Could Turkey’s military capacity match Erdogan’s ambitions in Libya? Turkish military strategists have been working on a small, non-combat mission in Libya limited to train-and-equip purposes, yet recent developments suggest that Ankara could scale up the deployment plan amid lingering questions on whether the Turkish army is capable of delivering what Erdogan has promised his allies. Turkey
Instead of slandering it, Israel should join ICC Israel has a fairly easy option for dealing with the decision by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to probe suspicions of alleged Israeli war crimes: ratifying the court’s founding treaty and joining it as full-pledged member. Palestine
Netanyahu's strategy strengthens Hamas Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is following a dangerous strategy of advancing an arrangement with Hamas while weakening the Palestinian Authority. Palestine
Egypt reinstates Information Ministry in Cabinet reshuffle Egyptian member of parliament Osama Haikal will return as minister of state for information affairs after Egypt abolished the ministry in 2014. Egypt
PMU react angrily to US attack on Kataib Hezbollah facilities near Syrian border US strikes on Kataib Hezbollah near the Syrian border have sparked debate over whether the attack infringed on Iraq's sovereignty. Al-Monitor spoke to the PMU commander for western Anbar, where dozens of fighters officially under his command were killed. Iraq
Will Kurds find a ray of hope in 2020? Amid a staggering rise in the US dollar exchange rate and Turkey's control of Serekaniye and Kari Sapi, Kurds find it hard to feel the joy of this year’s Christmas and New Year’s festivities. Syria
Palestine's Christmas caravan lights up West Bank streets A yearly Christmas caravan that started in Bethlehem has brought some cheer to Palestinian children in several cities. Palestine
Nowhere else to flee: Why Idlib’s humanitarian crisis is so dangerous More than 235,000 people have fled Syria’s last opposition stronghold of Idlib as the Syrian government, backed by Russia, stepped up attacks against the city. Syria
Strategy of the radical right to pass Knesset-entry threshold The reunion of the radical right Otzma Yehudit party with HaBayit HaYehudi could open Knesset doors to nationalist Itamar Ben-Gvir. Israel
Long road still before Israel-Hamas arrangement Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs quiet on the Gaza Strip, but fears saying publicly that he’s in favor of an arrangement with Hamas. Palestine
Critics say Assad unlikely to suffer under Caesar sanctions The Syrian opposition backs the Caesar Act, recently approved by the United States, but questions whether the US administration is serious about implementing it and how it might affect the Syrian government and its allies. Syria
Why pastrami’s eastern version still rekindles rivalry The traditional taste of a spicy cured beef, pastirma, one of the most powerful cold cuts in the world, finds its place in new recipes. Egypt
Iranian sculptor builds statues for humanity, not auctions For over four decades, Iranian Kurdish sculptor Hadi Ziaoddini has sought to keep his art human and untainted by profit and politics. Iran
Iraq on brink of abyss: What happens next? The steadily increasing crisis in Iraq is getting deeper over time, opening the space for a total political collapse. Iraq
Will Iran take up Trump’s offer to ‘make a deal together’? President Donald Trump may be ready for another deal with Iran, and if so, Tehran’s leaders should take him up on it. Iraq
US re-ups support for Sinai mission The United States will continue to fund peacekeeping efforts in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula despite concerns over Russia's influence in the region. Egypt
