'Grave sleepers' shock Iranians An article on homeless drug addicts taking shelter in pre-prepared graves in a cemetery shakes Iranian society. Iran
Obama's 'total surprise' for Netanyahu Israeli sources revealed to Al-Monitor some of the alleged evidence showing the United States was deeply involved in advancing UN Security Council Resolution 2334 condemning settlements. Palestine
Why Rouhani’s social housing scheme faces more than bumpy start The Rouhani administration’s long-delayed scheme to provide social housing for marginalized households finally appears ready to be implemented — but not without a bumpy start. Iran
Why rift between Iran’s moderates, hard-liners is really about republicanism The continuing public feud between Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Ayatollah Mohammad-Taghi Mesbah Yazdi suggests that the revolutionary clash between moderates and hard-liners over the nature of the Islamic Republic of Iran is far from over. Iran
Why Iran’s 'green gold' is set to rebound Despite being hit by climate change and sanctions, Iran’s millennia-old pistachio production appears set to increase production and export. United States
What is Rouhani seeking to achieve with his Citizens’ Rights Charter? Barely out from the printing press, the Iranian president’s long-promised Citizens’ Rights Charter is coming under fire, and not just for coming five months before his bid for re-election. Iran
Egypt considers blocking doctors from working abroad In the midst of a domestic shortage of doctors and nurses, an Egyptian parliament member has proposed a bill requiring health workers to spend 10 years working in Egypt's public hospitals before they would be permitted to travel abroad. Egypt
Are Cairo, Riyadh in a messy ‘political divorce’? Egypt was not pleased when a Saudi royal delegation traveled to the controversial Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia to discuss potential energy projects with officials there. Saudi Arabia
Will Iran, Hamas break ties over Aleppo? Relations between Hamas and Iran have been especially tense since the group publicly condemned the violent battle for Aleppo. Palestine
Iraqi women join battle against Islamic State In response to the exploitation of women by the Islamic State as part of their "sexual jihad," women across Iraq are taking up arms in increasing numbers in the fight against the militant group. Iraq
UN anti-settlement resolution wake-up call for Israelis With UN Security Council Resolution 2334, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not only faces criticism from the center-left, but also calls from the right to annex West Bank lands. Israel
Turkey closes coup commission as key questions linger A parliamentary investigation commission created to investigate the political aspects of the July coup has wrapped up work at the Turkish president’s behest without providing any real answers. Turkey
Will Liberman's Palestinian sanctions cost Israeli lives? Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman ordered the military unit coordinating activities on the West Bank to sever civilian ties with the Palestinian Authority while maintaining security cooperation, but the two are inseparable. Palestine
Why did Iranian opposition leader resign from his own party? Green Movement leader Mehdi Karroubi, who has been under house arrest since 2011, has resigned as head of the Reformist party that he established. Iran
Why Iran sees Aleppo as chance to get in rather than out Rather than seeing the victory in Aleppo as an opportunity to wind down operations, the Syrian government’s Iranian ally appears to be preparing to push ahead with new offensives. Syria
First coup trial opens in Turkey As the first suspects go to trial in connection with the July coup attempt, a deeply wounded and divided Turkey does not appear ready for closure. Turkey
