Is Turkey wiping out Kurdish institutions during lengthy state of emergency? Turkey is continuing is massive purge of suspects — many of them Kurds — in the July 15 coup attempt, dismissing thousands more civil servants in the past week. Turkey
How Ankara is using taxes to target boozers Staggering tax hikes on alcoholic beverages have made Turkey’s national drink, raki, a luxury beyond the reach of many ordinary Turks. Turkey
Zionist Camp MK's message to the Israeli left Knesset member Ksenia Svetlova of the Zionist Camp told Al-Monitor in an interview that she still believes a diplomatic agreement with the Palestinians is the only solution and that Israelis must realize that there is no way to totally end terror acts. Palestine
Egypt's parliament, judiciary face off against each other The Egyptian parliament is currently discussing a draft law to amend judicial law, which legal experts say will infringe on the judiciary’s independence. Egypt
Can PA end arms proliferation in West Bank? The Palestinian Authority has ratified draft legislation on firearms and ammunition licensing fees in a bid to create a monopoly on arms in the West Bank. Palestine
Illegal hunting threatens biodiversity of Iraq's marshes In the absence of deterrent laws and decisive actions by the authorities, hunters in Iraq are killing migrant birds on a large scale. Iraq
Egypt sets up new fund to revive tourism industry The Central Bank of Egypt has set up a new fund to revive its ailing tourism industry, and experts are upbeat about the outlook of tourism in 2017. Egypt
Rafsanjani sparks final controversy as rival mourners clash Controversy continued to follow former President Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani even in death, as mourners of different political stripes chanted rival slogans at his funeral. Iran
Millions of Iranians turn out for Rafsanjani funeral Millions of Iranians unexpectedly show up for the funeral of two-time President Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Iran
Bad joke lands prominent Iranian comedian in deep trouble A prominent Iranian TV comedian has found himself under heavy fire after ridiculing men who grant their wives divorces. Iran
'Working Journalists Day' adds insult to injury for Turkish press This year's "Working Journalists Day" is a bleak holiday indeed in Turkey, the biggest jailer of journalists in the world. Turkey
Will Turkey, Iraq open new chapter in ties? Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim’s visit to Iraq last week has signaled a willingness to improve relations between the two countries after a period of intense animosity. Iraq
Two sides of Syria: Damascus and Aleppo While Aleppo lies in ruins, life in wartime Damascus remains vibrant, but not untouched. Lebanon
Israeli court’s conviction temporarily fends off ICC The manslaughter conviction of an Israeli soldier for killing a wounded Palestinian youth has fended off an investigation of that particular crime by the International Criminal Court, but it does not mean Israel is in the clear on allegations of war crimes for other deaths. Palestine
Why Saudi Arabia and Egypt are competing for influence in Africa Some observers fear Saudi and Egyptian differences could spread Middle Eastern conflicts to Africa. Saudi Arabia
Assyrian family shares tale of capture, displacement A family of Assyrians, one of Syria’s Christian sects, tells Al-Monitor their story of surviving imprisonment by the Islamic State only to lose their son this year to the fighting in Raqqa. Syria
