Peretz: Netanyahu speech won't stop agreement with Iran In an interview with Al-Monitor, former Defense Minister Amir Peretz argues that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming speech to the US Congress will not stop an agreement with Iran because it will turn it into an internal political dispute. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Controversy continues over Nile, Congo river projects The recent decision of Egypt to suspend the works of a private company tasked with the project of linking the Congo River to the Nile stirred much controversy, considering the water quota this project would have provided to Egyptians. By Walaa Hussein
Why Salafists see Shiites as their greatest enemy Many Salafists see Shiites, not Jews and Israel, as the greatest threat to Islam. By Ali Mamouri
Palestinian saves Israeli doctor In an interview with Al-Monitor, a day laborer from the West Bank talks about saving the lives of an Israeli doctor and his son from an angry mob in his village. By Shlomi Eldar
What does it mean to be a modern Zionist? The term "Zionism" has been used and abused by Israeli politicians for decades, especially before election time, so perhaps a new civic perspective on the concept is in order. By Akiva Eldar
Taxes on fuel paralyze Gaza’s only power plant By imposing the so-called blue tax on industrial diesel before it is sold in Gaza, the national consensus government in Ramallah is effectively paralyzing the only electrical power plant in the Gaza Strip. By Asmaa al-Ghoul
Iraqis play politics with Mosul investigation Altering the committee investigating the fall of Mosul to reflect the political quota system serves the interests of the political parties and blocs, not finding the truth. By Shukur Khilkhal
Former Egyptian diplomat cites progress on women's rights Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has made some gestures toward women, though his overall human rights record remains controversial. By Barbara Slavin
Saudis struggle to reconcile IS fight, Wahhabism While it might not be what the West wants to hear, Wahhabism and Salafism offer young Saudis clear boundaries and a blueprint for changing the self and the world through action. By Madawi Al-Rasheed
Israelis take 'Bridge to Arabic' The Arabic studies project of the Israeli Arab Jisr az-Zarqa village encourages its Jewish students to substitute part of their tuition with service to the village, to strengthen their ties with local Arab residents. By Nurit Canetti
Is Turkey becoming a police state? Critics say a proposed law will turn Turkey into a police state by providing security forces with extensive powers to suppress the government’s opponents. By Semih Idiz
Iraqi tribes slowly become 'state within a state' As political parties try to put tribes under their sway for electoral gains, Iraqi tribes have become “a state within a state,” where laws are powerless over their armament, authority and power. By Adnan Abu Zeed
Iran conservatives see defiance in Khamenei speech While most Iranian media outlets viewed the comments by Iran's supreme leader in a positive light, conservatives in the country are focusing on his comments in which he took a firm stand. By Arash Karami
Hamas condemns killing of Jordanian pilot Hamas speaks out in support of Jordan following the Islamic State’s brutal killing of Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kaseasbeh and also looks to repair relations with the Hashemite kingdom following a tense period. By Adnan Abu Amer
36 years after the revolution, where is Iran now? Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution has faced many challenges, with lifespan, access to education and standard of living having improved significantly, while corruption and the country's human rights situation remain a cause of concern. By Seyed Hossein Mousavian
Russia looks to Egypt for Mideast foothold Russia wants to increase its regional presence in the Arab world, and having Egypt share the Russian narrative of regional dynamics is a way out of its isolation. By Maxim A. Suchkov