After Jordan, Emirates also furious with Netanyahu Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not only managed to get into a diplomatic row with Jordan, he also succeeded in angering the Emiratis. Israel
Iran operating new advanced centrifuges, nuclear watchdog finds According to an International Atomic Energy Agency report, Iran is now using IR-4 centrifuges to enrich uranium in violation of the nuclear accord. Iran
Lawsuit filed to close pro-Kurdish party after lawmaker stripped of parliamentary seat Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, a pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party deputy known to focus on human rights abuses, was stripped of his parliament seat and a lawsuit was filed to close the party March 17. Turkey
Netanyahu courts Arab voters as 'Abu Yair' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has adopted a new strategy for the Arab public: cynically rebranding himself as "Abu Yair." Israel
What are Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units doing in Beirut? A leader of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) talks to Al-Monitor about talks held in Beirut Aug. 8-11, behind the scenes and away from the media spotlights, between a Western diplomatic delegation and 12 people representing the leadership of the PMU. Iraq
Why Iran’s diplomatic success to its north isn’t replicated to its south Under President Hassan Rouhani, Iran has managed to greatly improve its relations with its northern neighbors, but why has Iranian diplomacy succeeded in the South Caucasus and Central Asia and not in the Arab Middle East? Russia
Fresh dismissals threaten already weakened Fatah Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas dismissed six leaders of the movement for their alleged allegiance to his rival Mohammed Dahlan. Palestine
Sunnis eye their piece of Iraq pie Representatives of various Sunni groups are trying to lay the groundwork for an independent Sunni region, but efforts may be complicated by the presence of powerful Shiite forces on the ground. Iraq
Israeli defense minister's next target: refugee children Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman has ordered IDF soldiers to cease volunteering at kindergartens for refugee children. Israel
How Yemen plans to dry up Houthis' funding Yemen is making major changes in its fiscal operations, hoping to get back revenue sources it says are being hijacked by Houthi rebels. Yemen
Did Gulenists sabotage Ankara’s Kurdish peace process? Long-standing allegations of Gulenists meddling in efforts to settle Turkey’s Kurdish problem appear to have gained more credence after the failed July 15 coup attempt. Turkey
Iran officials defend Russian use of Hamadan air base Many Iranian officials were quick to downplay concerns about the legality of Russian jets using an Iranian airbase to strike targets in Syria. Syria
Coup attempt could cost Turkey more than military might Many observers fear that measures to radically reshape Turkey’s once all-powerful military are already affecting freedom there. Turkey
Difficult negotiations over future of 75,000 Syrians trapped in 'no-man's land' Since the IS June attack on Jordan’s Rukban border with Syria, the Hashemite kingdom has tightened security measures, to the point of banning food and medical aid to the Syrian refugees trapped on the border, prompting negotiations with the UN. Jordan
Will Saudi women break chains of male guardianship? Saudi women recently launched a hashtag calling for an end to male guardianship, which has been behind many of the physical and moral violations they face in Saudi society. Saudi Arabia
Arab Jerusalemites priced out of own neighborhoods Israel's policy of restricting Palestinian growth while encouraging Israelis to settle in Jerusalem’s Palestinian neighborhoods has always made it hard for the city's Arab population to find decent and affordable homes, and things are worse than ever. Israel
