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
Reformist editor: No one pledged ‘allegiance’ to Rouhani An op-ed by an Iranian Reformist editor says that President Hassan Rouhani, despite his winning the 2013 presidential election, does not have people's automatic support, in contrast with previous elections. Iran
Erdogan lost a battle, but perhaps not the war The June 7 elections made Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s authoritarian dreams less certain, but it would be naive to think that he has given them up. Turkey
Wrestling’s Curby Cup next move in US-Iran sports diplomacy An event founded in the memory of a young American wrestler provides a new pathway for advancing people-to-people ties between the United States and Iran. Iran
Egyptian lawyer interrogated for drafting anti-torture law Negad El Borai might face jail time for drafting a law that counters police abuse and torture, which shows the restriction of freedoms in Egypt. Egypt
The fight goes on for Lebanon's LGBT community Despite a few modest achievements, the Lebanese lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community still struggles for acceptance and basic rights. Lebanon
Is Egypt's Brotherhood choosing escalation over peace? The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt today seems weaker and more poised to resort to violence. Egypt
What caused the clashes in Diyarbakir? Diyarbakir remains tense after recent intra-Kurd clashes. Turkey
Overhauling Iraq’s intelligence services The political quota system and subsequent appointment of incompetent intelligence services leaders have severely hampered Iraq's ability to fight terrorist forces despite an abundance of confrontations and episodes from which to learn. Iraq
Hamas working to lower tensions in Lebanese camps With security tensions escalating in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, Hamas and Lebanese officials are discussing ways to avoid the camps being turned into arenas for settling regional scores. Palestine
How security forces keep critics quiet in 'progressive' UAE The enigmatic UAE security forces have perfected the art of silencing critics and created an environment in which nearly everyone is afraid to say anything remotely resembling criticism of the government. United Arab Emirates
Senate to wrap up defense bill A look at the Middle East issues Congress will be addressing the week of June 15. Iraq
Will AKP's losses spark Turkish re-think on Syria? The ruling Justice and Development Party lost Kurdish support over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Syria policies; Eastern patriarchs meet in Damascus to reassure Middle East Christian communities. Iraq
