Turkey’s Armenian syndrome Turkey wants to reconcile with the Armenians without taking any real step to appease them, marking the 99th anniversary of 1915 as that of the "Armenian atrocities" — signaling its denial policy is growing even tougher ahead of the centenary of the massacres. Turkey
Temple Mount now central Israeli-Palestinian flashpoint The conflict around the Temple Mount is increasing as Israeli-Palestinian peace talks might be on the verge of collapse. Palestine
Iran plans to eliminate free birth control Dr. Shahla Mir Galoy Bayat, a member of Iran’s parliamentary health committee, has announced plans to eliminate Iran's successful family-planning programs. Iran
How I faced the Armenian genocide A Turkish writer tells how he faced up to the mass killings of Armenians at the hands of Turks and how learning the truth scarred his inner world. Turkey
Syrian government to intensify offensive before election After its victory in Yabrud, the Syrian regime may try to retake Aleppo, strengthening its position ahead of presidential elections scheduled for early June. Syria
Abbas unlikely to dissolve Palestinian Authority The Palestinian leadership has gone quiet on President Mahmoud Abbas' threat to dissolve the Palestinian Authority. Palestine
Russia-US crisis may soon spread to Near East Despite a likely win for US-Russia cooperation on eliminating Syria's chemical weapons, the provision of anti-tank weapons by the United States and its allies to moderate Syrian opposition forces will only destabilize Syria further, in Moscow's view. Saudi Arabia
Hard-liners politicize burial of famous Iranologist Iran's hard-liners have rejected the wish of famous Iranologist Richard Frye to be buried in Esfahan, despite having had no issue with him under former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who showed support for Frye. Iran
'Daylight' returns to US-Israel ties The gap between the United States and Israel on Iran, in particular, is widening. Palestine
US, region should benefit from lifting sanctions on Iran A recent Washington Post op-ed by David Petraeus and Vance Serchuk is more of the same old, misguided thinking about Iran and the region. Near East
Iran-India ties poised for takeoff Iran, India and Afghanistan may finally sign a much-delayed transit agreement, throwing open the doors for greater engagement between New Delhi and Tehran. Iran
Sistan-Baluchistan: Rouhani’s challenge Iran’s southeastern province is in a severe economic crisis. Iran
Gul will not play Medvedev to Erdogan’s Putin Turkish President Abdullah Gul is not likely to serve as symbolic prime minister under a possible Erdogan presidency. Turkey
Egypt sends movie back to censorship board for review The Egyptian government's decision to close down the movie "Halawet Roh," considered by critics as racy and salacious, and send it for further censorship review has provoked a broader debate about censorship red lines. Egypt
Iran denies attack on prisoners The head of Iran's prison organization has denied the attack reported in Evin prison, despite statements and letters from prisoners. Iran
KRG trench divides Syrian, Iraqi Kurds The ditch dug by the Kurdistan Regional Government at Rojava, separating Syrian and Iraqi Kurds, adds another layer of complexity to the regional conflict. Iraq