All Middle East
- FocusExcitement fades to despair in rebel-held Syria as war grinds on
Early 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, restoration
The 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 Khamenei
Controversial 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 own
Umm 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.
- After Qaddafi's 'socialism,' Libya tries to untangle who owns what
'No one has the right to build a house, in addition to his own and that of his heirs,' Qaddafi once proclaimed. Now, those who had land confiscated are pressing their claims.
- Fashionable – and thrifty – amid fire in southern Israel
Liat Azran had two goals when she opened a hip secondhand clothing store in Sderot, which bears the brunt of rocket fire from Gaza: helping heal the town and encouraging sound financial judgement.
- In Israel, Women of the Wall hit raw nerve over religious clout in state life
Today, Israel's Women of the Wall went to the Western Wall to pray for the first time since a court said they could worship there without fear of arrest. But they met plenty of opposition.
- Boycott of Israel is small for now, but gets higher profile with Hawking
Many celebrities have ignored boycott appeals, such as Elton John, Lady Gaga, Madonna, and Paul McCartney. Some academics say that the impact of the movement has been overstated.
- Former Palestinian fighter now battles for a middle path
Palestinian Mohammed Dajani, a former Fatah fighter from a prominent Jerusalem family, has become a vocal advocate for pragmatism and peace.
- Notorious Egyptian terror group tries to carve a nonviolent path in politics
Al Gamaa al-Islamiya, which waged a deadly campaign of terror against the government for decades, says it has renounced violence and wants a spot in Egypt's fledgling democracy.
- Israeli airstrike in Syria brings Iran onstage, raising risk of proxy war
Iran dismissed Israeli claims that yesterday's airstrike in Syria targeted Iranian weapons destined for Hezbollah, accusing Israel of looking for an excuse to hammer the 'Axis of Resistance.'
- Saudi Arabia sanctions sports for girls for the first time
The move only applies to private schools, perhaps as a test of social receptivity before a possible expansion to public schools. But it's still worth cheering for.
- Israeli attacks inside Syria risk widening war
Israel, as well as Syria and its Lebanese-ally Hezbollah, has little interest in a wider conflict. But as Israel grows more assertive across its borders, the chance of a miscalculation is on the rise.
- Middle East nomads, lost in translation
The language barrier makes it hard for non-Arab tourists to understand the Bedouin lifestyle, but Abdullah Zhaeka's English and Hebrew skills are bridging the gap.
- In Middle East, public rejects arming Syrian rebels: poll
A Pew Center poll found that large majorities worry that an influx of arms – from Western or Arab sources – will increase violence and instability in the region.
- Emboldened by military gains, Assad regime shows resilience
Syrian President Assad has frustrated predictions of his imminent downfall for more than two years. A string of recent Army successes has rolled back some rebel gains and disrupted rebel plans.
- A shortage of water, but not hospitality, in the West Bank's fields
Abu Elias, a Jericho farmer, cultivates cucumbers, eggplants, ingenuity, and a good sense of humor.
- With air strike on Gaza, Israel tells Hamas 'get it together'
Israel's deadly strike today was a warning to Hamas to rein in more extreme militants, like the Salafist group that is firing rockets into Israel. Hamas is already on it.
- Iraqi government takes 10 TV stations off the air for 'incitement'
Iraqi authorities accused the stations of stoking conflict with their coverage of a violent Army crackdown on an antigovernment sit-in. Some see a worrying crackdown on free speech.
- Kerry makes headway with Middle East peace, but violence flares
Secretary of State John Kerry got an important boost yesterday when the Arab League agreed to soften the terms of their Middle East peace proposal.