Iranian women fight efforts to restrict travel abroad Married Iranian women must still obtain permission from their husbands to travel internationally. Iran
Syrian foreign minister calls for national unity government In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Walid Moallem, Syria's minister of foreign affairs and expatriates, said that the Syrian National Coalition's rejection of a resolution condemning terrorism was "unfortunate and strange." Syria
Turkey's rate hike increases concern over financial stability The Turkish Central Bank's decision to sharply increase interest rates creates concern over financial stability. Turkey
Russia considers role in peace talks, Gaza energy The Kremlin prefers a multilateral, not bilateral, approach to the peace process, while Gazprom considers opportunities in the Gaza Strip. Palestine
Al-Qaeda now frontline threat to Israel With gains in Syria, Lebanon and Egypt, al-Qaeda and its affiliates threaten Israel more than ever. Iraq
Saving the imperiled Hamouns of eastern Iran Iran must take swift action to save the dying Hamoun wetlands in Sistan. Iran
Iraqi liberals losing ground to Islamists Although liberal and civil Iraqi figures have formed a new alliance to compete in upcoming parliamentary elections, they seemed to have garnered little popular support amid an increasingly sectarian atmosphere. Iraq
Muslim pilgrims visit Jerusalem French Imam Hassan Chalghoumi, undeterred by extreme voices, launches Muslim pilgrim voyages to Israel. Palestine
Salih Muslim: Syrian coalition does not represent Kurds In exclusive remarks to Al-Monitor, Salih Muslim, the chairman of the Democratic Union Party, said that Syria's Kurds should be better recognized in the Geneva negotiations. Syria
Hollande visit lost in Turkey’s political muddle Turkey’s foreign policy is not multifaceted but multiproblematic. Turkey
Palestinian refugees from Syria struggle to attend Gaza's universities Palestinian university students who fled the violence in Syria are facing many difficulties in the Gaza Strip, as the authorities have backtracked on promises to exempt them from fees. Palestine
Are UN Security Council anti-al-Qaeda terror statutes properly enforced? The UN Security Council has established a regime for a travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo against the al-Qaeda network since 1999, but new circumstances bring about serious doubts if such a regime is still functioning. Yemen
Iran's 'resistance economy' confronted setbacks Despite the support of various segments of government, Iran's "resistance economy" continued to struggle, paving the way for the Rouhani administration to implement reforms and get outside help. Iran
US policies in Lebanon well-received Lebanese Sunnis appreciate US support for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Christians see a US convergence with the Vatican and “Orthodox Russia” and Shiites see the United States as against the Sunni fundamentalist project that came in the wake of the Arab Spring. Lebanon
Israel faces crisis of growing poverty Israel's new national committee on poverty has been asked to propose a comprehensive solution to the alarming increase in Israeli families living below the poverty line, most of them working poor. Israel
