Syrian internal group rejects Coalition offer to join opposition delegation to Geneva II The Syrian National Coalition had reserved two spots on its fifteen person delegation to the Geneva II talks for the National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change, but the Committee declined to attend the talks. Syria
P5+1 turns focus to implementing Iran nuclear deal After meeting with Iran to discuss the implementation of the interim nuclear agreement western diplomats have said that they are confident Iran will follow through on the deal. Iran
'A good beginning,' Brahimi says of first day of Syria peace talks UN Syria Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said that for the first time representatives from the two warring parties in Syria met today; Brahimi stated while there was not much progress, the meeting was a good start. Syria
UN sending invites to Geneva II Syria peace talks; no decision yet on Iran The UN, Russia, and US determined the invitations to the Geneva II conference during a December 20 meeting. Syria
Israeli rumor mill replaces official information In an interview with Al-Monitor, professor Aviad Kleinberg explains why Israelis tend to spread rumors through social networks as "a way of expressing distrust toward the authorities." Israel
Echoes of apocalypse in Iraq conflict Conflictingn parties' view of the current crisis in Iraq is affected by their own religious views and interpretation of the end of times. Iraq
Complaints expose abuse in Iranian schools A number of high-profile cases of sexual and physical abuse by school authorities points to the failure of the school system and government in Iran to properly address and educate on the issue. Iran
Congress split on keeping Iraq together Kurdish independence is gaining support on Capitol Hill but the administration still supports Baghdad. Iraq
US: Iran has addressed 'greatest' nonproliferation concerns Iran and the P5+1 have completed a draft nuclear agreement and Iran will continue tough, nonproliferation restrictions over the next four months while negotiators try to finish a deal, the Obama administration says. Iran
US seeks longer-term exit strategy for Gaza war US officials are voicing support for a solution to the frequent cycles of violence between Hamas and Israel, one which may borrow from the UN resolution that ended the 2006 war with Lebanon. Palestine
Meretz leader: Israel should not have gone into Gaza In an interview with Al-Monitor, leftist Meretz Party head Zehava Gal-On explains that she does not worry about finding herself left out of the Israeli security consensus following her call for a unilateral cease-fire. Israel
Hamas, the first Palestinian army Israel did not rightly assess Hamas’ military abilities and must henceforth stop considering it as terror cells, like the other Gaza Strip groups, but as an army that it should aspire to bring down. Palestine
Turkey's rapid museum expansion Turkey's tourism sector is being galvanized by a museum boom as the government invests in promoting its Ottoman heritage. Turkey
Migrant workers forced to remain in Israeli fields as rockets fall Thai field workers in the south of Israel are left in the open as farmers fail to provide portable shelters. Israel
Egypt campaigns against atheism The Egyptian government begins a new program to combat the rise of atheism; however, activists question whether this increase is even real. Egypt
In Israel, social media threatens sacred duty The flow of information through social networks challenges one of the most difficult tasks of Israeli society: the ritual of informing the families of fallen soldiers that a loved one has died in battle. Israel
