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The cover story is presented reports on the Syrian refugee crisis. Particular focus is given to the drowning of a family of Syrian migrants, including Alan Kurdi, Galib Kurdi and Tehanna Kurdi, who attempted to flee from Turkey to the Greek island of Kos. Additional topics discussed include insights on the political and social conflict in the Middle East, how over 400,000 migrants, including Syrians, Afghans, Iraqis, and others, have breached borders in Europe, and insights on what the nation of Canada might be able to do to help refugees.

The article focuses on the impact of oil prices on Saudi Arabian and Middle East politics. Topics include the execution of Sheik Nimr al-Nimr in Riyadh in January 2016, an October 2015 report from the International Monetary Fund on the limitation of Saudi Arabia in their ability to overcome economic crisis, and King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to the articles in previous issues including "A Duty to Celebrate" in the September 12, 2016 issue, "The Face of Total Global Neglect" in the September 12, 2016 issue and "Why There Are So Few Injection Sites" in the August 29, 2016 issue.

The article discusses Middle East geopolitics as of January 2014 in the context of conflict between Islam's sects which also relates to Syria's civil war. The discussion topics include Sunni Muslims' Zoroastrian insult to Alawite Muslims, the Safavid or Shia Islam government in Iraq, and the geopolitical power struggle between Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and Shia-ruled Iran. The effect of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 on sectarian conflict and the balance of power in the region is mentioned.

The article discusses democratic movements amid the Arab Spring in the Middle East since 2011. Topics include Tunisia's successful transition from its Ennahda party to its Nidaa Tounes party in its October 2014 democratic election, the Muslim Brotherhood's interference in Egypt's democratic elections, and a debate regarding whether or not Islamism and democracy can co-exist.

Considers how Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin have become prisoners of the peace process they launched in September, 1993. Vicious cycle of killings that has stalled the process; Examples of violence; Assessment of blame. INSET: `We intend to go ahead' (Shimon Peres), by Eric Silver.

Off Libya's Mediterranean coast, 2 Soviet-built MiG-25 Foxbat interceptors closed to within 200 feet of an American E-A3 electronic spy plane on a scouting mission from a US base in Spain. The incident underscored a week of escalating tension and violence across the Middle East.

Explains that, with no results from the October 1996 talks over the disputed city of Hebron, tensions were again rising in the Middle East. Comments made by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Jordan's King Hussein; The efforts of Israeli President Ezer Weizman to smooth relations.

Reports on the first Arab summit in Cairo attended by various political luminaries from the Middle East. Absence of Iraq representative; Aim to return peace to Middle East by return of Arab territory; Cabinet officers of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Discusses relations in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine. The Palestinian Liberation Organization's (PLO) statement that they would amend the 1968 Palestinian National Covenant against Israel; Why peace is so important to the re-election of Shimon Peres in Israel and Bill Clinton in the United States; Why the international community must hold Yasser Arafat and the PLO to their promises.

Last week Canada agreed in principle to join an 11-nation peacekeeping force in the Sinai Peninsula between Israel and Egypt.

In Cairo, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak called for direct talks between Israel, Egypt, the US and a joint Jordanian/Palestinian delegation. The PLO would not necessarily have to be represented. But by week's end, the Egyptian initiative had foundered on the treacherous shoals of inter-Arab politics.

For 14 centuries, Moslems from all over the world have traveled to the Saudi Arabian holy cities of Mecca and Medina on a pilgrimage call Haj. Since the Iranian revolution in 1979, however, Haj has increasingly become an occasion for politics anddemonstrations. Last month, amid tightened security by the Saudis and an increase in Iraqi-Iranian hostilities, over two million people from 114 countries made their pilgrimage.

Amid the tension caused by the latest car bomb attack in Lebanon, promising signals and talk of peace emerged. Conciliatory statements from moderate Arab capitals, a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres that he hoped to withdraw his troops from Lebanon within months, news that Jordan would restore diplomatic relations with Egypt, as well as American optimism out of Syria reopened a chance of U.S. mediation in the Middle East.

Discusses the prospects for an Arab-Israeli peace conference. US Secretary of State James Baker's recent trip to the Middle East; Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir's refusal to participate in a conference that includes Palestinian Liberation Organization members or Palestinians from East Jerusalem; Israel's refusal to give up territory; The Golan Heights; Jordan's choice of delegates; Palestinian leaders' reactions to Shamir's position.