While Turkey and Iran are at the heart of any prospects for forward movement on the Middle East, Israel is the new US president's primary challenge, writes Ayman El-Amir

Wise and judicious leadership is the cornerstone of the Arab order led by Cairo and Riyadh, but it needs to be strengthened by an effective support network, writes Abdel-Moneim Said

Obama should listen and Egypt must act to enhance bilateral US-Egypt relations, writes El-Sayed Amin Shalabi

Prudence is essential to the high politics of state, but so too, once in a while, is proactive action against perils ahead, writes Amin Howeidi

Optimists and pessimists alike on the future of the Middle East alongside Obama have little to go on yet, writes Amr Hamzawy