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
Egypt's battle against Facebook continues Calls for blocking Facebook in Egypt will not yield the desired results, according to some experts, as terrorist ideas and rumors can continue to spread on other websites. Egypt
Why it's time for Saudi Arabia to take the lead on Israeli-Palestinian peace process While Israel and Saudi Arabia share common interests, these can only be expressed if the Saudis take a leading role in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process toward a statehood based on their 2002 initiative, with the United States, Egypt and the Arab League engaging as well. Palestine
Turkey pays hefty price for interest rate obsession Under government pressure to keep interest rates low, Turkey’s Central Bank has failed to act against the free fall of the Turkish lira, leading to a massive burden on the foreign debt stock. Turkey
Khamenei says sanctions must be removed, not suspended Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spoke in detail about the need for sanctions to be removed, rather than suspended, in regard to the comprehensive nuclear deal. Iran
Small quakes shake loose big fears in Tehran A recent series of small quakes near Tehran revives fears of the consequences of a major tremor striking the Iranian capital. Iran
The invisible Saudi king Though breathless press reports predicted the Saudi leader would attend Russia’s MAKS-2015 air show, it seems that King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud never intended to visit Russia so soon after accepting the invitation to do so and will likely make the trip in the fall. Saudi Arabia
Is Turkey driving down road to environmental disaster? The Turkish government’s Green Road Project has turned the quiet residents of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s home region into feisty street protesters as they struggle to protect the environment on which their livelihoods and traditions rely. Turkey
Egypt limits ability of imams to run for office A few Ministry of Awqaf-affiliated officials announced their intention to run for election, which brought about criticism by religious and political authorities about the extent to which the executive and legislative powers can mix. Egypt
Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon becomes battlefield for Fatah-Islamist conflict The precarious security situation in the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon has been reignited by recent clashes between the Fatah movement and Islamist militants inside the camp. Palestine
What's next for Abadi? Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's moderate path in implementing government reforms has kept the peace among the governing political parties. Iraq
Hunger-striking women's group hopes to bring peace to Israel Members of the Women Wage Peace movement — a group of women from all sectors, ages and communities — hope that their recent meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will add another layer to the public movement they are building for peace with the Palestinians. Palestine
Bibi's two-state solution: State of Israel and State of the Jews Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told peace activists that he is willing to go to Ramallah, knowing that his preconditions for such contacts will immediately dissuade Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from extending him an invitation. Palestine
