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 squanders Gaza war opportunities Unlike during previous wars in the Gaza Strip, Egypt — distracted by its own internal affairs — is isolated politically while its Gazan neighbors across the border in Rafah find themselves in a dire situation. Palestine
New alliances for a 2015 Middle East peace conference? The Gaza conflict demonstrates that Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Jordan and Saudi Arabia share common regional interests, which could lead them to an international peace conference based on the Arab League's peace initiative. Saudi Arabia
Never ask me about peace again A first-hand account of the aftermath of an Israeli strike that killed nine members of the author's family. Palestine
Rouhani slams Israel for 'genocide' in Gaza At a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that Israel's policy is simply to eradicate the Palestinians. Palestine
Arsal clashes a threat to Lebanon's future The outcome of the clashes in Arsal between the Lebanese army and fundamentalists supporting the Syrian opposition may hold the key to how Lebanon can resolve its political crises. Lebanon
Israeli withdrawal will leave Hamas empty-handed Contrary to the two previous conflicts with Israel — when Hamas depicted the outcome as a great achievement — this time, the number of casualties and the destruction in the Gaza Strip will not allow it to claim victory. Palestine
Gaza's Eid celebrations turn to sadness The joyous occasion of Eid al-Fitr turned into a nightmare in the Gaza Strip, which faced the fiercest Israeli assault since the current war began on July 8. Palestine
Iraqi volunteers ill-prepared to fight IS Volunteer fighters are signing up en masse to join the "righteous jihad" against the Islamic State in the name of nationalism and economic opportunity. Iraq
Bereaved Israeli, Palestinian families call to stop war Ben Kfir, who lost his daughter in a 2003 terror attack, recounts to Al-Monitor his efforts at explaining to Israelis that only a diplomatic agreement will end the violence: “The infrastructure of terrorism is poverty, ignorance, despair and hopelessness.” Palestine
Gaza keeps Israelis glued to the television The war with Gaza has changed Israelis into a people who follow the combat and TV news nonstop, while spending sleepless nights of anguish and days of low economic productivity. Palestine
Why Israel's blockade of Gaza was a mistake Israel's long-standing Gaza blockade policy, which did not bring Hamas down but only provoked it to further arm itself, should be reassessed. Palestine
Officials mum on Lebanese soldier's defection to Jabhat al-Nusra Government officials have refrained from directly commenting on news that a soldier has defected from the Lebanese army to join Jabhat al-Nusra. Lebanon
