The Western embargo of the Palestinian government is bolstering extremist organisations in the occupied territories, reports Khaled Amayreh in East Jerusalem

The current Israeli government is too weak to move towards either war or peace, writes Emad Gad

The pledges made at the Sharm El-Sheikh summit could well be Iraq's last chance, writes Salah Hemeid

With Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul's withdrawal of his presidential candidacy, there seems no end to the increasing polarisation within Turkish society, writes Gareth Jenkins from Ankara

Last summer's Israeli aggression against Lebanon still causes serious ripple effects among Israel's political establishment, reports Lucy Fielder from Beirut