Will Israel hold referendum over two-state solution? With the Israeli occupation of the West Bank nearing its 50th year, Israel's peace camp is pushing the idea of a referendum over its future. Palestine
Will tribalism dominate upcoming Palestinian elections? As electoral lists form in the runup to the local Palestinian elections, various political factions worry that tribal and family loyalties will trump political affiliations. Palestine
The morning after: What happens to Gaza if Hamas is toppled? Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman is accused of hampering the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza in an effort to overthrow Hamas' rule. What if he succeeds? Palestine
Will reforms require shrinking the size of Iraq's parliament? Some parliamentary blocs' efforts to cut the number of parliamentarians is facing obstacles, including the constitutional quota system, which currently calls for an increase in members. Iraq
How MasterCard debacle got one Iranian minister in trouble When Iran's Minister of Communication and Information Technology Mahmoud Vaezi was recently quoted as saying that MasterCard services were coming to Iran, the reports were quickly denied as a misunderstanding, though a MasterCard-affiliated debit card service is set to begin issuing prepaid cards. Iran
Biden’s diplomatic triage in Turkey Ankara reconsiders its Syria policy amid strains in US-Turkey ties and a reset in Iran-Turkey diplomacy. Syria
Egypt resorts to drastic proposals to solve dollar crisis Egyptians are at odds over how to solve the country's fiscal crisis, with parliament speaker Ali Abdul Aal calling for shutting down currency exchange companies. Egypt
US election 2016: Polling history suggests Trump can still win Here's what happened on the campaign trail the week of Aug. 22. United States
How glorification of martyrdom produces child suicide bombers in Turkey A majority of Turkish children are exposed to Islamic education and media indoctrination that glorifies martyrdom. Turkey
Has Turkey really stepped into 'Syrian quagmire'? Political developments in the region will determine the fate of the recent Turkish incursion into Syria. Syria
Was wedding blast in Gaziantep revenge for IS defeats in Syria? Some suspect the Aug. 20 suicide bombing of a Kurdish wedding party in southern Turkey was the work of the Islamic State avenging its recent losses in Syria. Syria
Social media becomes electoral war zone for Hamas, Fatah While the official campaign period for Palestinian local council elections doesn't begin until Sept. 24, Hamas supporters have already launched several social media initiatives aimed at drumming up support. Palestine
