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
Will US terrorism finance law do more harm than good in Lebanon? The recently passed US law to fight terrorism financing targets Hezbollah, but it could put all of Lebanon in the line of fire. Lebanon
High school cheating scandal extends through Jordan, Sudan, Egypt A group of Jordanian high school students were caught cheating during exams in Sudan, sparking a diplomatic crisis between Amman and Khartoum that pulled Egypt into the mess as well. Egypt
Why more and more Israeli Druze prefer prison to military service In the past few years, more Israeli Druze have been refusing to join the Israeli army as part of the compulsory military service, because they now feel more in touch with their Arab and Palestinian roots. Palestine
Is Israel inching closer to fascism? Talking to Al-Monitor, professor Zeev Sternhell warns that the values of democracy and liberalism, on which the State of Israel was founded, are being eroded by the nationalistic approach of the Israeli right. Israel
The downfall of two Iranian tycoons Iranian lawmaker Amir-Abbas Soltani told Al-Monitor that Iranian-Turkish businessman Reza Zarrab intentionally visited the US, knowing he would be detained, to avoid being arrested in Turkey and extradited to Iran. Turkey
How Netanyahu betrayed the IDF Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demonstrates again and again how his political survival is more important to him than the strength and credibility of the Israel Defense Forces. Israel
Leaked Gaza war report sparks 'war of generals' in Israel The partially leaked state comptroller report of the 2014 Protective Edge operation triggered political clashes and also a war of mutual accusations amid IDF generals. Palestine
More than 100 Iran MPs ask Rouhani to stop nuclear deal implementation Members of the current conservative-led parliament have signed a written warning to President Hassan Rouhani asking that he return Iran’s nuclear program to previous levels before the nuclear deal if US "obstruction" continues. Iran
Just how independent is Egypt's parliament? The speaker of the Egyptian parliament has caused an uproar by suggesting that in "tough times" the legislative and executive branches should act as one. Egypt
Turkish military faces secularism test As the popularity of religious vocational schools increases, the ban on the enrollment of imam-hatip graduates into military schools is being questioned. Turkey
Will Hamas respond to Israel's destruction of its tunnels? Israel and Hamas are threatening each other with open warfare over Palestinian factions' tunnels that lead from Gaza into Israel, though military experts are divided on whether either side would take such action. Palestine
Palestine to raise concerns about settlement-based teams at FIFA conference The Palestinian Football Federation is planning to raise the issue of five Israeli soccer teams located in the occupied territories on the grounds that these teams are violating FIFA statutes. Palestine
