Gaza's immense potential If Hamas and Israel were to sign a long-term cease-fire, the Gaza Strip could make use of a natural gas field in the Mediterranean, a highly educated population and wonderful beaches to become a pleasant place to live. Palestine
Can holding elections help ease divisions in Libya? In an interview with Al-Monitor, the head of the High National Elections Commission talks about the need to hold elections in Libya and the challenges facing the commission in this regard. Libya
Iraqi boat-makers struggle to keep their trade afloat The ancient craft of building boats, which is one of Iraq's oldest heritage industries, is disappearing, with only a few dozen workshops left in the country. Iraq
Qatar hires Trump-linked lobbyist ahead of emir’s visit Doha is turning to well-connected Republican operatives amid an intra-Gulf spat. Saudi Arabia
Erdogan vows to continue global manhunt for Gulen affiliates Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told supporters that his government will not stop pursuing those it claims are responsible for the 2016 failed coup attempt despite criticism and anger over unauthorized seizures of individuals and their forced repatriation to Turkey. Turkey
Iran raises minimum wage in concession to workers Iranian laborers are set to receive an almost 20% increase in the minimum wage in a concession from the authorities. Iran
How will Sinjar crisis end as tensions mount between Baghdad, Ankara? Ankara's insistence on combating the Kurdistan Workers Party may push Baghdad to take the lead on cleansing northern Iraq of the Kurdish militia, a scenario that presents a new internal crisis in Iraq's Kurdistan Region. Iraq
Iran condemns chemical weapons attacks, denies Syria’s role Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said that it was not logical for the Syrian army to use chemical weapons while it had the upper hand in the field of battle. Syria
Culture alert: Gaza conflict spills over to cinema festivals Iran’s Fajr International Film Festival has invited Palestinian director Rashid Masharawi as its guest of honor, while, farther west, Palestinian artists are boycotting the Istanbul Film Festival for refusing to drop an Israeli-government-backed sponsor, Art Israel. Palestine
Netanyahu’s U-turn on migrant deal shows power of his base Supporters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu forced him to back away from the deal, which he himself had boasted of, with the United Nations. Israel
Israel's Labor Party pays price for political integrity Even if some media ridiculed the Labor Party's leaders for their support of the government's agreement with the United Nations — which was canceled four hours after it was signed — the leaders were right to stick to the party's human rights agenda as a compass. Israel
How Netanyahu plans to bypass High Court rulings Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and leaders of coalition partner HaBayit HaYehudi are advancing a clause that would enable to Knesset to override High Court rulings with an absolute majority. Israel
Putin, Erdogan, Rouhani extend circle of trust in Syria As the Astana process seizes the initiative on Syria, the United States could put Israel-Lebanon shuttle diplomacy to the test on Hezbollah. Israel
Conditioning American withdrawal from Syria Now that President Donald Trump has announced US forces will be soon leaving Syria, the administration must rethink its previously stated conditions for withdrawal. Israel
What's really driving currency depreciation in Iran? Rather than an indicator of a poor economy, the devaluation of the Iranian currency is the result of investment behavior, and what we are witnessing now looks more like a bubble. Iran
Turkey’s economic woes open cracks in government ranks Amid failing efforts to halt the slump of the Turkish lira, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and senior Cabinet members appear increasingly at loggerheads over how to keep the economy afloat. Turkey
