Will Egypt hold popular referendum on islands transfer? In an interview with Al-Monitor, former Egyptian presidential candidate and lawyer Khalid Ali discusses the case he brought before the administrative court to challenge Cairo’s decision to transfer ownership of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
Al-Qaeda affiliate’s desperate 'switch' validates US Syria policy Fear of US and Russian airstrikes on eve of Syrian offensive a sign that Jabhat al-Nusra may be feeling the heat; Turkey’s de-Gulenification campaign in context; retired Saudi general probes Israeli commitment to peace settlement. Saudi Arabia
Iraq's civil movement breaks away from Sadr protests Civil society is stretching its own wings to wrestle the Iraqi civil movement away from the control of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr through the formation of new groups distancing themselves from the Sadr alliances. Iraq
US election 2016: Clinton takes the stage while Trump takes the lead Here's what happened on the campaign trail the week of July 25. United States
How much should Turks pay for gold medal at Rio Olympics? The Turkish public's interest in the upcoming Rio Olympics is suffering because of the attempted coup and concerns about whether Turkey's team is Turkish enough. Turkey
Will Turkey reinstate death penalty? Turkey risks sliding further away from the West if it reinstates the death penalty after the failed coup attempt. Turkey
Why was Iran so quick to rally behind Erdogan? While relations between Iran and Turkey have soured in recent years over differences primarily related to Syria, Tehran was quick to rally behind Erdogan as the Turkish president faced a coup. Turkey
Why de-escalation of Ankara-PKK clashes doesn’t mean path to peace The Turkish government has lowered the temperature of the war against the PKK because of the prevailing chaos in the army, police and intelligence services, but this is not a step toward peace. Syria
Even camels struggle to survive in war-torn, dry Iraq The camel population in Iraq is dwindling as traditional camel herders are forced to settle in one place and grazing areas are consumed by development and drought. Iraq
Can Iraq overcome its land mine infestation? Efforts to rid Iraqi Kurdistan of millions of land mines are being hampered by financial problems, corruption and the Islamic State's tenacity in planting more mines. Iraq
Will upcoming Palestinian local elections pave way for general elections? The Oct. 8 municipal elections, which will take place throughout Gaza and the West Bank, will be an indicator of which direction the Palestinians want to take; but all eyes will be on Gaza whose residents have not had a voice about their future leadership since 2006. Palestine
Gazans rejoice as Qatar vows to pay one month of full salaries Qatar has announced that it will provide about $31 million to the Gaza Strip, enough to cover one month's salary for Gaza's civil servants, who hope the aid will bypass the banks to avoid deductions for outstanding debts. Qatar
Can PLO help protect Palestinian refugees in Syria? The slaughter of a Palestinian child by the Nureddin Zengi Brigade in Syria put the spotlight on the PLO’s role and its failure to protect Palestinian refugees in Syria. Palestine
