Whatever lies ahead after Abbas's notification of not seeking the Palestinian presidency again, the status quo ante is over for good, writes Khaled Amayreh in Ramallah

Palestinians mostly want Mahmoud Abbas to follow through on his "threat" to step down from office, Saleh Al-Naami finds out, though he is unlikely to

Despite Israel and America's best efforts, the Goldstone Report refuses to go away, writes Graham Usher at the United Nations

The invitation to Al-Bashir to participate in the OIC meeting in Istanbul created a tempest in the Euro-teapot, writes Gareth Jenkins

Saudi Arabia's direct involvement in the conflict between the Yemeni government and the Al-Houthi rebels represents a potentially dangerous escalation, reports Nasser Arrabyee

While Lebanon now has a government, the five-month power vacuum has highlighted cracks in its creaking confessional system. According to influential Lebanese pollster Abdu Saad, the system is in need of complete overhaul, reports Lucy Fielder from Beirut

The Israeli navy reported having discovered tons of rockets and other weapons onboard a ship bound for Syria. But Syrian officials dismiss all allegations, Bassel Oudat reports from Damascus

Iraq's parliament agreed this week on a new election law, but is it the panacea that many have been hoping for, asks Salah Hemeid