Swedish meatballs just one taste of Turkey's rich kofte culture The Ottoman roots of Sweden's beloved meatballs has caused an amusing social media flurry and reminded the world of the incredibly diverse culinary heritage of Anatolia. By Pinar Tremblay
How Iran and Europe can save the nuclear deal To protect the nuclear deal from collapse, Iran and the E3+2 must define and implement a workable framework for protecting future trade and investments. By Bijan Khajehpour In Vienna, reporting on Iranian politics
Rouhani administration fights back against nuclear deal critics Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will begin talks with Europe after visiting China and Russia in order to keep the nuclear deal alive after the US exit. By Al-Monitor Staff
Israeli group looks to bring peace back into agenda Amid Israeli hopelessness and indifference toward the conflict with the Palestinians, the Geneva Initiative convened a conference on restoring a dialogue on the two-state solution. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Palestinians struggle to preserve memories in younger generation As memories and stories fade with the survivors of the Nakba, so does the personal connection held by descendants of Palestinian refugees. By Tessa Fox
Israeli bill threatens courts’ ability to protect minority rights A new bill that would allow the Knesset to re-legislate laws struck down by Israel’s supreme court jeopardizes the independence of the judicial branch. By Yossi Beilin
Egyptian government floats new solution to traffic In a bid to reduce traffic congestion, the Egyptian government is working to exploit the Nile River in the transport of goods and individuals. By Ahmed Gomaa
Kurdish alliance emerges as key actor in Turkey's upcoming elections Rejected by two major electoral alliances, the Kurds have set up their own alliance with an eye on prizes much further away than Turkey’s snap polls. By Sibel Hurtas
Women ready to run for office in Egypt Egyptian women are being groomed to win elections and become effective leaders once they do. By Nadia Mabrouk
West Bank takes charge of electricity, ending Israeli control Under a recent deal reached between the Palestinian Authority and the state-owned Israel Electric Corp., Israel will no longer control electricity distribution to the West Bank. By Ahmad Melhem In Ramallah, reporting on politics
Egypt's women move onto soccer field As Egypt prepares to participate in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, more women move to the soccer field, both as referees and fans. By N.A. Hussein
Gaza's schoolchildren get first taste of interactive learning A publishing company in the West Bank is introducing e-books and interactive learning to primary school students, which despite the power outages has been a success so far. By Razan Alsa’afin
Groups help mothers, families of missing Tunisian migrants Organizations in Europe and Tunisia are taking a page from a Central American movement, teaming up to help people whose family members have disappeared or died while seeking a better life in new countries. By Sarah Souli
Putin’s stock rises as 'go-to' mediator between Israel, Iran Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may have given Russian president advance notice of attack on Syria; Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan labels United States as loser in decision to withdraw from Iran nuclear deal. By Week in Review
Saudi defense spending soars, but not to America's benefit Saudi Arabia's military spending is not currently benefiting the United States, as no large arms deals are on the table. By Bruce Riedel
Eager to vote, Iraq's displaced faced obstacles on election day Promises of jobs and support to rebuild their homes sent many of Iraq's internally displaced in search of voting stations that would allow them to cast their vote on May 12. By Judit Neurink