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
Israeli media miscasts Hebron clashes The Israeli media has painted a recent confrontation in Hebron as the result of growing radical Islamism in the West Bank despite the lack of evidence for such a cause. Palestine
Islamic Jihad accuses Palestinian Authority of collusion with Israel In the aftermath of a security sweep, Islamic Jihad leaders in the West Bank say the Palestinian Authority is working with Israel to crack down on its activities in Jenin. Palestine
Iranians want more than a nuclear deal While most Iranians were excited about the nuclear deal, many hoped that it would be the first step of bringing normalcy and stability back to their lives. Iran
Egypt’s new government repeats its predecessor's mistakes The transitional government cannot count on the endless patience of Egypt’s public while insisting on repeating the same mistakes which ended its predecessors' reign. Egypt
Former Israeli intel minister says US-Israel ties critical in dealing with Iran In an interview with Al-Monitor, former Minister of Intelligence and Atomic Energy Dan Meridor says Israel should join the global campaign against Iran rather than attacking the first-step agreement. Israel
Netanyahu plays the Iran card in Israeli politics Can Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu adjust to the possible change offered by the agreement with Iran? Israel
Iran nuclear accord requires secular 'reset' of Turkey's foreign policy In the aftermath of Iran's nuclear accord, Turkey can only play an effective regional role if it adopts a secular foreign policy. Saudi Arabia
Turkey rethinks state-run Kurdish paramilitary force If the peace process with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) gains traction, the status of the state-backed Kurdish village guards will be brought into question. Turkey
Obama going big in the Middle East The "first step agreement" with Iran is a giant step toward recasting the strategic landscape in the Middle East for the better, including for US allies Israel and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
Geneva accords pledge to ease humanitarian transactions for Iranians The P5+1 is still trying to figure out how to keep its promise to facilitate Iranian purchases of food and medicine and other humanitarian trade. Iran
Netanyahu's nuclear blind spot Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's reaction to the Iran nuclear deal shows a blind spot in his thinking — and a bit of hypocrisy. Israel
Iran deal may encourage more humble Turkish foreign policy The nuclear agreement between the six world powers and Iran may be a wake-up call for Turkey to recast its own foreign policy after its failures in Syria. Syria
