Iran Foreign Ministry criticized for implying 'two-step agreement' The spokeswoman for Iran's Foreign Ministry has been criticized for saying that a political understanding will precede a nuclear agreement. Iran
Who holds the real power in IS? Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi may be caliph of the Islamic State, but he does not rule alone. Iraq
Israel fears rapprochement between US, Iran Some officials in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Israel fear that the United States aspires to replace its traditional Middle East alliance with a moderate Iran. Israel
Israeli election discourse tests limits of democracy The increasingly harsh public discourse in the current election campaign has Israel’s democracy teetering between freedom of expression and freedom to incite. Israel
Internal unrest threatens Gaza As violence and general lawlessness increase in the Gaza Strip, Fatah and Hamas are accusing each other of being behind the turmoil. Palestine
Ministry strike leaves East Jerusalemites in limbo An open-ended staff strike at the Interior Ministry in Jerusalem has left Palestinian residents unable to access critical documents. Palestine
Egypt acts as middleman for Russia-Libya arms deal Egypt is mediating efforts to supply the Libyan army with Russian weapons to fight the Islamic State, a move that might lead to a end to UN Resolution 1973, which bans the provision of arms to Libya. Egypt
How does Iran make nuclear decisions? While Iran's supreme leader has the final say on Iran's nuclear program, the decision-making process and the various institutions involved are very hard to parse. Iran
Top Iran official warns of climate change The head of Iran's Environmental Protection Organization has spoken out about the impact of global warming and the water crisis in Iran. Iran
Turkish opposition party recruits Obama pollster Keen to unseat the ruling party in the June 7 polls, the Republican People's Party has recruited the Benenson Strategy Group, a US company that crafted President Barack Obama’s campaign. Turkey
Erdogan's 'New Turkey' much like the old The Turkish government’s narrative of a “New Turkey” facing counterrevolutionary “internal enemies” is hardly different from the Kemalist narrative that Turkey’s Islamists resisted for decades. Turkey
What does it mean to be a friend of Israel? Some within the Republican Party have turned the Middle East conflict into a focal point of an internal political dispute. Israel
Bibi's opulent lifestyle won't sway voters The release of the state comptroller's report has confirmed the lavish household expenses of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, but it may not matter on election day. Israel
Gazans forced to sell their belongings The harsh economic crisis that has been worsening in the Gaza Strip due to the Israeli blockade and the PA’s financial deficit has forced Gazans to sell their belongings to avoid begging for money. Palestine
Has AKP sacrificed Turkey's Ottoman heritage? Shoddy conditions at the new Ottoman Archives building in Istanbul stand to weaken the conservative credentials of the Justice and Development Party. Turkey
Wiretaps reveal Turkey's attacks on Syrian regime positions Court documents reveal that last year, when the Syrian opposition captured the Armenian town of Kassab, the Turkish army shelled the Syrian army. Syria