Financial burden, risk of violence pressure Syrian girls to marry Syrian refugee girls in Jordan are being forced to get married at a young age, either to escape sexual violence that is widely spread in refugee camps or to ease the financial troubles of their families. Jordan
Why is Israel still blind to settler violence against Palestinians? Despite resolutions by Israeli administrations to adopt the 2003 Road map for Peace and the Sason report on illegal West Bank outposts, settler violence against Palestinians continues unabated. Palestine
Would 'sunset' of nuclear deal end restrictions on Iran? The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty would restrain Iran's actions in several ways after the terms of a prospective nuclear deal expire. Iran
Gazan women surge ahead with startups Young, educated women in the Gaza Strip are among the most likely to be unemployed in an area where nearly half of people are out of work, as many of these women are now turning to business incubators to find funding and support to build their own businesses. Palestine
Pinar Tremblay on why she writes Al-Monitor contributor Pinar Tremblay shares her thoughts on journalism. Turkey
Did Erdogan undermine Gul? Turks question why President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said it would be good for former President Abdullah Gul to run for parliament. Turkey
Rouhani adviser denies he called for Iran's return to empire President Hassan Rouhani's Ethnic and Religious Minorities adviser had called for a union between the countries bordering Iran, to wide criticism in the Arab-language media. Iran
Concerns rise over plots to oust Abbas With security tensions on the rise in the West Bank, there is talk of conspiracy in which Hamas, Israel and ex-Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan are spreading chaos with the goal of toppling President Mahmoud Abbas. Palestine
Esperance Ghanem on why she writes Al-Monitor contributor Esperance Ghanem shares her thoughts on journalism. Lebanon
From housewife to Kurdish peace negotiator Once a housewife, Pervin Buldan rose to the forefront of Kurdish politics, driven by her husband’s extrajudicial murder, and is now a member of the team involved in the talks between Ankara and jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. Turkey
Erdogan fined $3,800 for insulting peace monument A Turkish court has ordered President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to pay compensation for disparaging a statue dedicated to Turkish-Armenian friendship as a "monstrosity," leading to its demolition. Turkey
Bibi's fantastic feats of flip-flopping Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s personality allows him to promise things but not follow through, and at the end of the day, he will always return to his political base on the right. Palestine
Israel's unpredictable voters Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other politicians react to polls that indicate a growing trend over the past few elections, where an increasing number of voters remain undecided until they arrive at the ballot box. Israel
Imprisoned IS members open up to Lebanese social workers Two Lebanese sisters have been taking great risks to research the reasons people turn to extremism, interviewing members of IS, al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups in Roumieh prison for their side of the story. Lebanon
Jordan UN ambassador: Arab women don't fit single image Jordan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Dina Kawar, talks to Al-Monitor about being a role model for women in Jordan and fighting for women's issues at a regional level. Jordan
10 Middle Eastern writers you should know These 10 female writers are challenging conceptions of women in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia
