Impeachment casts doubt on return of Iran student movement The impeachment of Hassan Rouhani's science minister and the president's inability to protect him raise doubts about whether the student movement in Iran can return as Rouhani promised. Iran
IS withdrawal strategy calls for creation of local defense forces To fight the Islamic State, the Iraqi government should create Sunni local defense forces, similar to the Kurdish peshmerga forces, even though this might be at the expense of the government’s unity. Iraq
Despite reconciliation, Abbas in no position to negotiate for Hamas With Israel ignoring his efforts and Hamas trying to topple him, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas may issue a desperate ultimatum for Israel to withdraw from the West Bank. Palestine
Fars News proposes joint reporting by Iran, Russia The director of Fars News Agency has proposed that Iranian and Russian news organizations cooperate to combat the influence of Western media. Russia
War of attrition pointless in Gaza When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened Hamas with a war of attrition, he ignored that in such a war the winner is not the strongest army, but the side that has the least to lose. Palestine
Hamas wary of international push for PA return to Gaza Hamas is concerned that Egypt’s proposal facilitating the Palestinian Authority’s return to the Gaza Strip will be at the expense of the Islamist group. Palestine
After assassination of military leaders, Hamas targets spies Hamas was caught off guard by Israel’s killing of three Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades leaders and has responded by executing people it says assisted Israel in locating targets. Palestine
Is Turkey Hamas' new headquarters? Turkey’s pernicious foreign policy could generate unintended consequences with Hamas, Israel and the West. Palestine
Jordan's king pushes to expand military, intelligence authority Jordan’s King Abdullah has sparked controversy by pushing forward two constitutional amendments allowing him to appoint armed forces and intelligence chiefs. Jordan
Egypt deports Palestinian Syrians back to conflict zones Palestinian-Syrian refugees in Egypt are being forced to choose between deportation to Gaza or Syria as human rights groups denounce the practice. Palestine
Will Rouhani’s Iran economic stimulus package work? The Rouhani administration's stimulus and economic reform plan to avoid stagflation, while a step in the right direction, needs improvement. Iran
Social media backs Turkish MP’s threat to throw her shoe A female opposition member of Turkey’s parliament takes social media by storm after threatening to throw her shoe at ruling party deputies. Turkey
Davutoglu faces uneasy relationship with Assad Ahmet Davutoglu declared two years ago in his role as foreign minister that he would rather resign than shake Bashar al-Assad’s hand; he now has to find a way to coexist with Syria. Iraq
Russia keeps eye on Islamic State Russia views the expansion of the Islamic State in Iraq as a threat to its own security, especially given the potential return home of Russian-born jihadists. Iraq
The AKP's manifest destiny The AKP sees itself as the embodiment of a holy mission, which is willed and perhaps even predestined by God. Turkey
Unexploded Israeli ordnance creates more danger for Gazans An Israeli ordnance exploded on Aug. 13, killing six people, including an Associated Press journalist, highlighting the serious danger Israel’s war remnants pose to the local population. Palestine
