Iran's role in Yemen draws Israel, Saudi Arabia closer The Houthi takeover of the Yemen port city, the tribe's strong ties to Iran and its latest contacts with Palestine Islamic Jihad have both Israel and Saudi Arabia worried. Saudi Arabia
Death of Ziad Abu Ein could work to Abbas’ advantage The death of Palestinian Minister Ziad Abu Ein could aid in taking the spotlight off President Mahmoud Abbas' recent problems and also reinforce use of nonviolent resistance, which he supports, as a strategy for ending the occupation. Palestine
Besieged Aleppo residents turn to farming Residents in the rebel-held part of Aleppo are planting vegetables and raising animals in preparation for the impending regime siege. Syria
Will Turkey, EU relations improve after Mogherini visit? If Turkey is so isolated, why all the high-level visits to Ankara in the last month? Turkey
Russian DFM talks Syrian issue with Hezbollah Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov met with a wide range of Lebanese leaders during a visit to Beirut and told everyone what they wanted to hear. Lebanon
Abadi vows to hunt 'ghost soldiers' Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has publicly addressed the issue of "ghost" soldiers and employees, an aspect of rampant state corruption, and promised to fight the problem. Iraq
Kurdish-Baghdad agreement 'temporary,' KRG official says In extensive remarks to a Washington audience, Kurdistan Regional Government Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani said more negotiations are needed to turn a recent oil and budget agreement with Baghdad into a sustainable revenue-sharing law that could reunite Iraq. Iraq
Congress allows Obama to reopen military aid to Egypt The spending bill released the evening of Dec. 9 allows the State Department to waive human rights requirements and free up $1.3 billion worth of military aid. Egypt
Lebanon loses bargaining chip in prisoner exchange deal By arresting the former wife of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and the wife of a top Syrian jihadist, many fear that Lebanese authorities have lost crucial leverage in retrieving the country’s kidnapped soldiers from Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State. Lebanon
In natural gas, all pipelines go through Turkey Natural gas from Iraq is to reach Turkey in 2017, Azeri gas is to arrive in 2018 and Iran, Russia and Israel also want to sell their natural gas via Turkey. Iraq
Israel, PA seek to prevent Hamas from igniting West Bank Joint security efforts in the West Bank between the Palestinian Authority and Israel aim to prevent Hamas cells from instigating strife. Palestine
Jumblatt: no solution in Syria with Assad in power Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt talked about the Syrian war and the Lebanese soldiers abducted by Jabhat al-Nusra in an interview with Al-Monitor. Lebanon
Erdogan's 'New Turkey' aspires teaching 'Old Turkish' Following the National Education Council's proposal to make Ottoman-language instruction compulsory for high school students, Alevis, Kurds and secular Turks oppose the decision, fearing further marginalization. Turkey
$8,700 will let young Turks 'buy out' their military service The Turkish government's unexpected decision to let conscripts pay off compulsory military service has military leaders worried, as tens of thousands of young men stand to take advantage of the chance not to join up. Turkey
Arab parties push for unity ahead of Israeli elections As the Knesset prepares to debate proposed laws that would significantly damage political activity by the Palestinian parties, Arab members weigh their options while debating ways to increase their collective power in parliament. Israel
Bennett a divider, not a uniter Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett’s speech at the Saban Forum indicates that in the upcoming elections, a vote for the right means perpetuating the rule of an ethnocentric camp determined to enclose Israel in a mental ghetto. Palestine
