Egypt sentences activist Sanaa Seif to 18 months in prison Seif, who had been in pretrial detention since June, was convicted Wednesday of spreading false news and misusing social media. Egypt
Ukraine rejects Iran's final report on downed passenger plane The Iranian government said last year's shooting down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was the result of a human error. Iran
Iran operating new advanced centrifuges, nuclear watchdog finds According to an International Atomic Energy Agency report, Iran is now using IR-4 centrifuges to enrich uranium in violation of the nuclear accord. Iran
UN says Libya arms embargo 'totally ineffective' A United Nations panel of experts accused several member states, including Turkey and Russia, of fueling the Libyan conflict. Libya
Egypt's youth turn to Islamic State The security restrictions imposed by the authorities in Egypt on its youth are pushing many to believe in the ideology of the Islamic State (IS) and become actively involved in IS cells in Egyptian society. Egypt
Splitting gendarmerie from Turkish army: reform or bad timing? The Turkish public is divided over the government’s decision to attach the Gendarmerie Command to the Ministry of Interior. Turkey
Rabin memorial reflects lack of left's leadership The Israeli left has failed to produce any leader who could follow in the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's footsteps, leaving the political scene in the hands of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Palestine
Turkey adds entry to book of enemies Turkey’s National Security Policy Document — known as the "Red Book" and infamous for designating social groups as “internal enemies” — has been taken off the shelf again. Turkey
Media wars hamper Qatari-Egypt relations As Qatari and Egyptian media outlets engage in a bitter tug-of-war, diplomatic efforts continue at senior levels to tone down the rhetoric. Qatar
Will Egypt's buffer zone worsen Israel-Hamas friction? Egypt's plan to clear a buffer zone on its Gaza-Sinai border will oblige Hamas to depend on the crossing points to Israel, a reality that might lead to another round of conflict. Palestine
Life in Raqqa under IS The faceless young Syrian behind the “Raqqa is being slaughtered silently” campaign and website tells Al-Monitor about life in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, an Islamic State stronghold. Syria
Netanyahu government threatens Temple Mount Members of Benjamin Netanyahu's government are using the Temple Mount for political purposes, advocating the return of the Jewish people to the holy site at the risk of damaging the fragile status quo. Palestine
Rafah residents forced to leave their homes In an exclusive report, Al-Monitor witnessed the evacuation of Palestinians from their homes in Rafah. Egypt
Islamic State intelligence network stifles resistance Terrorist group reportedly uses Saddam-era intelligence officers and tactics; Syria’s Alawites seek accountability from government; Syrian army advances around Hama; Temple Mount as flash point; Egyptian campaign against terrorists in the Sinai Peninsula makes life harder for residents of the Gaza Strip. Palestine
War and peace of Jerusalem Jerusalem could become the world capital of peace, hosted by both Israel and Palestine, if the United Nations moved some of its agencies to the city, as suggested by a Palestinian policymaker. Palestine
Turkish military angered by Ankara’s peshmerga move The Turkish military is said to be riled and to have informed the government of its opposition to seeing Iraqi Kurdish fighters in Turkey. Iraq
