All Middle East
Families of Spanish journalists abducted in Syria break their silenceTwo Spanish journalists kidnapped in September near Syria's border with Turkey are believed to be held by an Al Qaeda-allied rebel group.
Why Palestinians embrace Mandela more as fighter than peacemaker 鈥� for nowWhile Palestinians have a special affinity for Mandela, who championed their cause, many say this is neither the time nor the place for Mandela-like gestures toward Israel.
Syrian army captures highway, clearing path for chemical weapons removalSyrian government forces claimed victory over rebels along a highway linking Damascus with northern ports. Chemical inspectors hope to load weapons for decommissioning there.
Egypt's courts going soft on Islamist protesters? Not so fastA court in Alexandria has ruled in favor of 21 women and girls convicted of joining an anti-coup protest. But other followers of former President Morsi are unlikely to get lenient treatment.
American singer of Arab tunes has talent 鈥� but not enoughJennifer Grout came second on Saturday in the final show of the Arab world's equivalent of America's Got Talent.
Poor and vulnerable, Syrian refugee families push girls into early marriageSome refugees in Jordan are selling daughters into illegal 'protection marriages,' often with much older men. Sexual exploitation and abandonment are key concerns.
How sewage is bridging the Israeli-Palestinian divide in JerusalemOne-third of Jerusalem's sewage runs untreated into the West Bank, ruining the historic Kidron Valley. Now an Israeli-Palestinian team is working to rehabilitate it.
Palestinian mayor recruits global village to clean up sewageMayor Sulieman Abdallah Al-Assa and engineer Maher Abu Sarhan are working with international organizations as well as Israeli experts to build a wastewater treatment plant in Ubiedyeh.
Israelis mourn their Frank Sinatra, whose ballads united a divided countryArik Einstein's songs became the soundtrack for an adolescent country through its ups and downs. One of his top hits speaks of children leaving the nest 鈥� but perhaps also a country growing up.- Look who's training: Hezbollah prepares for warLebanese militant group Hezbollah has expanded its training camps in Lebanon, preparing for a future clash with Israel. The camps are visible to careful observers. 聽
Battlefield lessons in Syria strengthen Hezbollah's fighting forceHezbollah fighters battling alongside Syrian government forces have gained valuable experience from the conflict. That may shape its strategy in future battles with Israel.聽
Third time lucky? Egypt struggles with another constitutionEgypt has issued a draft constitution, its third attempt since the 2011 revolution. The latest expands protection of some civil rights, but also entrenches the powerful military.聽
Cyber Monday deals spike Israeli spending seven-foldCyber Monday deals resonate with Israelis used to paying more than Americans for daily goods, spurring a big leap in weekend spending.
Nuclear deal signed, Iranians await economic rewardsThe sanctions relief provided in the nuclear deal reached in Geneva looks good to Iranian businessmen, but ordinary Iranians are wary.
Donkey carts replace garbage trucks in fuel-starved GazaAn acute fuel shortage has left much of Gaza's garbage truck fleet idle,聽one of many ways that Gaza's political crisis is weighing on daily life.
How did the Bible spread? Jerusalem exhibit traces a remarkable journey.鈥楾he Book of Books鈥� displays 200 of the rarest biblical manuscripts in an illuminating tale of how the world鈥檚 most-published book came to be.
Israeli military drills in Jordan Valley stir Palestinian fears of evictionThe Israeli military regularly evacuates Palestinian communities in the Jordan Valley during military drills. The evacuations are temporary, but Palestinians fear a permanent eviction.
Tweets put a twist on diplomacy at Iran nuclear talksIranian officials frequently used Twitter to get out their message during talks, particularly when they disagreed with US claims.
Back in Tehran, nuclear negotiators get a hero's welcomeJubilant Iranians swarmed the nuclear negotiating team upon their arrival home, potentially strengthening negotiators' hand in quieting critics.
For Syrian refugees in Lebanon, mounting piles of debtA new study from Oxfam estimates that more than 75 percent of Syrian refugees in Lebanon have taken on debt. Some families even rely on remittances from family still in Syria.聽