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
Lobbying 2015: Palestine seeks to limit fallout from UN push The Palestinians are counting on the Obama administration to rein in congressional anger as they take their campaign for statehood to the United Nations. Palestine
Family feud: Bibi's brother-in-law slams current government In an interview with Al-Monitor, Hagai Ben-Artzi, the brother of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's wife, dismissed the current Israeli government as insufficiently right. Israel
Saudi war drags on in Yemen While Saudi Arabia continues military operations in Yemen through allied forces, it could face severe political risks. Saudi Arabia
Fabius takes over Tehran The trip by the French foreign minister to Iran was the first in 17 years and signals deeper economic cooperation with Iran after the nuclear deal. Iran
Lobbying 2015: Saudis seek Iran deal payoff Gravely concerned by the nuclear deal with Iran, Saudi Arabia is relying on its $3.7 million-a-year PR and lobbying operation to leverage it for more US commitments instead of seeking to sabotage it. Saudi Arabia
Lobbying 2015: Qatar crawls in from the cold Qatar is coming in from the cold in Washington as the gas-rich emirate falls into line with its Gulf neighbors’ stance against rebellious Islamist. Qatar
Lobbying 2015: Morocco courts US backing in Sahara dispute Morocco is spending upwards of $3 million a year to convince US politicians – including presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton – to back its claims over the disputed Western Sahara. So far, it’s working. Morocco
Lobbying 2015: US turns page on Bahrain's crackdown US military aid to the tiny Gulf kingdom of Bahrain is flowing again after its strong anti-Islamic State stance and pricey PR push. Bahrain
Lobbying 2015: Egypt lobbies itself back into America's good graces Congress and the State Department are willing to overlook ongoing human rights abuses in Egypt as Abdel Fatah al-Sisi takes on the Islamic State and keeps the peace with Israel. Egypt
Lobbying 2015: US courts aloof Algeria in terror fight Algeria, the desert giant at the crossroads of North Africa, is building ever-closer counterterrorism ties with the United States but is losing out to its historic rival Morocco in the disputed Western Sahara. Algeria
Lobbying 2015: UAE asserts itself with record-smashing lobby blitz The United Arab Emirates spent a record $12.7 million last year to face down criticism from Islamists and US airlines. United Arab Emirates
Lobbying 2015: Congress deserts Sahara activists Massively outspent by Morocco, the Western Sahara’s independence fighters have been all but deserted by Congress and the Obama administration. Western Sahara
