Israel, Hezbollah playing Russian roulette in Syria Russia has managed to prevent confrontations between Israel and Hezbollah in Syria, but will its luck run out in the long term? By Joe Macaron
Why Turkey’s 'naked art' needs protection Stuck between censorious local authorities and vandals ready to smash what they do not like, statues of nudes are quietly being removed from public spaces. By Nazlan Ertan In Izmir, reporting on culture
Jordan considering recipe for revolt: lifting bread subsidies Jordan must decide whether to eliminate the government subsidy on bread to receive assistance from the International Monetary Fund. By Mohammad Ersan
Why hasn't Abbas lifted sanctions on Gaza? Palestinians are wondering why President Mahmoud Abbas has yet to lift the sanctions he had imposed on Gaza to pressure Hamas to dissolve its administrative committee and relinquish control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority. By Rasha Abou Jalal In Gaza City, reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Palestinians cry foul at FIFA decision Some say FIFA is getting involved in the political game after it refused to take action on six Israeli soccer clubs playing in settlements of the occupied West Bank. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
Hamas serious about Palestinian reconciliation deal The tough economic sanctions carried out by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas against Hamas may have been the final straw to convince Hamas to finally see out a reconciliation agreement. By Shlomi Eldar
Alexandria’s France Street still living in its golden age Alexandria's cherished gold district is nestled into an ancient corner where the city's rich heritage and multicultural past is still vibrant. By Rasha Mahmoud
Netanyahu celebrates Balfour Declaration, yet ignores its legacy Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went to London for the centennial ceremony of the Balfour Declaration, sidelining the essence of the declaration and its vision of peace with the Palestinians. By Akiva Eldar
Off The Hookah with Phil and Cooper Episode #029: Are You Saying Boo or Boo-rzani? (feat. Amberin Zaman) Phil & Cooper
Israel and Gaza's underground battle Besides constructing an underground wall obstacle to thwart the building of attack tunnels, Israel is also developing technologies to identify tunnel digging from above ground. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Post-coup purge snares beloved 'Soros of Turkey' The arrest of major Turkish philanthropist Osman Kavala marks an escalation in the government's crackdown on its opposition and has sent a chill through the Istanbul elite. By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Russian 'czar' back in Tehran Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Tehran once again. By Al-Monitor Staff
Iran unlikely to sit idle as US targets Hezbollah, PMU Tehran views US actions against Iran's friends in the region as nothing short of a plot to sabotage the republic's strength and restrict its area of influence. By Ali Hashem In Doha, reporting on Iran, regional politics, conflict
Turkish security making headway against Salafi-jihadi networks Intelligence gathered in Syria has helped Ankara in its pursuit of violent Salafi-jihadi networks inside Turkey. By Metin Gurcan
Will Iraqi-Saudi rapprochement undermine Iran’s role in Iraq? With US support, Saudi Arabia and Iraq are getting close to each other to minimize Iran's influence in Iraq. By Mustafa Saadoun
Lebanon battles to get its treasures back A marble bull’s head and a statue of a calf bearer, stolen in 1981, are due to return to Lebanon after a legal battle with private collectors in the United States. By India Stoughton