major bloc accepting his explanation of recent political scandals to be conspiracies against his rule. Turkey
Erdogan emboldened for presidential run Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan may turn the AKP's victory in municipal elections into an all-out campaign for the presidency. Turkey
Hamas to launch new satellite TV channel Hamas is preparing to launch a new television channel to promote its perspective despite its current financial crisis. Palestine
Abbas turns tables in peace talks with UN move Mahmoud Abbas' decision to move ahead with joining UN agencies has received strong Palestinian support. Palestine
Abbas falls into prisoner release trap The release of Palestinian prisoners has been diverted from a trust-building measure to a decisive issue for the negotiations' advancement and for the credibility of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas vis-a-vis his people. Palestine
Israeli politicians easy targets on April Fools' Day Facebook has become the platform for April Fools' Day hoaxes in Israel, where politicians are mocked on the background of social and security tensions. Israel
Senate panel calls for new US strategy for Syria The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has approved a non-binding resolution that calls on the Obama administration to provide a new strategy to deal with the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Syria
Iran's UN envoy pick questioned over ties to hostage crisis Iran's choice for their next UN Ambassador, Hamid Aboutalebi, has sparked controversy over his role as a translator in the 1970 US Iran hostage crisis. Originals
U.S. would find Iran UN candidate 'extremely troubling' The US State Department has expressed concern over Iran's nominee for the new UN ambassador Hamid Aboutalebi, who payed a role in the US Iran hostage crisis. Originals
Iran-Iraq battlefield tours spark controversy in Iran Critics accuse educational tours to the sites of the Iran-Iraq war of indoctrinating students and promoting tourism on unsafe roads. Iraq
Iraq civil activists fight to preserve constitutional rights Despite the civil rights safeguarded by the Iraqi constitution, conservative political parties have been increasing restricting citizens’ freedoms in recent years. Iraq
Arab buyers boost Turkish real estate market Turkey’s real estate market is growing, fueled in part by interest from Arab and other foreign investment. Turkey
The tragedy of Ehud Olmert The chance for a peace agreement with the Palestinians disappeared with the former Israeli prime minister, who has been sentenced to prison for bribery. Palestine
Syria key to Lebanon presidency The politics of who will be Lebanon’s next president cannot be separated from the war in Syria. Lebanon
The illusion of Ehud Olmert Ehud Olmert's conviction is a blow to Israel's center-left and an illustration of the moral relativism of Israeli politics Israel
Erdogan plays Egypt card in 'ballot box' victory The municipal elections may have been a victory for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP), but not necessarily a victory for Turkish democracy. Turkey