Palestinian media adjusts to reconciliation deal The divided Palestinian media has toned down its factional rhetoric in line with the reconciliation deal, but doubts remain about whether the new cordial atmosphere will stick. Palestine
Turkey cracks down on drug cartels Turkey's intense crackdown on narcotics operations is delivering serious blows to criminal enterprises associated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and European drug networks. Turkey
Obama asks Congress to 'ramp up' support for Syrian opposition The White House is asking Congress to authorize the US military to train vetted Syrian rebel forces. Syria
Sisi's camouflage campaign unravels in election's final hours Despite his imminent victory, the mirage campaign of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his supporters was shown to be a failure by the embarrassingly low voter turnout. Egypt
Mediterranean gas not yet the answer for Turkey's ties with Israel, Cyprus Michael Leigh of the German Marshall Fund argues the newly discovered hydrocarbon reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean are not agents of peace, but if a political settlement were achieved, both with Cyprus and Israel, these reserves could reinforce the peace with Turkey. Israel
Rival Kurdish parties battle for power in Syria A series of tit-for-tat incidents has worsened relations between the Kurdistan Workers Party of Abdullah Ocalan and the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Massoud Barzani. Syria
Is Gulen movement behind arrest warrants for Israeli generals? A Turkish court's decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli military officers in the Mavi Marmara incident of 2010 has led to some contending that the Gulen movement was behind the action. Israel
Secular young Israelis want religious weddings Living in a state which offers no civil marriage, most young Israelis opt for the religious ceremony, mainly because families cherish tradition more than the rabbis who officiate. Israel
Sunni, Shiite scholars attempt to ease Iraqi political conflicts As Iraq's sectarian conflicts have always exacerbated political strife, communication networks between Shiite and Sunni clerics are sorely needed. Iraq
Iran prosecutor denies summoning Facebook founder The news, now denied, that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was summoned by an Iranian court in response to privacy complaints originated from a Basij official and an Iranian court. Iran
Israeli housing minister: 'No more' settlement freezes The day commemorating the reunification of Jerusalem, Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel has announced further construction in East Jerusalem, driving closer the danger of a binational state. Palestine
Hamas denies ISIS presence after Gaza jihadist killed in Syria A Palestinian jihadist militant fighting for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) was killed last week in Syria, reflecting the rise of Salafist militants in Gaza, but Hamas remains adamant that the radical group does not exist in the Gaza Strip. Palestine
Will Iraqi elections be decided in Iraq? Given the internal divisions and sectarian tensions characterizing the Iraqi scene, external powers maintain strong influence in the country. Iraq
Israel is a Jewish state; get over it The Israeli demand that Palestinians recognize the Jewish state does not contradict the two-state solution, but it exposes the Palestinian reluctance to consider the Jews as a people instead of a religion. Palestine
Rouhani battles judiciary over Internet censorship President Hassan Rouhani has defied the judiciary's orders to block WhatsApp in his ongoing campaign to expand his base by opening up the Internet. Iran
Congress drops effort to block airport preclearance deal with Abu Dhabi A House Homeland Security subcommittee has adopted legislative language that allows US customs agents work in the United Arab Emirates. United Arab Emirates
