Will Egypt's rappers ever receive rave reviews? Aly Soliman, an Egyptian rapper, seems to have set his sights on the 2020 Grammy Awards, but his country is simply not keen on this music genre. By Ahmed Fouad
Turkey’s repression of media turns violent In the wake of a brutal attack on a Turkish journalist, few believe the official story of a traffic altercation as political violence ravages the country. By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Israeli security: Unrest, despair increasing in West Bank Former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot warns that sanctions and despair may soon generate an outburst of violence in the West Bank. By Shlomi Eldar
Can Golan Heights' vultures be saved? Faced with poisoning by cattle breeders, the vultures of the Golan Heights are practically extinct, with only five still alive. By Mordechai Goldman
Iran: UAE sabotage incident should be no excuse for US ‘adventurism’ Iran has dismissed President Donald Trump’s offer to talk on the phone, saying if it was genuine, he would have stuck to the nuclear deal. By Al-Monitor Staff
Two heads pull Israel’s Blue and White in opposite directions Unlike Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, his colleague Yair Lapid has no intention of keeping low profile. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Netanyahu’s conflict of interest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s associates are negotiating the composition of the next government, yet they are not hesitating to demand that the future coalition partners support legislation on immunity. By Akiva Eldar
Yazidis have 'protectors' in Iraq, but question safety Iraq's Yazidi ethno-religious minority is safe from the Islamic State, but now faces infighting among protective forces seeking dominance in Sinjar. By Dana Taib Menmy
Will killing of Hamas cadre set off chain of assassinations? Several reports suggest that Israel’s assassination of Hamed al-Khudari, a Hamas cadre accused of funneling funds to the movement, could be the first in a chain of assassinations of Hamas leaders. By Adnan Abu Amer
NGO offers Lebanon taste of lionfish in effort to contain invasive species A Lebanese group is promoting the lionfish, a threat to the Mediterranean Sea ecosystem, as a tasty and profitable fishery. By Nicholas Frakes
New Palestinian party has ties to Israel, seeks PLO reform President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party promptly attacked the newly launched Reform and Development Party in the West Bank and warned Palestinians to have nothing to do with it. By Adnan Abu Amer
Egyptian tattoo artist draws flowers, butterflies to hide burns Shenouda Abdel Malak draws free tattoos on burn victims as part of a project called "Love Yourself." By Menna A. Farouk
Should women cover up so men can fast in Egypt? An online campaign calling for "girls to dress modestly during Ramadan" has provoked the ire of critics who see it as a veiled call for sexual harassment under the pretext of piety. By Shahira Amin
Trump flashes art of the deal to Iran Iraqi leaders meet all night following Pompeo visit. By Week in Review
Tunisia on edge as Libya's Hifter advances Tunisian authorities remain tight-lipped on the tumult in neighboring Libya, even as escalating violence impacts the Tunisian border. By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Libyan Salafists fight alongside 'secular' Hifter Although Libyan strongman Khalifa Hifter has often been perceived as a secular leader, his Libyan National Army contains many Salafi fighters. By Giorgio Cafiero