Egypt added to Roman Catholic pilgrimage list Egypt's elated tourism officials are ready to roll out the red carpet for Catholics now that the country has Pope Francis' blessing as a pilgrimage destination. By Mohamed Saied
Israel's center-left fears opposing Netanyahu on Iran The center-left's flaccid leadership on security and diplomatic issues is once again on display, with pronouncements in line with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's agenda. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Congress threatens to withhold arms from Baghdad Allegations that Shiite-majority militias allied with Iraq’s central government have used US military equipment against Kurds in the disputed Kirkuk province has sparked outrage among US lawmakers. By Bryant Harris In Washington, reporting on Congress
IRGC's popularity gets 'Trump bump' After US President Donald Trump's speech, Iranians tweeted in support of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. By Al-Monitor Staff
Assessing impact of shifting Iran-KRG relations While Iran’s important trade with Iraqi Kurdistan could temper tensions, Iranian geostrategic concerns in the aftermath of the Kurdish independence referendum are driving government policy. By Bijan Khajehpour In Vienna, reporting on Iranian politics
Turkish deployment may redraw battle lines in Syria's Idlib The Turkish military deployment in Idlib has a direct impact on armed factions in the region, some of which have already accused Turkey of implementing Russia’s plans. By Fehim Tastekin In Paris, reporting on Turkish politics
Egyptian doctors, therapists explore healing powers of music Though new and experimental treatments are slow to be adopted in Egypt, some medical professionals see great potential in music therapy. By David Awad
Turkey targets 30% hike in military spending next year Turkey expects the public to fund a huge increase in military expenditures through new direct tax hikes and price increases. By Metin Gurcan
Turkey claims 'no need' for US, EU as Western ties deteriorate After a week of sparring with the United States, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused European allies of undermining Turkey and dared them to walk away from EU membership talks. By Ayla Jean Yackley
Netanyahu’s strategy of chaos Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mistakenly thought that by appointing his associates to key positions in the police and the judicial system, he could protect himself from investigations. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Hamas, Fatah ignore elephant in the room, for now Egypt believes that building trust between Hamas and Fatah should precede clarifying the remaining difficult issues between them, such as what to do about Hamas’ military wing. By Shlomi Eldar
Palestinian farmers go global to claim their rights Palestine will witness the birth of the first movement of farmers in the Arab world, which will advocate the rights of Palestinian farmers before Arab, regional and international institutions. By Ahmad Melhem In Ramallah, reporting on politics
Gazans abroad eager to visit, but unready to move home Although the burgeoning reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah has given hope to thousands of Palestinians, Gazans abroad remain cautious about resettling in the Gaza Strip. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
Tunisian women break taboo saying no to children A women's association in the Tunisian countryside works on breaking the societal taboo of women remaining childless by choice. By Marta Bellingreri
With evacuations looming, 'de-escalation zone' announced for south Damascus New "de-escalation" initiative presents new status quo for south Damascus suburbs, but how will it work? By Tom Rollins
Current crisis could ignite long-smoldering US-Turkey relations Longtime observers of Washington and Ankara's tense relationship won't be surprised by recent escalations. By Cengiz Candar