Is Hamas offering too little too late? Hamas is willing to display flexibility in order to ease the heavy isolation it faces, but what its leaders view as a significant compromise is likely far from what Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is willing to accept. Palestine
Peres' secret plan for two-state solution Late Israeli President Shimon Peres never gave up on peace, even during the last few years of his life when he developed an initiative for a two-state solution. Palestine
Could energy deals warm relations between Egypt, Israel? Speculation about Egypt possibly privatizing some of its electricity distribution companies is sparking fears of expanded normalization with Israel. Egypt
Rouhani tries to talk Europe into saving nuclear deal Iranian media is abuzz with reports of Rouhani’s attempts to rally Europe to stand up against Trump’s efforts to kill the nuclear deal. Iran
Egyptian graphic designer turns learning Arabic into child's play Ghada Wali, listed as one of the top game-changers under 30 by Forbes, is determined to make Arabic one of the common global languages. Egypt
Tunisia's next elections will put governing alliance to test After the founder of the secularist Nidaa Tounes Party Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi expressed his disappointment toward Islamist ally Ennahda, talk is growing about the future of the alliance between the two. North Africa
Palestinian Authority looks to reinvent itself A member of Fatah’s Central Committee has taken to the media to declare a shift in focus for the Palestinian Authority toward more revolutionary politics. Palestine
Abbas pushes forward with plans for PNC by year-end Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ insistence on convening the Palestinian National Council in Ramallah has continued despite objections from Hamas and other Palestinian factions. Palestine
Trump talks up peace prospects with Netanyahu at UN meeting The US president made a stirring case for Middle East peace at his UN debut with Netanyahu, but the Israeli leader steered the conversation back to Iran. United States
Saudi Arabia stuck with self-inflicted wounds in battle with Iran Policies driven by a narrow-minded focus on Iran have left Saudi Arabia with self-inflicted wounds, but it is not too late for a course correction. Saudi Arabia
Sanctions give Moscow, Tehran something to talk about US sanctions are indeed drawing Russia and Iran closer, but the question now becomes just how close. Russia
International artists explore fragmented Middle East in Istanbul The 2017 Istanbul Biennial asks what makes a good neighbor in a world plagued by war, repression and division. Iraq
Turkish military sends anti-referendum message with exercises across border Ankara is trying to tell its neighbors something with its massive military exercise across the border from Iraqi Kurdistan as the Kurdish Regional Government's independence referendum nears. Iraq
Kurdistan referendum leaves Iraq's Turkmens in quandary Faced with the prospect of Kurdish independence, Iraq’s Turkmens are divided on what is best for their future. Iraqi-Kurdistan
Turkey-PKK 'drone wars' escalate The armed conflict between Turkey and the PKK has been rapidly becoming drone-centric, with this dynamic radically altering the basic characteristics of this conflict while amassing legal and moral issues. Syria
Iran faces challenges realizing natural gas potential Until last year, Iran's natural gas production was almost entirely consumed domestically. Now it is set to exponentially increase natural gas exports in coming years, but not without challenges. Iran
