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
Kerry, Zarif hold all-night Iran negotiations After all-night talks between US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif a preliminary agreement on a nuclear deal with Iran is still not finalized. Iran
New Ethiopian Knesset member prioritizes immigrant community Likud's Avraham Negusie, newly sworn in to the Knesset, promises in an interview with Al-Monitor to fight for Jews from Ethiopia, saying, “There shouldn’t be economic considerations of who is more expensive than the other. That’s not the Zionist ideal.” Israel
Will Qatar-Israel relations threaten PA’s relevance in Gaza? Qatar’s engagement with Hamas and Israeli officials on Gaza reconstruction projects has provoked fears in the Palestinian Authority of a usurpation of its power. Legacy: Gulf
Saudi airstrikes against Yemen a first The new Saudi king has united the Arabs against the Houthis, with Qatar and Egypt now on the same side. Legacy: Gulf
Iraqi residents denied return to town seized from IS Some four months after being retaken from Islamic State fighters, Jalawla, in the Kurdistan region, remains uninhabited and divided among peshmerga, Shiite militias and Asayish, with residents awaiting resolution of who will ultimately control it. Iraq
Will PA focus on settlements at ICC? Now that the Palestinian Authority is an official member of the International Criminal Court, the safer course for the Palestinian leadership will be to pursue Israel's settlements and not its transgressions in Gaza. Palestine
The Erdogans' lavish lifestyle Attempts to alter the image of lavish spending at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s palace backfired when the unprecedented high price of the white tea consumed at the palace was revealed. Turkey
Hamas reacts to Abbas’ call for Arab strike against Gaza Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ call during the Arab Summit for an attack against Hamas in Gaza — similar to the one launched by Saudi Arabia against Yemen — has raised the ire of Hamas figures. Palestine
Does Iran really want all sanctions removed immediately? Iranian negotiations and analysts have shown more nuance in latest statements about the process of removing sanctions. Iran
Turkish military calls off war on headscarves, beards Following a landmark court ruling, Turkey's military leaders have eased the strict rules governing the appearance of civilians entering military bases and other areas. Turkey
Erdogan takes swipe at Iran Observers are wondering why Erdogan is trying to drag Turkey into the region’s growing sectarian conflict. Yemen
Russia shows interest in Western Sahara Russia's desire to play an active role in the Middle East extends beyond Cairo and Damascus to longstanding issues further south. Algeria
