Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported on Thursday that the Islamic Republic has constructed a third underground ballistic missile production factory, adding that this factory is part of the clerical regime’s plan to continue developing ballistic missiles regardless of UN Security Council resolutions demanding that these programs be curtailed. “Iran does not need the permission of the United States to conduct missile tests,” newly re-elected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday.

The Interior Ministry of the Islamist terror militia Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, broadcast footage live on Facebook Thursday evening showing its security forces executing three men it accused of being involved in the recent assassination of senior terror operative Mazen Fuqaha on 24 March. The executions were condemned by several international human rights groups.

Reports out of Egypt later Friday indicate that a shooting attack on a group of Coptic Christians on their way to a monastery in Minya province, south of Cairo, resulted in at least 23 people killed and another 25 wounded. At press time, no terrorist group had yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

Israel’s political Left was rocked this week by an election for the leadership of the Histadrut Labor Federation marred by serious allegations of voter fraud which could have far reaching effects. Additionally, the Labor Party was forced to admit that its membership lists have been hacked, causing havoc which might make a postponement of the 4 July leadership election unavoidable.

Israel’s Antiquities Authority on Thursday unveiled a cache of artifacts from what they believe was a battle that took place in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, near to the time when the Second Temple was destroyed by the Roman army under Titus. “These finds tell the story of the last battle between the Roman forces and the Jewish rebels who had barricaded themselves in the city, a battle that resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem,” the Antiquities Authority said.

The Arab Middle East has experienced more than its share of attention-grabbing horrors. But the twenty-four hour news cycle, with its relentless focus on the here and now, obscures the greatest problem the region faces.

Recently, a popular Israeli travel program made a video about the Shelter Hostel in Eilat. Owned and operated by Believers, the Hostel has long been a favorite destination for visitors to the southern Israeli resort city.