The prospect of the US troop drawdown is looming large over Iraq's ongoing political crisis, writes Salah Hemeid

Sudanese President Al-Bashir's inauguration don't mean a thing if it ain't got that bling, says Gamal Nkrumah

The new elections law highlights Jordan's "typical fears" but fails to address its pressing needs, finds Oula Farawati in Amman

The United States remains Israel's staunchest defender, writes Graham Usher at the United Nations

Palestinians in Gaza are grieving the horrific loss of international activists murdered by Israel, conscious too that their sacrifice has dealt a deathblow to the Israeli siege, writes Saleh Al-Naami

Having taken a risk on Washington and agreed to talks with Israel, Palestinians are wondering what Obama will do about Israel's murderous aggression, writes Khaled Amayreh in the West Bank

While its propaganda machine ramped up to full pace following its attack on the Gaza humanitarian convoy, the truth of Israel's brutality is hard to conceal, Khaled Amayreh writes in Jerusalem

Initially reported wounded on the Freedom Flotilla, Sheikh Raed Salah -- a beacon of the struggle against Israeli oppression -- is unharmed, writes Khaled Amayreh in occupied Jerusalem

Hizbullah has warned that the situation in the region will get worse if Israel is not called to account for the Freedom Flotilla attack, reports Omayma Abdel-Latif from Beirut

The brutal Israeli attack on the Turkish-led flotilla of aid ships to Gaza has destroyed the already fading special relationship between Turkey and Israel and turned old friends into new enemies, reports Gareth Jenkins

Reactions in Egypt to Israel's bloody attack on the Freedom Flotilla attempting to break the siege on Gaza have been resolute and loud, Amira Howeidy reports

Israel was the loser at the NPT conference; Iran the winner, writes Graham Usher at the United Nations

Economic imperatives will sort out the differences between Iran, Russia and China, predicts Amani Maged

Relations between Russia and Iran highlight the intractable problems of nuclear diplomacy, reflects Eric Walberg