Iran helps Iraq's Kurds but Baghdad still priority Iran has provided the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq with arms to fight the Islamic State but is wary of alienating Baghdad. Iraq
Despite limitations, Iranian Kurds support Iraqi Kurds Iranian Kurds have been moved by images of Iraqi Kurds fleeing the Islamic State and have attempted to contribute and help. Iraq
Gaza war no longer main arena for Iran-Israel tensions The 50-day war in Gaza was about more than a confrontation between Iran and Israel and leaves all the current dynamics between Hamas, Qatar, Israel and Iran unchanged. Israel
Market pressure keeps Babacan in new Turkish Cabinet Turkey’s much-respected economy chief, Ali Babacan, retains his post in Turkey’s new Cabinet despite in-house tensions, in a sign that the ruling party cannot afford unnerving international investors. Turkey
What do Davutoglu's Cabinet choices indicate? Turkey's new Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is clearly working under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's direction, but some of his Cabinet choices may be attempts to placate critics. Turkey
US gives new priority to foreign fighters in Syria US regional allies, including Turkey, may finally be forced to crack down on extremists in Syria. Israel
US shuns tribal leaders who claim to have infiltrated IS A group of tribal sheikhs want to visit Washington to convince US officials to drop Baghdad and give them direct support. Iraq
Women-only beach becomes flashpoint in Turkey The dust-up between hard-line secularists and Islamists shows that even the beach has become a referendum on Turkey's future. Turkey
Good news from Davutoglu: a rational economy Is the new AKP government abandoning anti-Western and anti-liberal economic tendencies? Turkey
Israel-Palestine-Jordan economic federation can advance peace An economic federation between Israel, Palestine and Jordan might facilitate the establishment of a Palestinian state by institutionalizing links between the Palestinians and Jordan and reducing Israeli fears concerning the Jordan Valley. Palestine
Iranian cleric rules 3G phones un-Islamic Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi declared 3G phones un-Islamic as Iran's minister of communication information technology was summoned before a parliamentary committee on the issue. Originals
Ethiopia excludes three dams from Khartoum talks with Egypt A series of important files related to three planned dams were excluded from the meeting, as well as some files related to the Renaissance Dam. Egypt
Iraq's Sunni, Shiite Turkmens fall out over IS The six-week Islamic State siege of the Shiite Turkmen town of Amerli has exposed the little-discussed rift between Iraqi Shiites and Sunni Turkmens. Iraq
Bennett emerges from Gaza conflict as clear winner While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stock has fallen and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman did not upgrade his position, Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett was able to strengthen his support base. Iraq
Held by IS for 40 days, a Turkish photographer tells his story A Turkish photojournalist relays his harrowing saga and offers insight into what the Islamic State is planning. Syria
Israel holds first conference for 'gingers' Israel’s first redhead conference at Kibbutz Gezer (Hebrew for carrot) was a smashing success. Israel
