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
Despite Netanyahu, PA continues security cooperation with Israel In an interview with Al-Monitor, Adnan al-Damiri, the Palestinian Authority security services spokesman, claims that the Israeli leadership chooses to ignore the tight security cooperation in the West Bank for political reasons. Palestine
Iran, Saudi Arabia find common ground in Yemen Despite fears of increasing Riyadh-Tehran rivalry, Yemen's unity government serves the interests of both Iran and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
Despite Jerusalem unrest, West Bank remains quiet The Palestinian Authority’s grip on the West Bank, in coordination with Israel, is preventing any opportunity for the unrest to spread. Palestine
IRGC commander says US not reliable Some Iranian conservatives feel that Iran has not received fair terms under the nuclear extensions. Iran
Hezbollah arrives in Iraq As the battle against the Islamic State evolves, experienced members of Hezbollah arrive in Iraq to provide guidance and training. Iraq
Will Nubian demands for return become calls for secession? The Nubian people in Egypt are demanding their rights to return to lands from which they have been displaced multiple times through history, while some consider that they might also start calling for secession. Egypt
Despite controversy, religious art increasingly popular in Iraq Iraqi artists who specialize in painting imams and sacred historical figures find themselves in demand even though their art provokes a religious backlash from some. Iraq
Sisi's deportation law creates controversy Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has issued another controversial law to repatriate non-Egyptians accused of committing crimes, drawing criticism that it might expand the president’s privileges over the judiciary power. Egypt
Israel views extension of Iran talks as lesser of two evils Israel's attitude, favoring no nuclear agreement with Iran over a bad one, resulted in it being denied any direct influence on this phase of the negotiations, even if some of its worries are legitimate and shared by the US Congress. Israel
Future uncertain for Baghdad-Erbil oil cooperation Despite a breakthrough deal between the Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to cooperate on oil exports from northern Iraq, thorny issues remain. Iraq
Former police chief speaks out about Turkey’s 'parallel state' Former police Chief Hanefi Avci, among the first to expose Turkey’s “parallel state” and one of its high-profile victims, retains a realistic and cool-headed attitude on the issue, unlike some pro-government propagandists. Turkey
Israel violates terms of Gaza cease-fire Israel is still not abiding by the terms of the cease-fire deal that ended the Gaza war in August, and still harasses and fires at Palestinian farmers and fishermen. Palestine
