The Istanbul Archaeological Museums return, piece by piece A vast plan to restore and revitalize Turkey's first modern museum, the Istanbul Archaeological Museums, established in 1869, remains a partial work in progress, but the completion of the first phase has produced a visitor friendly and engaging environment. By Giuseppe Mancini
Quran manuscript a 'blessing' for an Iranian Kurdish village A centuries-old manuscript of the Quran continues to play a central role in the identity of residents of an Iranian village. By Sarbas Nazari
Southern Turkish city defiant over its raki and kebab Although Adana province banned a raki festival for reasons of safety, locals rushed to the bars to celebrate their culture of raki — accompanied by turnip juice — and kebab. By Paul Benjamin Osterlund
Are Russia and Turkey in tug of war over Libya? Libya has emerged as a contested issue between Russia and Turkey. By Kirill Semenov
Iraq's Ninevah province turns back on Shiite forces The Ninevah provincial council has voted to replace a governor who was close to Iran-backed forces with a military man who is close to the United States. By Omar Sattar
Netanyahu’s plan for winning an outright majority in the Knesset If he wants his right-wing ultra-Orthodox bloc to win 61 seats so he can form an immunity coalition, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will need Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked to run as part of the New Right list and pass the electoral threshold. By Danny Zaken In Ma'ale HaHamisha, reporting on Israel
Off The Hookah with Phil and Cooper Episode #121: The Winter of Iranian Discontent (feat. Sarbas Nazari) Phil & Cooper
Intel: Pentagon worried Turkey ‘spinning out’ of NATO orbit Defense Secretary Mark Esper told an audience at a New York think tank he was worried that Turkey is “spinning out” of the NATO orbit. By Jack Detsch
White House provides lifeline to US ties with Turkey and Saudi Arabia Turkish and Saudi leaders look to Trump to prevent relations with the United States from going bad to worse. By Week in Review
Israel’s love of Kurds weaponized by their foes Israel's support of Kurdish autonomy in Syria is not always welcomed — at least publicly — by Syria's Kurds. By Amberin Zaman, Dan Wilkofsky
Intel: Lebanon aid wrangling exposes divide in Trump administration The US Treasury Department today sanctioned one Democratic Republic of Congo-based and two Lebanon-based individuals accused of financing Hezbollah: Saleh Assi, Nazem Said Ahmad and Tony Saab. By Bryant Harris In Washington, reporting on Congress
The ultra-Orthodox dilemma on slamming Liberman Ultra-Orthodox politicians fear that any attacks against Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Liberman would actually reinforce him within secular electorate. By Danny Zaken In Ma'ale HaHamisha, reporting on Israel
2020 elections: Israeli-Arab party aspires to 15 seats Arab Joint List Knesset members are in an excellent mood: They believe that grassroots campaigning could garner them 15 seats in the upcoming March elections. By Shlomi Eldar
France to support Palestinian agriculture in West Bank areas under Israeli control The Palestinian government and the French Development Agency signed agreements that will support the development of agriculture and water networks in Area C. By Rasha Abou Jalal In Gaza City, reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Will Turkish lira save economy in Syria's opposition-held areas? As Syria's currency plunges against the dollar, the opposition's Syrian Interim Government plans to replace the Syrian pound with the Turkish lira in the areas it controls. By Khaled al-Khateb
Israelis from Russia: A voyage from atheism to religion Despite the secular campaign by Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Liberman, and despite their atheist upbringing, a significant number of Jews who immigrated to Israel from the former Soviet Union have become religious. By Ksenia Svetlova