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
Price-Tag Attacks: Hate, Fear Come to Abu Ghosh Israel’s lenient policy on settlers is to blame for the "price-tag" vandalism perpetrated by Jewish right-wing extremists in the Arab village of Abu Gosh, a symbol of coexistence. Palestine
Lebanon Threatened by Civil War In the tense few days following the clashes between followers of Salafist Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir and the Lebanese army, many are wondering what the implications for the stability of the country will be. Lebanon
Erdogan’s Governance Challenge Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan must navigate Turkey’s diversity and many constituencies in the current political crisis. Turkey
Netanyahu Needs New Iran Strategy Israel should recognize the opportunity presented by the election of Hassan Rouhani as president of Iran. Israel
Iraqi Politicians Find Common Ground Elusive As Iraq’s political crisis intensifies, political parties should focus on areas of agreement, not escalting differences. Iraq
Erdogan, Taksim Square And the Kurdish Peace The peace process with the Kurds will either be a fatality of the Taksim-Gezi events, or a lifeline for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey
Netanyahu's Circus Tent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Palestinian President Abu Mazen to meet him in a tent between Jerusalem and Ramallah: Will Abu Mazen rise to the challenge? Palestine
Sheikh Al-Assir's Militants Kill Lebanese Soldiers in Sidon After supporters of Sunni Salafist Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir killed Lebanese soldiers in Sidon, Lebanon seemed on the edge of open conflict. Lebanon
Iranian Youth Hedge Hopes on Rouhani Iranian youth, who voted in large numbers for Hassan Rouhani for president, are mixed on whether he can deliver on Iran’s economy. Iran
The Pakistani Test Of the Israel-India Partnership The recent controversy over potential Israeli arms sales to Pakistan is unlikely to undermine the Israel-India partnership. Israel
Sinai Tribes Reject Morsi’s Call To Surrender Weapons Sinai tribes refuse Morsi's call to surrender weapons before longstanding community issues are resolved. Egypt
What Are Rouhani’s Critics Afraid of? Attacks on Hassan Rouhani since his election seem inspired less by outrage at his record than by fear that the United States and Iran will achieve some accommodation in nuclear talks. Iran
