Iraqi Kurdistan 'Will to Achieve' Key to Success The Iraqi Kurdistan Region's economic success is rooted in a will to achieve that has outpaced the rest of Iraq, writes Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Iraq
Syrian Official Claims Regime 'Extremely Comfortable' While on a personal visit to Beirut, an official from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime said that the regime is “extremely comfortable” with the current political and military situation in Syria and abroad, writes Jean Aziz. Lebanon
Iraqi Judicial Reforms Include Removal of Chief Justice Amendments and changes to laws on the books from the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein regime and the American occupation are shaking up the Iraqi judicial system, reports Ali Abel Sadah. Iraq
Palestinian Factions Silent On Gaza-West Bank Divide Israel's separation of Gaza from the West Bank has been so successful that the main Palestinian factions no longer ask for freedom of movement between the two enclaves, Daoud Kuttab writes. Palestine
Meridor Saddened by Likud's 'Ultra-Nationalist' Turn Dan Meridor, a former "prince” of the Likud Party, comments to Mazal Mualem on the right-wing turn in the Likud Party and his doubts regarding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ability to lead an important diplomatic process. Israel
Iraqi Kurdistan Region Slammed For Violating Press Freedoms A new report by Human Rights Watch has criticized the government in Kurdistan for what it calls “serious violations” of freedom of speech, as a draft law would make it illegal for journalists to insult politicians, reports Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
Israeli Officials Consider 'Point of No Return' With Iran Nadav Eyal looks at the decisions facing both the United States and Israel should the forthcoming round of nuclear negotiations with Iran fail. Israel
Kerry Calls for 'Negotiated Outcome' in Syria Al-Monitor’s coverage and analysis of the upcoming visits by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry to the Middle East, Kerry’s call for a negotiated outcome in Syria and Tunisia’s worsening crisis. Syria
Kerry Puts Middle East First Geoffrey Aronson writes that, in the absence of a strategy for dealing with the Middle East, seeking advice from leaders in the region can be compared to listening to the inmates in an insane asylum, where useful advice is in short supply. Palestine
Turkey's Syria Predicament Cengiz Candar writes that Turkey cannot escape the consequences of the civil war in Syria. Syria
Hunger Striker Samer Issawi Invisible to Israeli Society Shlomi Eldar wonders about the political impact of Palestinian prisoner Samer Issawi's hunger strike, going on for more than 200 days. Palestine
Burgas Is the Latest Chapter In US-Hezbollah 'Spy Wars' Hezbollah has recently been implicated in last summer’s Burgas bombing, a step that Jean Aziz describes as another installment in the "spy wars" between the Lebanese Shiite group and Washington. Israel
Gaza Blockade Erodes Palestinian Culture, Education Although the recent blockade on Gaza is often characterized as depriving residents of vital food supplies and medicine, Asmaa al-Ghoul argues that the real tragedy is embodied by the intellectual blockade on the Strip. Palestine
Award-Winning Photo Shares Human Tragedy of Gaza War Dalia Hatuqa tells the tragic story behind the World Press Award-winning photo of two dead children wrapped in white cloth during a funeral procession in Gaza last November. Palestine
Libyans Celebrate Anniversary Of Revolution Amid Troubles Libyans celebrated the second anniversary of the start of their revolution despite discontent with the transition under way since the fall of former dictator Moammar Gadhafi, reports Maggie Fick from Tripoli. Libya
Palestine Should Not Wait for Obama Senior Fatah official Husam Zomlot speaks to Daoud Kuttab of the need for Palestinians to press ahead with their own strategic track, and not wait for the United States to impose a solution. Palestine
