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
PKK's Withdrawal From Turkey Shows Peace Process On Track Murat Karayilan, a leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), is taking the peace file with Turkey from imprisoned Abdullah Ocalan, signaling normalization of the process, writes Kadri Gursel. Iraq
Will Syria Retaliate For Israeli Airstrikes? If Syria is going to retaliate for Israeli's recent strikes, it is unlikely to do so soon, alone or in a manner that would lead to a comprehensive war, observes Haytham Mouzahem in an examination of official statements. Israel
Netanyahu's Chinese Wall On an official visit to Beijing, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to convince China that a nuclear Iran threatens the stability of not only the Middle East, but also the global energy market, writes Ben Caspit. Israel
The Airstrikes in Syria: Winners and Losers A week has passed since the airstrikes in Syria, making it a good time to take stock of the situation from Israeli, Syrian, Hezbollah and Iranian perspectives, writes Yoav Limor. Israel
Hezbollah's Russian Connection Jean Aziz asks whether Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah has reassured his base following two televised speeches in nine days. Lebanon
US Arms Sales All About Iran The novelty of the latest US arms sales to Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates was not their scale or content, but the sign of a US realignment of allies to deter Iran, explains Jean-Loup Samaan. Saudi Arabia
Davutoglu Warns Of 'Ethnic Cleansing' in Syria Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu lectures on Syria as the Kurdistan Workers Party starts to withdraw from Turkey, writes Tulin Daloglu. Syria
PKK Challenges Barzani In Iraqi Kurdistan Denise Natali writes that the withdrawal of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) forces from Turkey and developments in Syria will keep the Kurdish nationalist movement fragmented from within and across borders. Iraq
Jerusalem Day Needs a Makeover On the occasion of Jerusalem Day, which is not celebrated by 67% of residents, Akiva Eldar wonders what could happen if the so-called “united city” combined to vote for a Palestinian Jerusalemite candidate. Palestine
Europe and the Politics Of Syrian Oil The EU lifted a ban on the export of Syrian oil from rebel areas and must figure out how to get hold of the oil, much of which lies under destroyed infrastructure and in areas of active fighting, writes Nasser Chararah. Lebanon
Palestinian Groups in Gaza Condemn Israeli Strikes on Syria Palestinian factions in Gaza urge Arab states to prevent Israel from taking advantage of the Syrian crisis, reports Mohammed Suliman. Palestine
Jordan, Iran Agree on Need For Political Solution in Syria Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi made a rare visit to Jordan, which showed some shared interest in a peaceful transition in Syria, writes Osama Al Sharif from Jordan. Jordan
