All Middle East
Israeli youth kidnappings: How focus on Hamas impacts Palestinian unity pactIsrael鈥檚 blaming of Hamas may bolster its case against the terrorist organization, but could also undermine crucial coordination between Israeli and Palestinian security forces.
Why were kidnapped Israeli teens hitchhiking in the West Bank?Amid a massive search, questions swirl about where the boys are being held, or if they are still alive.聽Despite living in a conflict zone, many Israeli settlers hitchhike in the West Bank, often waiting for rides on roads frequented by Palestinian drivers.
Iraq crisis could make US, Iran alliesThe US and Iran have a mutual interest in stemming the advance of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS).
Iraq turmoil has one winner: the KurdsNorthern Iraq's capable Kurdish forces have taken over areas long disputed with Baghdad, ostensibly to protect local Kurds from a Sunni militant offensive. But it's also a territorial gain.
Sunni militant success in Iraq brings Islamic caliphate into focusThe Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, backed by other Sunni militants, now controls swaths of northern Syria and northwestern Iraq in which it can impose its harsh rule.聽
Israeli doctors: Force feeding Palestinian prisoners is 'torture'With 285 Palestinian prisoners on a lengthy hunger strike, Israel is fast tracking legislation to compel force feeding, which requires a doctor's presence.
Israel hands presidency from peacemaker to opponent of Palestinian stateThe presidency is a largely ceremonial position in Israel, but Shimon Peres became the international community's preferred interlocutor with the Israeli government. 聽
Why US-Iranian meet is a worrying sign for nuclear talksA high-level meeting in Geneva between US and Iranian diplomats comes amid fears that a six-month interim deal may not yield a final agreement before a July deadline.
New jihadi recruitment tool: militants' Instagram accountsBy chronicling their time in Syria on Twitter, Instagram, and other websites, extremists are able to indoctrinate young Western Muslims to their cause in a new way.
Sisi victory celebrations marred by sexual assaults in Tahrir SquareAmid raucous nighttime celebrations marking Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's inauguration, several women were sexually assaulted. Their cases could test Egypt's vows to curb such violence.聽
Not a drop to drink: Syrian shortages feed black market for waterDrinking water shortages in Syria have led to the creation of a water delivery service in a small city outside Damascus, providing jobs for many young Syrians there.
Iran and Turkey: rivals in Syrian war, but friends in tradeIranian President Rouhani arrived in Ankara with a coterie of ministers and businessmen. Iran and Turkey hope to double their trade by 2015 and may be betting on an end to sanctions on Iran.
Israel: Hezbollah is now stronger than any Arab armyIsrael's top military officer warned today that Hezbollah's capabilities have grown substantially since the 2006 war, putting much of Israel within the reach of the Lebanese Shiite militant organization.聽
Iran's greatest generation? Provocative filmmaker recasts Iran-Iraq War"The Ascendants" shows an ordinary family caught up in the Iran-Iraq War, which shapes Iran even today. But in its depiction of the war, the film defies the official narrative of a "sacred defense."
Breaking the silence about Israeli occupationThe founder of Breaking the Silence, a group of ex-soldiers opposed to Israeli actions in the West Bank and Gaza, talks about moral accountability on the group鈥檚 10-year anniversary.
Egyptian prosecutor: 'Mercy leads to the drowning of an entire society'Despite a sustained international outcry, Egypt is plowing ahead with its trial of Al Jazeera journalists it accuses of being members of the Muslim Brotherhood.
World Bank chief and John Kerry ring alarm bells on Lebanon visitWorld Bank President聽Jim Yong Kim and US Secretary of State John Kerry pledged help for Lebanon, which is housing 1 million Syrian refugees in a country of 4 million.
Belly laughing in TehranLaughter is a novel prescription for the hardships of life in Iran's crowded, often tense capital. Two hundred and fifty Iranians have been trained to teach residents how.
Pro-Assad Syrians lay low in TurkeySyrian refugees have poured into Hatay Province, long tolerant of Sunnis, 海角大神s, and Alawites. That openness is challenged by divisions between Assad regime and its opponents.
The ExplainerSyrian presidential vote: What changes will it bring?In the twisted calculus of today's presidential election, President Bashar al-Assad will claim legitimacy by getting a smaller percentage of the vote than in years past.
