Zvi Bar'el

More than 70 Syrians killed over weekend; Kurdish source says Iraqi Kurdistan President refused to meet Syrian FM, who visited Iraq in an effort to convince the president to prevail on Syrian Kurds not to join the anti-government revolt.

Most Turkish businesspeople know to steer clear of the Turkish premier when an election is underfoot. But with a clampdown on Internet freedom at stake, one woman is taking the challenge.

Ships are due to depart from various European ports in an attempt to breach Israel's sea blockade. Israel has said the blockade is necessary to prevent weapons from reaching the territory.

Egypt's foreign ministry is examining the possibility of resuming diplomatic relations with Iran and decided to open the Rafah border crossing.

Lebanon likely won't be seeing any more protests at the Israeli border, which were seemingly unhelpful to the tumultuous country's interests.

While Turkish leader Erdogan touts his friendship with Syria's Assad, cracks are starting to show in the two countries' relationship.

Palestinian leaders are unlikely to endorse an armed uprising in their quest for statehood; neither the Palestinians nor Israel's neighbors have any interest in a conflict within or outside Israel's borders.

Iran's Supreme Leader reportedly gives the president an ultimatum: Bring back the intelligence minister you fired against my will or resign.

Mere months after forcing Mubarak out, the country's youth are struggling to implement real democracy, and are facing a deepening economic morass.

Turkey, which aspires to be the top mediator between 'the east and the west' and between the Arabs and themselves, suddenly finds that its circle of friends has grown.

Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: The Pakistani intelligence has ties with the Haqqani network. These ties are at the heart of our problematic relations with Pakistan.

In the decade it has taken the U.S. to find and kill Osama bin Laden, al-Qaida has become the kind of organization that cannot be put down by the death of one man.

Assad is still able to rely on the army, the same one that his father took care to nurture over decades - an army whose senior ranks are an inseparable part of the economic elite.

If the Palestinian state is recognized, Abbas will be responsible for what happens in Gaza, if he does not resign first. There will no longer be room for two governments.

Gadhafi's importance is mostly political, and Mubarak was seen as an essential axis in the peace process. Assad, however, is important in terms of preventing war.

Mubarak's investigation, as well as that of two of his sons, is one of the most important measures undertaken by the new regime to calm an anxious Egyptian public.

Hezbollah and Iran's guiding hand is still looking for a grip in Beirut, but rather than strengthening the Shiites, the collapse of the government and ouster of Saad Hariri has weakened their influence.

While Ankara is busy kicking up dust, it was Egypt who managed to get Hamas to agree to a cease-fire on condition that Israel 'stop attacking the Gaza Strip.'

Syrian president sends an infantry unit to the city of Deraa, ordering troops to take over the town and disperse protests with live fire.

Political squabbles and the newness of the situation in Egypt make the September elections a hard call.

A regime-linked Syrian website reports on a U.S.-Saudi plan to foment unrest and oust Bashar Assad through killings, mass demonstrations and arson, not unlike what is happening now.

Washington, Israel, Turkey and Iran all have great reasons to want Assad to remain at the helm - he's seen as a safety valve against an attack by Hezbollah on Israel or against its physical takeover of Lebanon.

Just as demonstrations for reform began to arrive in Saudi Arabia, the king announced an extremely generous program of financial benefits for his subjects. Not everyone, however, is invited onto the gravy train.

The Western, 'enlightened' nations are fighting in Libya for the rights of the oppressed, using their superior military power to promote democratic goals.