Israel's defense minister plays the moderate card While Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon is treated as a hero for his temporary refusal to let settlers invade two houses in Hebron, let's not forget his past and certain future support for the settlement enterprise. Palestine
Who was behind Saudi Embassy attack in Iran? Iranian officials have announced the name of the main culprits behind the attack on the Saudi Embassy in Iran. Saudi Arabia
How Turkey is losing a top trade partner Turkey is experiencing a serious but underreported crisis with its biggest export market in the Gulf. Saudi Arabia
Turkey grants Syrians right to work, but is it too little, too late? Ankara has finally granted Syrians the right to work in a belated move to stop more highly qualified refugees’ flight to Europe. Turkey
The AKP's strange bedfellows When Dogu Perincek, the leader of the ultra-left and ultranationalist Patriotic Party, announces a "united front" with Turkey's ruling AKP, one should see why. Turkey
Will new constitution help Algeria? The Algerian opposition has criticized the draft constitution as being nonconsensual and as not addressing the country’s real crisis. Algeria
Gas price hike, subsidy cuts shake up Saudis The Saudi government's new year is off to a shaky start financially — a burden it's sharing with its citizens, leaving them to wonder just how bad things will get. Saudi Arabia
The truth about the Saudi executions Why the executions of cleric Nimr al-Nimr and three other Shiites in Saudi Arabia are not the result of Sunni-Shiite sectarianism as many have claimed. Gulf
Why Hamas hopes to keep low profile in Saudi-Iranian tensions In light of the escalating dispute between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Hamas has remained silent to maintain good ties with each party, as both have provided it with financial or military support. Saudi Arabia
Widespread Iraqi anger threatens Saudi ties The Iraqi government has distanced itself from the Saudi-Iranian dispute and adopted a neutral position despite the Iraqi street’s angry reaction to the Saudi execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr. Saudi Arabia
Five years on, why do Egyptian authorities still fear January 25? Ahead of the fifth anniversary of the January 25 Revolution, Egyptian authorities have taken tight security measures to deter any protests. Egypt
Who is Israel's 'responsible adult'? In a society that veers right and within a party ruled by supporters of the settlers, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon defends law, order and democracy, as an heir to the late Prime Minister Menachem Begin. Palestine
Arab restaurateurs feel bite of settlers' blacklist The Samaria Settlers Committee, financed by Israeli taxpayers, has launched a defamatory campaign to boycott Arab-Israeli businesses they accuse of supporting terrorism. Israel
Is storm over settlements in Bibi’s coalition a sign of things to come? Instead of supporting Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, who ordered the evacuation of two buildings illegally seized by settlers, most Likud ministers have sided with the settlers or kept silent. Israel
Biden calls for 'change of attitude' by Turkish government US Vice President Joe Biden says Turkey is setting the wrong example for the region. Syria
Was Jan. 25, 2011, really a revolution? Five years after the January 25 Revolution, members of the new parliament question whether the uprising was really a revolution. Meanwhile, the government is cracking down on activists to avoid imminent protests. Egypt
