Israel eases restrictions on Gaza Israel has started to provide facilities to the Gaza Strip, but many Palestinians see these efforts as a facade that changes little. Palestine
Gaza 'geeks' find new future in tech startups While diplomats pledged billions to Gaza’s reconstruction in Cairo, a Gazan entrepreneur was seeking funds for a tech startup accelerator in the Gaza Strip. Palestine
Beyonce in Baghdad When Beyonce sang "I Was Here" at the the UN General Assembly on World Humanitarian Day in 2012, it inspired a volunteer campaign in Baghdad by the same title. Iraq
Turkey to train Syrian rebels, but at what cost? As talks continue for the use of Turkish bases in airstrikes against the Islamic State, Ankara agrees to train Syrian rebels in a move that increases the risk of Turkey’s Pakistanization. Syria
Turkey uses defense industry as political instrument The Turkish government uses the defense industry to build its foreign relationships and to improve domestic standing. Turkey
Turkey opens first case against oil smuggling with Syria A court started to hear the first legal case of oil smuggling, revealing the dilemma between national security and the fight against radical Islamists. Syria
Donor pledges not enough to rehabilitate Gaza The Palestinian Authority needs at least $15 billion to properly restore Gaza’s economy, while donors have only pledged $5.4 billion for interim reconstruction. Palestine
Beirut's archaeological heritage threatened by construction The new construction sites in Beirut are built without taking into consideration the archaeological heritage of the capital. Lebanon
Iran officials condemn death sentence of Saudi cleric The death sentence of prominent Saudi Shiite cleric and anti- government protest leader Nimr al-Nimr has been widely condemned by Iranian officials and the country's media organizations. Saudi Arabia
Is Anbar Islamic State's Achilles' heel? The Islamic State’s control of Anbar province and the city of Fallujah is key to their survival, and if lost the group's demise would follow. Iraq
Gaza cease-fire boosts Hamas-Egypt ties Hamas is pushing to improve its relations with Egypt after the Gaza war, accepting the new status quo with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo. Palestine
Palestinians lack strong strategy to face Israeli settlements Palestinian movements on the diplomatic level have so far done little to stop Israel’s settlement project, which continues to expand unabated. Palestine
Kerry's three Israel-Palestinian options The Obama administration objects to the Palestinian plan of turning to the UN for recognizing Palestine, thus hesitating between two options: a new outline based on former negotiations or a series of gestures and negotiations without a deadline. Palestine
Has Israel accepted the Palestinian unity government? Israel has allowed trucks with goods to enter Gaza, thus cooperating with the same Fatah-Hamas government it refused to recognize four months ago. Palestine
As US economy recovers, Turkey's falters As US economic indicators improve, emerging economies like Turkey's are increasingly concerned over the prospect of US rate hikes. Turkey
Egypt ministers criticized for cutting short their hajj Egyptian Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb and Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim cut short their pilgrimage to Mecca, leaving required rituals unfulfilled. Egypt
