PKK declares unilateral cease-fire, hopes the 10th time's a charm Heeding calls by Kurdish politicians and civil society, the PKK announced a unilateral cease-fire ahead of the Nov. 1 elections, but Ankara continues to target the militants. By Mahmut Bozarslan
Why is Turkey's government choosing to protect itself instead of its citizens? The Turkish government is so busy trying to protect itself, it might be neglecting to protect its citizens adequately. By Metin Gurcan
Knesset of despair At the opening of the Knesset's winter session, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed the usual suspects for the current wave of violence, but offered no indication of how to stop it. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Egypt, Tunisia at a loss for how to deal with Libya Relations between Tunisia and Egypt have improved, but leaders still can't agree on how to resolve the crisis in Libya. By Ismael El-Kholy
Why some Israeli parents want to push back summer vacation Some parents are calling for the Israeli school year's summer vacation to be moved from July-August to August-September, to include more of the Jewish high holidays. By Yuval Avivi
The high price for neglecting Palestinians in Israel Growing frustration after years of discrimination and neglect is leading Israeli Arabs to identify with their West Bank brothers even as they attack their countrymen. By Akiva Eldar
Cairo University bans veil for instructors The president of Cairo University has declared that faculty may not teach while wearing the veil, a move that many call unconstitutional and fear will create more problems. By Rami Galal
British film tells a Syrian love story ‘A Syrian Love Story,' an acclaimed documentary by Sean McAllister, takes a unique look at the personal cost of the ongoing Syrian civil war away from the battlefield. By Joseph Fahim
The 'smartphone intifada' Social media is playing a vital role in the current Palestinian protests. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
Islamic Jihad committed to truce … as long as Israel is In an interview with Al-Monitor, Islamic Jihad political bureau member Nafez Azzam said his movement does not condone the firing of rockets from Gaza and that Hamas and Fatah must end their internal division to spare Palestinians more suffering. By Mohammed Othman
Meet Palestine's first female marriage officiant The appointment of Tahrir Hamad as Palestine’s first female Sharia marriage judge has been met with minimal objections. By Ahmad Melhem In Ramallah, reporting on politics
Amnesty International accuses Kurdish YPG of war crimes Amnesty International is accusing the autonomous Kurdish administration in northern Syria of committing war crimes. By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Iran's efforts to improve ties with West 'fruitless' without US In the aftermath of the historic nuclear deal, the question arises of whether Iran's rapprochement with the West will once again be limited to improved relations with Europe. By Saeid Jafari
Despite airstrikes, is Russia still working toward political solution in Syria? Russia appears to be considering various political resolutions to the Syrian crisis, possibly including one without Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. By Vitaly Naumkin
Arrest of Iranian teachers tests Iran-UAE relations The arrest of Iranian teachers working in the UAE has prompted some Iranian officials to call for firmer measures against the UAE. By Arash Karami
Israel divided over wave of violence While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tries to restrain his government, tension rises within the Palestinian sector in Israel. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense