Despite knowing that settlements have broken the peace process, Israel is forging ahead with plans to build new Jew-only colonies on Arab land, writes Khaled Amayreh in occupied Jerusalem

With the Muslim Brotherhood on the rise in Egypt, Tel Aviv knows that its latitude to strike Hamas will soon diminish, writes Saleh Al-Naami

As people of conscience around the world marked the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, ever new actions help bring Palestinians closer to achieving a state of dignity, says Eric Walberg

The Syrian army occupied the city of Homs several months ago, but residents continue their demonstrations calling for the end of the regime, writes Bassel Oudat in Damascus

The opposition boycotted this week's local elections in Syria amidst low voter turnout

As Syria hots up, Lebanon begins to feel the heat too, says Lucy Fielder in Beirut

Saudi Arabia has promised to pay for all urgent needs of the recently established government of Yemen, reports Nasser Arrabyee

As Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki visited Washington this week to mark the official end of the US-led war in Iraq, observers were asking whether the war had really ended, writes Salah Nasrawi