All Middle East
Exclusive: Iran's frontrunner for president speaks of his life battling US powerSaeed Jalili, Iran's top nuclear negotiator, has declared his candidacy for the June 14 presidential election. The forever revolutionary is fiercely loyal to hardliner Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Tunisia shuts down medieval city to prevent Salafi demonstrationsTunisia's ruling Ennahda party began by reaching out to Salafist groups, but after fringe groups became increasingly violent, it changed gears, taking a hardline stance to reining them in.
On Gaza's border, an unexpected haven for mentally-handicapped IsraelisA factory in Sderot provides mentally-disabled people in Israel with work and a social environment where they can feel accepted.
Syria's ancient landmarks crumble under onslaught of warThe destruction of Aleppo's famous minaret brought world attention to the threats facing Syria's historical landmarks. Syrians warn they are losing part of their heritage as ancient landmarks become ruins.
Syrian Army, Hezbollah bear down on rebels in strategic QusayrFor the Syrian rebels, Qusayr has been critical to bringing in weapons and fighters from Lebanon. But the regime and ally Hezbollah want the town, which lies at an important crossroads.
Aleppo's elected council ignored as foreign funds go elsewhereSyria's most-developed rebel government is struggling for legitimacy because it can't afford to provide public services. Foreign aid is going to fighters, NGOs instead.
In Israel, a modern wall is halted by ancient terracesIsrael鈥檚 high court has issued an injunction against extending the separation barrier through the Palestinian village of Batir, famed for its 2,500-year-old terraces and aqueducts.
Gazans struggle to reel in a livelihoodOne man alone used to employ more than 2,000 fishermen to bring in Gaza's daily catch, but Israel聽has reduced the areas in which Palestinians may fish, curbing the number of accessible fish.
Between the shopping malls, is there space in Dubai for dissent?The United Arab Emirates has arrested more than 100 alleged dissidents since 2011 in a bid to maintain the Gulf state's reputation for stability.
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator: we're being asked to make all the sacrificesSaeed Jalili, Iran's top nuclear negotiator and a contender in the June presidential election, sat down with the Monitor to share his views about an 'unbalanced' nuclear offer made by world powers.
Iran nuclear talks in Istanbul show progress remains elusiveTalks in Istanbul today over Iran's nuclear program and sanctions that have crippled its economy yielded little in the way of progress.
Israeli artist Sovar Lerner sees harmony in a teapotA new art piece on exhibit in New York highlights how Israel is an immigrant nation.
Briefing: Palestinian factions agree to reconcileFatah and Hamas, the two main Palestinian factions, have put a three-month deadline on efforts to mend their long-standing differences.
In Aleppo, the free market is the answer to Syrians' bare cupboardsWith international aid money slow to arrive, Syrians are seeking ways to get cash fast to buy desperately needed supplies. Profit-generating endeavors have been paying off.聽
KFC smugglers bring buckets of chicken through Gaza tunnelsGazans with a hankering for the Colonel's secret recipe can call up a delivery company and get some finger lickin' food smuggled hot from Egypt in just three hours.
In West Bank, one family's stand against made-in-China keffiyehsManufacturing in the West Bank has collapsed due to a flood of cheap Chinese imports and the effects of the Israeli occupation. But one family is holding the line as the last local producer of a symbol of Palestinian resistance.
FocusExcitement fades to despair in rebel-held Syria as war grinds onEarly rebel optimism in Syria has given way to a grim realization that victory may still be years away. For the past two months, civilians have been fleeing Syria at a rate of 8,000 per day.- FocusSyria: Damaged landmarks await peace, restorationThe loss of a famous mosque's minaret brought world attention to threats facing Syrian landmarks. But the Umayyad Mosque is just one in a long list of ancient monuments damaged by fighting.
Iran's presidential race: 'Wild card' entry creates dilemma for KhameneiControversial candidates like former President Rafsanjani could draw high voter turnout, but may challenge the supreme leader's ability to control the process of replacing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Palestinian woman with prison legacy feels betrayed by her ownUmm Abdullah, whose husband is on his 14th turn in prison and has been imprisoned herself, is angry with Palestinian officials for cooperating with Israelis to arrest Palestinians.聽