Turkey, Russia finish new gas pipeline Ankara and Moscow have inaugurated a portion of a natural gas pipeline under the Black Sea while the latest Turkish news on murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi includes his refusal to send a message to his son. Saudi Arabia
Egypt looks to remove religion from ID cards — but is it too little, too late? A proposed bill to remove religious status from national ID cards is welcomed by activists, but they say much more needs to be done to counter the discrimination and unprecedented levels of persecution suffered by Egypt's religious minorities. Egypt
Will Turkey remain involved in Libya? Although some perceive Turkey’s walking out of the Palermo conference as stepping back from the Libya process, it doesn’t mean that Turkey is giving up its struggle for influence. Originals
Palestinian refugees in Syria hope to return to Yarmouk While some Palestinian refugees are hopeful than they will return to the Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria, others are less confident in the Syrian government's facilitation of the process. Palestine
Netanyahu trapped over Gaza, political crisis Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must prove to the Israeli public that his decision to accept a cease-fire with Hamas and advance an arrangement could actually bring about quiet to the south. Palestine
How Hamas’ rocket barrage affects Israeli defense policy The latest Egypt-mediated cease-fire that follows the most recent flare-up of hostilities between Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza and Israel has sparked celebrations in the streets of the Gaza Strip and anger in Israel. Palestine
Baghdad artists reimagine Iraq in the public sphere From dangerous migrations by sea to the prevalence of plastic waste, young Iraqi artists highlight past and present troubles through street art. Iraq
Israel’s center-left needs common election agenda It's highly unlikely that Israel's center-left parties will form a coalition to run together in the 2019 election, but they should not abandon efforts to find common ground to fight for. Palestine
Iran, Iraq look to expand economic ties amid US sanctions Despite US sanctions, Iranian and Iraqi officials hope to increase economic ties. Iraq
How Qatar is working to boost its influence in Yemen Doha balances close relations with Houthi and Islah factions in the Yemen war in order to take advantage of political instability in the country and bolster its influence over the country’s internal affairs. Saudi Arabia
Hard-liners face backlash in Iranian holy city in wake of 'insulting' open letter A senior hard-line cleric’s sniping at a grand ayatollah for meeting with Reformists has sparked a backlash that is revealing the depth of clerical opposition to radical conservatives. Iran
Erdogan vows to crush US allies in Syria The Turkish president weighs military options to defeat what he calls a “terror outfit” in Syria. Syria
Intel: How Netanyahu’s acrimonious meeting with a right-wing ally sets the stage for early elections Israel
Syria's political prisoners share stories of abuse on Beirut stage A play by former political prisoners in Syria is showing audiences the devastating reality of abuse in Middle Eastern jails while offering a kind of therapy for those effected. Lebanon
