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
Do Israeli Airstrikes Play Into Assad's Hands? In an interview with Shlomi Eldar, professor Kais Firro, an authority on Syria and Lebanon, claims that the Syrian regime can finally argue that Israel is the puppet master behind the uprising. Israel
Syria Calls Attack by Israel 'Declaration of War' Ali Hashem reports on reactions from Syria and Hezbollah, blaming Israel for the attacks on Damascus that represent an escalation of the Syria war. Israel
Israeli Military Service Requirement Discriminates Against Arab Citizens Using military service as a prerequisite for certain jobs and other societal benefits amounts to discrimination against those unable to serve, such as Israel's Arab citizens, writes Jillian Kestler-D'Amours. Israel
Israel Hits Syria, Sends Message to Iran Israel believes that its airstrikes on Damascus are being considered with concern in Iran, writes Ben Caspit. Israel
Sanctions May Scuttle Compromise Between Iran and P5+1 Iran must take into account congressional resistance to lifting US sanctions when negotiating about its nuclear program, writes Shahir ShahidSaless. Iran
UN Forces on Israel’s Borders Confront Uncertain Future Geoffrey Aronson writes from Cairo that while Egypt and Israel appear to be weathering the storm, for now, not so for Israel and Syria, with implications for UN forces tasked with keeping the peace. Egypt
Hamas Enforces Quiet Border With Israel Alon Ben David writes: That Hamas hasn’t replenished its supply of rockets lately is further proof of an ideological turnabout underway in the movement. Palestine
Turkey’s Trouble at the Border The longer the Syrian civil war goes on, the more Turkey is challenged by both its deteriorating border security and the Syrian refugee crisis, writes Tulin Daloglu. Turkey
AKP Report on Uludere Airstrike Condemned as 'Whitewash' Amberin Zaman writes that the December 2011 killing of Kurdish smugglers from Uludere by Turkish warplanes remains a test for the Turkish government. Turkey
Could Sistani Be Iraq’s Last Hope? Many in Iraq are looking to the country’s highest Shiite authority, Ali al-Sistani, as a last resort for a solution to the ongoing and dire political crisis there, writes Ali Abel Sadah. Iraq
Sunni Tribes in Anbar, Kirkuk Prepare for Battle In the wake of the Hawija incidents where Sunni protesters were killed and injured by military forces, tribes and towns throughout the provinces of Anbar and Kirkuk are arming themselves, writes Ali Abel Sadah. Iraq
KRG Prime MinisterBreaks Ice in Baghdad Iraqi Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani’s Baghdad visit seemed to offer glimmers of hope for resolving tensions between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region, writes Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Iraq
