How Israel avoided another escalation with Hamas Israel and Hamas agreed, yet again, to hold fire; yet the misery of Gaza residents will continue as long as the blockade continues. Palestine
45,000 Holocaust survivors live below poverty line in Israel Despite countless promises by politicians, thousands of Holocaust survivors are not being taken care of. Israel
Will Herzog join Netanyahu's coalition? With a narrow coalition of only 61 members, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is working to expand it — either with Yisrael Beitenu head Avigdor Liberman or with Zionist Camp leader Isaac Herzog. Israel
Why Turkey is finally getting serious about the Islamic State The Islamic State seems determined to open a front in Turkey, militarizing its operations there and forcing Ankara to respond in kind. Syria
Rouhani moves to slash IRGC budget, empower army The Rouhani administration has moved to cut spending for the IRGC while increasing funding for the army, but not without a backlash. Regional
After Madaya, Deir ez-Zor now faces humanitarian catastrophe The starving citizens of Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria are trapped in the battle between the Islamic State and government forces, squeezed by blockades imposed by both sides. Syria
How Hamas scored a win in West Bank student elections The victory of Hamas' student branch in the elections at Birzeit University in the West Bank reflects the Palestinian public support for Hamas, following the arrests and restrictions it has been subjected to by both the Palestinian Authority and Israel. Palestine
Fleeing Tuz Khormato residents add more strain on Iraq's Kirkuk The renewed fighting in Tuz Khormato has prompted many more families to leave for Kirkuk, which is already struggling to host a large number of displaced people. Iraq
Pigeon lovers flock to Gaza expo Hundreds of enthusiasts and breeders of exotic pigeons gathered in a Gaza arena for an event as rare and special as their birds. Palestine
How Nubian women are challenging marital traditions in Egypt While Nubian society has opened up in ways that afford more opportunities to women, marriage to a non-Nubian man is still taboo. Egypt
Muqtada al-Sadr, chameleon of Iraq's politics Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr is taking advantage of the current popular protests in Iraq to expand his influence and thus become an undisputable leader on the Iraqi political scene. Iraq
English language classes set to become next battleground in Iran President Hassan Rouhani emphasized the learning of foreign languages in helping Iran’s economy, which put him at odds with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran
Will waning popularity push Egypt's Sisi to form political party? Egyptians are wondering if their president will become hungry for more political power if his star fades with the public. Egypt
French envoys bear surprising message from Mideast Christians A French delegation to Lebanon, Iraq and Syria found that many Christians in the Middle East believe Western policies place economic interests ahead of their well-being. Iraq
Will Iran's new undercover morality agents have any impact? The plan to dispatch 7,000 undercover morality agents has stirred much criticism in Persian-language media and social networks, with the backlash mostly focused on the project's social costs. Iran
Why Trump, Clinton both scare Netanyahu Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fears that if elected president, Hilary Clinton will hit the ground running and not stop until advancing the two-state solution. Israel
