New alliances for a 2015 Middle East peace conference? The Gaza conflict demonstrates that Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Jordan and Saudi Arabia share common regional interests, which could lead them to an international peace conference based on the Arab League's peace initiative. Saudi Arabia
Does Iran benefit from Gaza crisis? Iran reconsiders Hamas ties; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fixation on Iran may have distracted him from the threat from Hamas; Asmaa Al-Ghoul reports from Gaza; the Islamic State offers no support for Hamas. Qatar
Gaza demonstrations in Iran draw Reformists Iranian activists, many of them Reformists who were arrested during the 2009 post-election crackdown, show their support for Gaza independent of pro-conservative demonstrations. Palestine
Obama cabinet briefs Congress on Syria, as UK participation looks in doubt Senior Obama administration national security officials will brief lawmakers on the chemical weapons attack in an unclassified phone call. Syria
Kerry: World 'watching to see if Syria can get away with it' President Obama has said that he is consulting lawmakers over military options in Syria and that the US will only take limited military action that will not involve boots on the ground. Syria
Obama tasks Congress with Syria vote: 'We should have this debate' Obama has decided to seek congressional approval for limited airstrikes on Syria to punish and deter the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime. Syria
West Bank Palestinians raise money for Gaza Ordinary Palestinians in the West Bank are showing their support for Gaza with fundraising campaigns and protests. Palestine
Barghouti appeals for Palestinian resistance, national unity support Marwan Barghouti calls on Palestinians to mobilize against the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip through "sacrifice, resistance and struggle." Palestine
Iran's Rouhani wishes Jews blessed Rosh Hashanah In a shift in tone from previous Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, newly elected President Hassan Rouhani wished the Jewish people a happy Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. Israel
Iran's Rosh Hashana Twitter diplomacy stirs amazement, disbelief Iran's new President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif tweeted Rosh Hashanah greetings in an unexpected change in tone from Tehran. Israel
World Jewish body cautiously welcomes Iran outreach, but says words not enough The World Jewish Congress praised Hassan Rouhani's words of tolerance on the Jewish New Year, but noted that words must be followed by "concrete actions." Israel
Botox on the rise among Iranian men Iran’s Ministry of Health has announced that over the past year there has been a 20% increase in rejuvenation procedures received by Iranian men. Iran
Russia urges Syria to surrender chemical arms to avert strikes Russia announced that it has given a proposal to the Syrian Government which would require the Syrian regime to place their chemical weapons under international control and allow their subsequent destruction. Syria
Obama, Putin previously discussed plan to secure Syria chemical arms US and Russian officials confirmed that discussions over securing Syria's chemical arms had been talking place for months before the alleged August chemical attack. Syria
Will Erdogan's presidency firm up Turkey's regional position? Turkey is suffering serious blows to its security and economy because of its own regional policy mistakes, and can expect more of the same from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as president. Turkey
Ex IDF intel chief: Plan to remove Syria chemical arms 'important test' Former Israeli Defense Forces intelligence chief Amos Yadlin has said that the removal of chemical weapons from Syria with out US military force would be a "genuine achievement for President Obama." Syria