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
What happened at anti-IS coalition meeting? A diplomatic source participating in the gathering of the international coalition against the Islamic State told Al-Monitor that Turkey sought to undermine its regional rivals for its own interests. Iraq
Rouhani criticizes consolidation of power in government Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has indirectly criticized the economic power and influence of the Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran
Egypt cautiously accepts reconciliation with Qatar Egypt has accepted a Gulf initiative launched by Saudi Arabia to achieve reconciliation between Cairo and Doha, with the former stressing that Qatar stop supporting the Muslim Brotherhood. Saudi Arabia
Egypt tackles embezzlement Egypt’s judiciary will consider a new reform to allow for amicable settlement between the government and those accused of embezzlement, bringing in recovered funds but also possibly legalizing corruption. Egypt
Why Davutoglu's Armenian adviser angered AKP deputies One should listen to Etyen Mahcupyan, now top adviser to Ahmet Davutoglu, to see both a sophisticated defense of the AKP but also to see where exactly it goes wrong. Turkey
Business as usual: Turkey's never-ending love of the bribe Some 46% of Turkish businessmen believe corruption won’t end, while the country sinks lower in the global transparency index. Turkey
European Muslim groups angered by inclusion on UAE's terror list The UAE's recently published list of 85 "terrorist" organizations has prompted an outcry from the European Islamic organizations included on it. United Arab Emirates
US must encourage Israeli voters to seek end to conflict While Israeli voters prepare for elections, US President Barack Obama should not echo former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's unconditional support for Israel: He should instead show voters the price of their leaders' refusal to negotiate with the Palestinians. Israel
Israel's midsized parties create unstable coalition Ever since the late Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's decision to create the Kadima Party, Israeli politics has been suffering from an ongoing trend of big parties splitting into small and medium-sized parties, leading to dysfunctional coalitions. Israel
Abdul-Mahdi: Now real work begins for Baghdad, Erbil Although the oil deal between Baghdad and Erbil is a positive development, Turkey is sidelined by it and risks becoming a “geopolitical bystander” because of Russia's decision to cancel the South Stream gas project. Iraq
Jordan sends message with arrests of MB leaders The arrest of one of the most senior Muslim Brotherhood leaders in Jordan has plunged its relations with the ruling regime into a crisis which threatens to escalate. Jordan
Rouhani speech interrupted by Green Movement chants Speeches commemorating Student Day were disrupted across Iran's universities by outcries in support of Green Movement leaders and student activists. Iran
