PA pulls out of Rafah, Hamas settles in Fatah has withdrawn its staff from the Rafah border crossing and left it to Hamas in a major blow to the reconciliation process. By Ahmed Youness
Why Iran must shake up its approach to state-owned enterprises While the government’s general budget grabs the most attention in Iranian media, it is high time for Iran to revise the way it approaches the dilemma of the vast number of uncompetitive state-owned enterprises. By Navid Kalhor
Privatization of Turkish military factory draws strong criticism The lease of the Turkish military’s prominent tank factory to the private company BMC has stirred fierce criticism. By Metin Gurcan
Iran says Poland conference divides Europe Iran has condemned an upcoming anti-Iran meeting hosted by Poland. By Al-Monitor Staff
Kurds in Turkey unite to take aim at Ankara in elections Saying they have taken enough abuse, Kurds in Turkey have formed an alliance to strengthen their standing in upcoming elections. By Fehim Tastekin In Paris, reporting on Turkish politics
Bahraini opposition in Iraq stirs crisis between Baghdad, Manama The opening of an office of the Bahraini opposition in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad has caused a crisis between Iraq and Bahrain. By Mustafa Saadoun
Ankara's east-Euphrates vision more dream than plan As the US withdrawal raises the specter of a power vacuum in Syrian territory east of the Euphrates River, Ankara is too anxious about Damascus filling the void to come up with rational solutions. By Kadri Gürsel
Changes expected in Palestinian Knesset representation There appears to be a good chance that the Joint List will not be the only party vying to represent the interests of Palestinian citizens of Israel in April elections for the next Knesset. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
Islamic Jihad seeks to renew ties with Damascus In light of burgeoning Arab interest in restoring ties with the Syrian regime, Palestine's Islamic Jihad movement headed to Damascus to secure political and financial support. By Ahmad Abu Amer
Syrian jihadist group’s takeover of Idlib undermines Turkish plans The recent advances made by the al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Aleppo’s western countryside and Idlib might pave the way for a regime attack in the area under the pretext of eliminating jihadist groups. By Khaled al-Khateb
3D maps in Beirut tell story of Nakba “A National Monument” exhibition in Beirut presents the changing map of Palestine after the Nakba. By Sam Brennan
Can part of Palmyra's lost heritage be saved? A number of different projects are underway to rectify the damage to Palmyra's heritage wrought by the Islamic State. By Giuseppe Mancini
Israel uses Qatari grant to pressure Hamas In the wake of the military escalation between Israel and the Gaza Strip, Israel has frozen the third transfer of the Qatari grant to Gaza, thus breaching understandings reached with Hamas. By Ahmad Abu Amer
Female, Druze Likud candidates fail to impress A Muslim woman and a few Druze candidates are competing in the Likud primaries for a minority slot in the party’s next Knesset list. By Shlomi Eldar
Egyptians decry Pompeo's 'ode to Israel' from Cairo In his recent speech in Cairo, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo failed to explain US policy on the Middle East, but he did voice support for Israel. By Shahira Amin