Maliki goes on offense as elections approach With Iraq’s parliamentary elections only days away, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has accused his adversaries of failing to take responsibility for their role in the current crises. Iraq
Egypt's Minya province flashpoint for Muslim-Christian violence The political turmoil following the ouster of Mohammed Morsi last July has been felt the hardest in Minya in Upper Egypt, where Muslim-Christian violence is becoming frequent. Egypt
Violence, alcohol take toll on Israeli youth The stabbing to death of a youth in a nightclub this week has shaken the Israeli public, revealing a society exposed to harsh violence and alcohol abuse. Israel
Palestinian orphans suffer discrimination The tribal nature of Palestinian society frowns upon abandoned children whose parents are unknown. Palestine
Israel should give Palestinian reconciliation a chance The Fatah-Hamas reconciliation took Israel and others by surprise, and while intelligence sources are skeptical about the move, it should be given a chance because Hamas might be ready to enter the negotiating tent. Palestine
Sectarian discourse dominates Iraqi election politics Candidates in Iraq’s upcoming elections continue to engage in a sectarian, rather than, national discourse. Iraq
Former Israeli minister says public brainwashed about Abbas In an interview with Al-Monitor, former Labor Minister Ephraim Sneh rejects the claim that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is not a partner for peace, saying the Israeli public has undergone Goebbelsian-style brainwashing. Palestine
US can help heal GCC rifts The United States is leading efforts to resolve the dispute between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, but uncertainty over the future of the Gulf Cooperation Council remains. Legacy: Gulf
Palestinians may look to Lebanon model for government Palestinians are pointing to Hezbollah's participation in successive Lebanese governments as a potential model for Hamas' inclusion in a Palestinian unity government. Palestine
Hamas-Fatah reconciliation an opportunity for Israel Israel should realize that, by virtue of Hamas' integration into PLO institutions, the group has tacitly come to terms with Israel's existence. Palestine
Maliki diversifies Iraqi electoral lists Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has diversified his electoral lists to have a larger share of the votes in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Iraq
Gaza quiet after Palestinian reconciliation deal The latest reconciliation deal between Hamas and Fatah was not met with fanfare in the Gaza Strip, as locals remain skeptical on whether the deal will be implemented. Palestine
Erdogan surprises with condolence message to Armenians What is the calculation behind Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s unprecedented statement of condolence to Armenians? Turkey
Egyptian women campaign for larger role in parliament A number of Egyptian women's rights activists are campaigning to increase female representation in parliament ahead of this year's elections. Egypt
Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood divided over reform faction Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood expelled three prominent members for launching a moderate reform movement, the Zamzam Initiative. Jordan
Maliki’s State of Law Coalition wants majority government Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law Coalition is blaming current problems on the "partnership" government, worked out in a power-sharing arrangement in 2010. Iraq
