Kerry: three-day Gaza cease-fire 'opportunity' to find longer solution US Secretary of State John Kerry announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a 72-hour cease-fire beginning Aug. 1, but warned it was just an opportunity to try reach a more lasting solution. Palestine
US Iran team shuffles as nuclear talks set to resume President Obama has nominated senior White House Iran Adviser Puneet Talwar, a member of US delegation to the P5+1 Iran nuclear talks, to be Assistant Secretary of State for Political Military Affairs; Rob Malley, a former Clinton administration NSC Middle East adviser, is expected to succeed Talwar. Iran
Army defector’s photos encourage greater US role in Syria "Caesar" tells Congress 150,000 prisoners face awful fate in Assad’s jails. Syria
In Gaza endgame, some see diplomatic opportunity Former Israeli and US officials see a resolution to Gaza that would boost Palestinian moderates led by Mahmoud Abbas over Hamas, and potentially, prospects for a two-state solution and broader Israeli-Arab accord. Palestine
Bereaved Israeli, Palestinian families call to stop war Ben Kfir, who lost his daughter in a 2003 terror attack, recounts to Al-Monitor his efforts at explaining to Israelis that only a diplomatic agreement will end the violence: “The infrastructure of terrorism is poverty, ignorance, despair and hopelessness.” Palestine
Iran hawks can’t stop nuclear deal US negotiators may be concerned, but Iran's hard-liners will not be able to derail the nuclear talks as long as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei supports the negotiators. Iran
Framework text: US, Russia reach deal to remove Syria chemical arms After three days of negotiations in Geneva Russia and the US have reached an agreement under which Syria would declare all of its chemical weapons sites within seven days and have all of its chemical weapons destroyed or removed by mid 2014. Syria
Framework text: US, Russia reach deal to remove Syria chemical arms After three days of negotiations in Geneva, the US and Russia have reached an agreement which requires Syria to declare all of its chemical weapons sites within seven days and submit to the removal and destruction of its chemical arms by mid-2014. Syria
Israel still looking for a victory in Gaza Hamas has turned the tables on Israel by approaching the latest conflict as a war for its very existence. Palestine
Obama corresponds with Iran's Rouhani, holds out hope for nuclear deal President Obama said he has exchanged letters with newly elected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and said and has said that while he hopes a nuclear deal can be reached it will be a difficult process. Originals
In letter, Obama told Iran's Rouhani he sees way to resolve nuclear issue In an interview with NBC's Ann Curry, Iranaian president Hassan Rouhani said he has "full authority to make a nuclear deal with the west" and that the letter he received form President Obama had a "constructive tone". Iran
Iran's Rouhani urges West to 'seize' moment for diplomacy In a Washington Post op-ed newly elected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged world leaders to "seize" the opportunity to work with the more moderate Iranian President and focus on improving issues from Syria to concerns over Iran's nuclear program. Iran
Why Barham Salih isn't Iraq's new president Internal politics led to the selection of Fouad Massoum as the Kurdish candidate instead of Barham Salih. Iraq
Turkey's Twitter "spies" The political war between the Erdogan government and the Gülen Movement has a propaganda aspect, with each side seeing the other as the proxy of a detested enemy. Israel
Collapse of the Arab world necessitates a regional solution Iran and the United States should overcome their differences to lead the international community in helping prevent further state collapse within the Arab world. Gulf
Qasem Soleimani says disarming Gaza resistance is wrong The head of Iran's Quds Force has officially stated that Iran will continue to support those who fight Israel. Iran
