Neglect eats away historical Iraqi city of Uruk The historical city of Uruk in Iraq has been neglected by the government, as its monuments and artifacts are threatened by thieves and looting activities. By Adnan Abu Zeed
How the IDF goes undercover among Palestinians The mistaravim, Israeli soldiers disguised as Palestinians, are known for infiltrating demonstrations. By Adnan Abu Amer
Bibi promises victory at any cost, but who will pay the price? In his latest Knesset speech, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised Israelis a victory at any cost while ignoring the journalists who question his hollow words. By Akiva Eldar
When will Lebanon get their kidnapped soldiers back? Jabhat al-Nusra has ended negotiations on the release of Lebanese soldiers and security personnel it captured in August 2014, and the Islamic State has rejected efforts to discuss the soldiers it captured at that time. By Esperance Ghanem
Does Iran even want Russia in Syria? Despite the stepped-up Russian role in Syria, it is still not clear whether Iran views this development in a wholly positive light. By Abbas Qaidaari
IS, Jabhat al-Nusra trace Afghan battle lines in face-off against Russia In Syria today, terrorist groups are applying lessons from the Afghanistan experience to their plans to counter Russia. By Ali Hashem In Doha, reporting on Iran, regional politics, conflict
Egyptians prepare for elections ... but do they really matter? Egypt's parliamentary elections start Oct. 19, with a focus on individual candidacies as opposed to those sponsored by political parties. By Ayah Aman In Cairo, reporting on politics and culture
Turkey’s plane project hits turbulence Technical, economic and political problems threaten TRJet, Turkey’s first passenger plane. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Egypt faces another dam challenge Egypt has been expressing its fears that the Renaissance Dam project would be completed before a planned study is carried out, as this could jeopardize Egypt’s share of the Nile waters. By Walaa Hussein
Once-frosty Erdogan warms up to NATO Russia’s military intervention in Syria is forcing Turkey's president to acknowledge he needs NATO. By Semih Idiz
Iran hard-liners call parliament vote on nuclear deal illegal In a last-ditch effort to oppose the inevitable implementation of the nuclear deal, some Iranian hard-liners are claiming that the parliamentary approval process violated the law. By Arash Karami
Why it's time for Israel to close Temple Mount to Jews The Israeli government must take decisive steps to show that it has no intention of altering the status quo in regard to Al-Aqsa Mosque. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Palestinians in Israel ride rip current into violence The Israeli-Arab sector has been dragged into a conflict of interests, with Joint List Knesset members backing the Islamic movement. By Shlomi Eldar
Tunisia Nobel Peace Prize resonates across Middle East After the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet won the Nobel Peace Prize, democracy activists drew solace as regional leaders remained silent. By Al-Monitor Staff
Iranian stocks continue two-year slump Despite the July 14 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action between Iran and six world powers, Iranian shares continue to drop. By Morteza Ramezanpour
Iranian government official promises better economy after nuclear deal An official with the Rouhani administration tells reporters that "there is no doubt" that the economy will improve after Iran's parliament approved the nuclear deal. By Arash Karami