PA needs Arab safety net to overcome Israeli tax freeze The Palestinian Authority said it would not abandon its efforts to join international treaties, despite Israel's decision to freeze the transfer of tax revenues, a step considered a pressure card by Palestinian officials. Palestine
Sunni-Alawite couples in Syria defy sectarianism The Syrian civil war has challenged Sunni-Alawite couples in getting their families' approval for marriage and society's acceptance of their relationships. Syria
Kurdish peshmerga divisions hamper war effort The majority of Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga forces are divided between the two main rival political parties, hindering efforts in the fight against the Islamic State. Iraq
Will Paris attacks overshadow quest for Palestinian statehood? President Mahmoud Abbas' constant objection to violence earned him a first-row place among world leaders at the Paris march against terror, but won't guarantee that the Palestinian issue remains a top priority. Palestine
Israeli experts: If Europe won't wiretap, they won't know Former Israeli national security adviser Yaakov Amidror, former Mossad official Rami Igra and a former Israeli army intelligence head warn Europe that the only way to combat global jihad is collecting and coordinating intelligence information on its citizens. Israel
Turkish religious thinker ponders future of Islam Turkey’s veteran religious thinker Levent Gultekin may have a solution for both Islamophobia and Islamic extremism. Turkey
Shiite leaders forbid insults against Sunnis Najaf's Shiite authorities in Iran and Iraq issue fatwas against insults to Sunni figures and their sanctities. Iraq
Egyptian Christians weigh joining Nour Party list A dispute with the Coptic Church over personal status laws and a new electoral law have led some Christians toward running on the Salafist Nour Party list. Egypt
Netanyahu fumbles diplomatic process Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could have seized an opportunity at the Paris march to walk alongside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a display of unity against terror, but preferred to ignore him and focus on his electorate. Palestine
Israeli right campaigns on Paris terror attack When calling on Europe to stand by Israel and when calling French Jews to immigrate to Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is harnessing the Paris terror attacks for his electoral needs. Countries
Lebanon’s continued electricity cuts portend disaster The Lebanese state has yet to secure a continuous electricity supply to its citizens, nearly 20 years after the end of the civil war, which has led to heavy debts and will incur a major disaster in the near future. Lebanon
How foreign journalists become 'spies' in Turkey Journalism in Turkey is increasingly becoming a nightmare for foreign reporters, too, while the president personally leads psychological lynching campaigns. Turkey
Will investment trends change in Turkey in 2015? The Istanbul stock exchange emerged as the most profitable investment tool in Turkey in 2014, followed by the dollar. Turkey
Iran’s shallow influence in Yemen Iran believes its influence is spreading to a new country with the rise of the Houthis in Yemen in September 2014; however, Yemen is different from other Iranian-influenced countries (Syria, Lebanon and Iraq), where sectarian compositions differ. Saudi Arabia
Iran presents enrichment needs ahead of talks The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization has discussed the next step in nuclear negotiations and Iran's fuel needs on Iranian television. Iran
Turkey's Protestants complain of discrimination, harassment A report by Turkey's tiny Protestant community shows some progress in the country, but also plenty of continuing bigotry. Turkey
