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
Saudi support shores up talks in Lebanon Saudi Arabia is overwhelmed with risks on several fronts, which might explain its efforts to promote a Sunni-Shiite and a Christian-Christian dialogue in Lebanon and bring its ally Saad Hariri back to the table. Saudi Arabia
Bibi's rivals suffer scandals Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is surrounded by rivals trying to topple him, yet two of them, Shas Party leader Aryeh Deri and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, must concentrate on their own political survival. Israel
Egypt-Qatar rapprochement rattles Hamas Hamas is concerned that the rapprochement between Egypt and Qatar will result in Doha downgrading its ties with the Palestinian Islamist movement. Qatar
Russian crisis worries Turkish businesses Hopes that Western sanctions against Moscow would benefit Turkey appear to have been premature. Turkey
Corruption lets Iraqi criminals off the hook Weak institutions and corruption mean that major crimes in Iraq are not being investigated or prosecuted. Iraq
Netanyahu's calls to Likud too little too late While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has personally asked Likud Party members to support more moderate candidates, he was too late to stop his party from being taken over by settlers and extreme right politicians. Israel
Syrian charities battle corruption Roughly 2,000 Damascenes participated in a marathon to raise funds for Syrian cancer patients, to make up for a significant drop in available medication due to corruption in the Syrian Health Ministry. Syria
Saudis work together to head off sectarian violence The November attack against Saudi Shiites in al-Ahsa governorate drew unanimous condemnation from conservative Sunnis and Shiites alike, who are determined to prevent sectarian strife. Legacy: Gulf
Who is benefiting from the Erdogan-Gulen split? The Turkish government’s onslaught against the Gulen community has opened the door to public jobs and economic benefits for other religious groups. Turkey
Iraq's 2 million IDPs struggling The Islamic State’s offensive this year, and the subsequent conflict that has followed, has spawned nearly 2 million internally displaced persons, many of whom live in run-down, squalid refugee camps and are desperate for aid. Iraq
Iran marks anniversary of anti-Green Movement protests The 2009 election protests in Iran continue to play a large part in politics, and their anniversaries still make headlines every year. Iran
Where have Israeli intellectuals gone? Israeli society has lost its past esteem for intellectuals and writers, with celebrities, actors, singers and media figures serving as its moral compass. Israel
