Who protects Tunisian corruption whistleblowers? A Tunisian nonprofit and independent watchdog launched a center to support and guide victims of corruption, to encourage citizens to report administrative and financial corruption, and to create a favorable climate to promote accountability. Tunisia
IDF's biggest threat today is internal, warns chief of staff In a rare appearance before the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot criticized politicians for acting against the Israeli military, using it for their own political agendas and eroding the public's trust. Israel
US rebukes Russia Aleppo plan as 'demand for surrender' The United States criticized a Russian Defense Ministry announcement of “humanitarian corridors” for civilians to leave rebel-held eastern Aleppo, but US-Russian negotiations on deeper cooperation continue as the city is steadily falling to the regime. Syria
Libya's bungled oil deal Rather than uniting Libya's feuding national oil companies and myriad rival militias, the United Nation’s clumsy attempts to restart oil exports have pushed them all into pitched battle. Libya
Why are Egypt’s TV hosts migrating to Western screens? Bassem Youssef, known as “Egypt’s Jon Stewart,” is no longer in Egypt, as he and other personalities like him are finding freedom of speech in the West. Egypt
Iran economy minister: There are positive economic signs Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s economy minister says there are signs that the economy is improving. Iran
Is Israel already a binational state? Palestinians believe that calling for a binational state will force the international community to engage in a realistic two-state solution in 2017 and force the Israeli public to see the necessity of Palestinian statehood. Palestine
The AKP's path to the coup Turkey today, exposed by the failed coup attempt, is a far cry from the country the Justice and Development Party promised 14 years ago. Turkey
Why state of emergency brings back bad memories in Turkey After a 14-year interval, Turkey has reintroduced a state of emergency not only in the southeast but across the entire country. Turkey
Iran state broadcaster in hot water at home, abroad over airing rights The Iranian state broadcaster has found itself in a new dispute over broadcasting soccer games without permission, this time with Qatar’s beIN Sports and the UEFA. Iran
Is new strategy needed for fighting IS in Syria? In an interview with Al-Monitor, a senior member of the New Syrian Army, Abdulsalam Muzil, talks about his force’s achievements and what's to come in the battle against the Islamic State. Syria
Baghdad-Erbil bickering overshadows Mosul battle Since the Iraqi central government excluded the Kurdistan Regional Government from a meeting for the anti-IS coalition in Washington, tension has been escalating between Baghdad and the Kurds, who stressed that they will not leave areas in Ninevah liberated from IS. Iraq
How will Iraq handle its surging population? Despite Iraq's growing population, the government does not seem to have plans in place to contain the rise, develop employment and expand cities. Iraq
'Ultra-Orthodox run government,' Israeli lawmaker warns In an interview with Al-Monitor, Yesh Atid Knesset member Aliza Lavie claims that the new laws excluding many Israelis from ritual baths and undoing the core curriculum requirements for ultra-Orthodox children are ominous signs of the ultra-Orthodox stranglehold on the government. Israel
Israeli Arabs see through Netanyahu's apology Israeli Arabs are unimpressed by the apology of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his words during last year's election, sure that his apology video was directed at European ears. Israel
