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
Turkey's Protestants complain of discrimination, harassment A report by Turkey's tiny Protestant community shows some progress in the country, but also plenty of continuing bigotry. Turkey
Abbas’ presence at Paris rally boosts Palestinian legitimacy The appearance of President Mahmoud Abbas alongside world leaders at the France unity rally will help his campaign for Palestinian independence. Palestine
Dempsey says Iran’s role in Iraq might be 'positive' Americans consider Islamic State, not Iran, as top threat to US in Mideast; terrorists in Syria planning “mass casualty attacks” in West; Salafists in Gaza look to Islamic State. Palestine
Mixed Turkish reactions to Paris massacre The government’s attempt to be politically correct in its condemnation of the attack on Charlie Hebdo is not reflected by all elements of the ruling party and the Islamist media. Turkey
Why Nigeria abstained in UN Palestine vote Israel-Nigeria bilateral relations reached a peak last week, with the latter abstaining in the UN Security Council vote on the Palestinian statehood resolution. Israel
Divisions in Iran stall nuclear deal, says ex-US negotiator Secretary of State John Kerry will meet Iran Foreign Minister Zarif in Geneva Jan. 14, ahead of a new round of nuclear talks. Iran
Could Russia broker Middle East peace? Though Russia has been often proposed as a mediator for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, there is no indication that Moscow would be able to assure Israel’s security or financial support for the Palestinian Authority. Palestine
Iran's new group in Iraq: Saraya al-Khorasani Saraya al-Khorasani appears to have more direct contact and cooperation with Iran than other groups and militias it has ties with. Iraq
Lapid: Abbas can't compromise without Arab support In an interview with Al-Monitor, former Finance Minister Yair Lapid argues that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas needs Arab support to compromise on the Palestinian right of return and on Jerusalem. Palestine
Novelist chronicles Egypt’s rough revolutionary road Alaa Al Aswany, the author of "The Yacoubian Building," has published a compendium of newspaper columns that trace the arc of Egypt’s recent political upheavals from the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak in 2011 to the election of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi last year. Egypt
Turkey faces demining delays Having stalled for a decade, Turkey risks further delays in meeting its international obligations to clear vast minefields, most of them along the Syrian border. Syria
Post-Paris: perilous future for Turkey, Muslims A grave future is waiting for Turkey and Muslims after the Charlie Hebdo shootings on Jan. 7 in France. Turkey
