All Middle East
- Bomb Iran? Why 5 top Israeli figures don't want to do it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s threat of a unilateral strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, supported by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, has sparked an unusually public debate in Israel about the wisdom of the move. While nearly all of those involved seem to agree that Iran poses a serious nuclear threat, they disagree about the timing and method of best countering that threat.
- Islam, politics, and women's rights: the view from the post-revolution Muslim world The Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project polled citizens of select, predominantly Muslim countries this spring about how best to blend Islam, politics, and respect for women's rights. This summer, Gallup did a separate survey on similar issues. Here are highlights from the results.
- With Migron outpost evacuation, Israeli settlers lose the battle – but not the war
Israeli peace activists are celebrating this week's Supreme Court order to evacuate the Migron outpost, but the settler population continues to expand in the background of such standoffs.
- In rebel-held 'Free Syria,' regime planes still terrorize
President Assad's ground troops are nowhere to be seen in the rebel-held territory they call "Free Syria." But without a no-fly zone, civilians, like those today in Al-Bab, find themselves constantly vulnerable to aerial assaults.
- With latest IAEA report in hand, UN chief slams Iran for lack of cooperation
Speaking in Tehran today, UN chief Ban Ki-moon criticized Iran for failing to reassure the world it is not pursuing nuclear weapons as the IAEA reported its nonmilitary nuclear work continues apace.
- NAM summit: Iran attempts to prove Western efforts to isolate it have failed
Though Iran pulled out all the stops this week as host of the Non-Aligned Movement summit, it was met with some heavy international criticism.
- Amid squalor and fear on Turkish border, Syrians make plea for safe zone
So many Syrians have shown up along the Turkish border, hoping to cross and enter a refugee camp, that Turkey is calling on the international community to create a safe zone for them inside Syria.
- Iran's charm offensive at NAM summit thwarted by Syria, nuclear work
Iran's effort to prove that international isolation efforts have failed was undermined by discord with the UN and Egypt over its nuclear work and continued support for Syria's President Assad.
- In battle-scarred Aleppo, even bread lines aren't a safe place for Syrians
Syrian civilians who have remained in Aleppo through weeks of fierce fighting face food and fuel shortages and live in fear of being killed while going about their daily tasks.
- Why no safe zone in Syria, yet? 5 complications The flood of Syrian refugees entering Turkey – as many as 5,000 a day for the last 10 days – has ratcheted up the pressure for a safe zone’s creation. But a safe zone is complicated and carries many risks.