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
Erdogan's 'facts' muddle Turkey's economic reality For his supporters, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is an unquestionable leader who, not being limited by reality, is able to create his own facts. Turkey
Why did Turkey seize Bank Asya? A Turkish government agency made the unprecedented move of taking control of the management of the financially sound Bank Asya. Turkey
Turkey offers cash rewards for marrying early The Justice and Development Party government is offering incentives to encourage university students to get married before graduation and to have more than three children. Turkey
Israeli right ditches effort to topple Netanyahu Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, former Minister Moshe Kahlon and others are positioning themselves to join a possible right-wing coalition government after accepting the impossibility of toppling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with votes from the center. Israel
Labor candidate calls for coalition with Arab parties In an interview with Al-Monitor, Labor Party candidate Zuhair Bahloul calls upon the Arab parties to adopt a different strategy and demonstrate willingness to join a Labor-led coalition after the elections. Israel
Unity government a recipe for diplomatic disaster Zionist Camp co-chair Isaac Herzog has refused to reject joining a unity government with the Likud, although the leftist parties in such governments typically end up serving as "defense attorney" for right-wing policies. Palestine
Turkey's intelligence czar resigns to run for office The resignation of intelligence chief Hakan Fidan to run for parliament becomes the center of debate in Turkey. Turkey
Obama: 'Iran’s program has not advanced' US allies puzzled by March deadline for consideration of Senate sanctions bill; Iran’s gesture to Saudi Arabia; Iran’s man in Beirut; Erdogan’s anti-Western pivot; Aleppo’s fuel shortage; Israel reconciling to Hamas? Saudi Arabia
Congress to scrutinize Obama’s Islamic State strategy A look at the Middle East issues Congress will be addressing the week of Feb. 9. Iraq
US-Saudi mark 70 years of rocky alliance Seventy years ago, FDR and Ibn Saud met on a cruiser to initiate an alliance that has persisted ever since. Saudi Arabia
Rouhani VP voices frustration with administration Iran's vice president for Women and Family Affairs has voiced concern over the lack of attention paid by the administration to women's issues. Iran
Liberman suspends Israeli diplomats for Twitter criticism Three Israeli diplomats have been suspended after criticizing the government on their personal Twitter accounts, revealing the despair felt by many of their colleagues vis-à-vis Israel's current foreign policy. Israel
