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
Egypt’s revolutions have not stopped corruption Corruption in Egypt is still increasing, despite the January 25 Revolution's call for a better society, mainly due to a lack of oversight by concerned parties and government organizations. Egypt
Bennett's list too conservative to land premier seat HaBayit HaYehudi head Naftali Bennett had hoped for a center-right list that could pave his way to the prime minister's office, but is now working with a distinctly right-wing party. Israel
Bennett, Herzog battle over dueling visions of Zionism The party primaries at the center-left Labor and the right-wing HaBayit HaYehudi reflect a battle between two visions of Zionism — the traditional, secular, open to the world Labor Zionism against a religious, messianic, settlement vision. Israel
Turkey aims to mend ties with Armenia Armenia’s entry in the Euroasian Economic Union has encouraged Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to implement his formal apology and open the border with Armenia before April 24, 2015, the 100th anniversary of the genocide. Turkey
War-ravaged Gaza families marrying in-laws for support It is common practice in Gaza for a widow or widower to marry an in-law to keep the family together, and often they are being promised financial assistance to do so. Palestine
Tensions increase between Egypt, Morocco Cordial relations between Egypt and Morocco have been hampered by a media brawl between both countries’ official TV channels, as Egypt moves closer to Algeria. Egypt
Iranian killed in Iraq subject of 2009 controversy An Iranian killed in Iraq was incorrectly labelled a Lebanese Hezbollah commander by activists during the 2009 election protests, and some news reports of his death still contain the error. Iraq
Turkish military says MIT shipped weapons to al-Qaeda New documents have been leaked online, prompting the government to immediately ban reporting on the scandal and order the content deleted. Syria
Former House Intel chair: Turkey can't have it both ways in NATO Mike Rogers, former chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, also sees economic pressure on Russia as presenting a “unique opportunity” for Moscow’s help in Syria. Iraq
Some Shiites link Saudi king's health to end-times Some Shiite scholars believe that the Saudi king's death will signal the resurrection of the Mahdi and the beginning of the end-times. Saudi Arabia
US House preps its own Iran sanctions bill The lower chamber says it won't just pass whatever bill the Senate comes up with. Iran
Is Erdogan losing touch with reality? Ankara’s welcoming ceremony for Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Jan. 12 featured 16 ancient warriors, rekindling the Ottomanism debate. Turkey
