Analysis As it hosts NATO, Turkey eyes France's SAMP/T system, F-35 progress with Trump Turkey is set to host NATO leaders as doubts over US commitment linger prompting Ankara to seeks its own defense deals with Paris and Washington. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Israel, Greece conduct military drills ahead of NATO summit in Turkey Photos published by the Greek military showed fighter jets from both countries flying side by side over the Aegean Sea. Israel
Analysis In Libya, maritime dispute could complicate Turkey’s backing of US unity push Turkey and the US increasingly share an interest in stabilizing Libya through a Tripoli-Benghazi power-sharing deal, though their alignment may hinge on the durability of any such deal and Washington's stance on Ankara's disputed 2019 maritime agreement. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Newsletter: City Pulse Istanbul Inside Tayfun Erdogmus’ botanical universe Also this week: Izmir flavors, island photography and jazz nights By Nazlan Ertan In Izmir and Istanbul, reporting on culture
Hezbollah Leader 'Will Not Let Syria Fall' Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has said that "Syria has real friends in the region, and the world will not let Syria fall into the hands of America, Israel or [radical Islamist] groups," reports Ali Hashem from Beirut. Lebanon
Iran Has Reasons to Spoil PKK-Turkey Peace Process The Kurdistan Workers Party has announced a withdrawal from Turkey, a move that could isolate Iran and end a cease-fire between it and the PKK’s Iranian offshoot, reports Wladimir van Wilgenburg. Turkey
Arab League Land-Swap Offer Angers Palestinians The decision by the Arab League’s Washington delegation to offer a land swap to Israel has raised the ire of Palestinians, who say the move was unauthorized, reports Dalia Hatuqa. Palestine
Turkey's Constitutional 'Mayday' This year's May Day protests in Istanbul are linked to opposition to a draft constitution by the Justice and Development Party, writes Yavuz Baydar. Turkey
Archbishops' Abduction Should Be A Warning to Turkey The abduction of two Syrian archbishops by armed men on their way to Aleppo while returning from Turkey should be a warning to Ankara that it needs to review its security policies, writes Kadri Gursel. Syria
Turkey's 2015 Plan: Avoid Word 'Genocide' at All Costs Turkey is preparing a diplomatic offensive to prevent the US and European countries from recognizing the events of 1915 as genocide, writes Orhan Kemal Cengiz. Turkey
Syria’s Chemical Weapons, Israel and Hezbollah The US statement about Syrian chemical weapons; Israel weighs in; the debate within Hezbollah about Syria. Israel
A Turkish Awakening on Armenian, Kurdish Issues? The Armenian Day observances in Turkey on April 24 could be as significant as the PKK decision to withdraw from Turkey, writes Cengiz Candar. Turkey
Why Russia Does Not Believe Syria Used Chemical Weapons Russia does not believe that Syria used chemical weapons against insurgents, and therefore considers this week's revelation as information warfare to escalate the conflict, writes Fyodor Lukyanov. Syria
Is Hezbollah Losing Its Grip? The drone sent by Hezbollah to Israel must be interpreted as an outcry for survival by its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, writes Shlomi Eldar. Israel
Did Israel Ambush the US on Syria? Whether or not Israel planned to ambush the US on Syria's chemical weapon use, the result has been successful in moving the US closer to Israel's position, writes Alon Ben David. Israel
PKK Peace Process on Track Turkey's legal Kurdish political party, the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), suggests it will oppose a constitutional amendment that would introduce an “oppressive and authoritarian presidential regime.” Turkey