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
Khamenei questions US commitment to nuke deal As implementation of the nuclear deal begins, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that the United States may not live up to its obligations. Iran
Lebanon’s Christian foes become friends Michel Aoun and Samir Geagea, the two Lebanese Christian leaders, finally turn the page on their historical bloody feud and have agreed on backing Aoun for president. Lebanon
Ankara plays favorites with Iraqi, Syrian Turkmens Ankara could face a nationalist backlash at home for favoring the Kurds over the Turkmens in Iraq. Iraq
Hamas stifles Gazans' giggles The recent arrest of two satirists in Gaza points to increasing restrictions on freedom of expression due to Hamas' insecurity. Palestine
What will happen to Iraq’s Mandaeans? In an interview with Al-Monitor, the first Iraqi woman to head a religious endowment, Nadia F. Maghamiss, talks about her plan to empower women of all sects and about the future of the Mandaeans, one of Iraq’s many religious minorities. Iraq
Kurdish leader warns of civil war in Turkey Turkey’s security crackdown in the Kurdish-majority southeast could spill over to the country’s west and eventually become a civil war, warns Kurdish politician Kamuran Yuksek in an interview with Al-Monitor. Turkey
Why the world questions Turkey's stance on Islamic State Reasons are mounting to doubt Turkey's dedication to battling the Islamic State. Iraq
Israel's 'traitor' du jour The Israeli right wing considers former Foreign Ministry Director Alon Liel a traitor for advocating to pressure the Israeli government and advance voting in the United Nations in favor of a Palestinian state. Israel
The black flag over Israel's democracy Israelis are relinquishing their democracy through their silence and actions. Palestine
Will Rouhani's negotiations with Iran’s hard-liners succeed? With the difficult nuclear negotiations behind him, President Hassan Rouhani is now focused on domestic issues. Iran
Cairo river taxi project beginning to flow Authorities are working to clear clogs in Egypt’s long-awaited Nile transportation plan. Egypt
How one Coptic woman made Egyptian parliamentary history Mona Gaballah, who is the first Coptic woman to be directly elected to Egypt's parliament, talks to Al-Monitor about the challenges she has faced and how she intends to represent Coptic females. Egypt
