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
From Omar to Hussain: Why Iraqis are changing their names Intensification of Iraq's sectarian divide is forcing increasing numbers of people to change their names to avoid harassment and death. Iraq
Palestinians see no reason to negotiate as Israeli settlements continue As international efforts intensify to resume the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Palestinians feel that discussions will go nowhere as long as the Israeli government sticks to its policy of settlement expansion. Palestine
US suspends aid to Yemen for one year USAID has put $12 million in development aid on ice while Congress punts on future funding. Yemen
Bombshell book exposes Gul's differences with Erdogan The recent memoir of an aide to former Turkish President Abdullah Gul could be a harbinger of his return to politics. Turkey
Iran’s Basij concedes confiscating satellite dishes not working The head of Iran's Basij organization said that instead of confiscating satellite dishes from homes, authorities should speak to homeowners to persuade them to give up the satellite dishes, which he believes are part of a cultural invasion of Iran's enemies. Iran
MK Jelin: Gaza Strip is a 'ticking time bomb' Yesh Atid Knesset member Haim Jelin argues that following Operation Protective Edge, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should have been part of a regional diplomatic initiative fighting radical Islam. Palestine
Hanan Ashrawi: US must act quickly to save two-state solution In this interview with Al-Monitor, PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi speaks about the controversy surrounding Israel’s upcoming report on Gaza, current negotiations and potential solutions. Palestine
Will Abdullah Gul return to politics? Following the Justice and Development Party's loss of its parliamentary majority, eyes and ears have turned to the former president and AKP co-founder amid speculation about his next move. Turkey
Ahmed Shafiq’s return flusters Egyptian judiciary Accusations of election fraud in 2012 leveled by the former minister of civil aviation and the last prime minister under Hosni Mubarak, Ahmed Shafiq, return to haunt Egypt’s courts as Shafiq’s possible return to politics starts to materialize. Egypt
Extremist groups transform concept of jihad Extremist Islamic groups have transformed the spiritual concept of jihad, including turning it into a military instrument for implementing political agendas. Iraq
Pan-Islamic movement becomes political player in Palestine Hizb ut-Tahrir in the Palestinian territories emerged as a political party that seeks the return of the Islamic caliphate, unlike Hamas and other Islamic parties that focus on the resistance against Israel. Palestine
Netanyahu must prove 'good faith' to restart peace talks If Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is genuinely interested in promoting a new diplomatic peace initiative, he must demonstrate his willingness with actions, such as releasing Palestinian prisoners and working to bolster the Palestinian Authority rather than Hamas. Palestine
