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
Hamas seeks to reclaim political influence via PLO The inclusion of Hamas, as well as Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), in the PLO could strengthen the influence of the "resistance" wing within the organization. Palestine
Poll suggests Israelis could be sold on Arab League Initiative A poll conducted ahead of a major Israeli political conference examined the extent of the Israeli public’s exposure to the Arab Peace Initiative, and findings indicate that most Israelis are ignorant of the details of the plan. Saudi Arabia
Obama administration gets it wrong on Hamas The recent call by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to protect Al-Aqsa Mosque might inflame an already volatile situation around the unity government, which the United States should refuse to recognize. Palestine
Lebanon's debt grows with political stalemate A report by Merrill Lynch has downgraded Lebanon's financial standing because of its external debt and political paralysis. Lebanon
Allegations of racism surface in Israel’s ultra-Orthodox schools Despite rulings by the Supreme Court and ministerial guidelines, the Ashkenazi ultra-Orthodox establishment keeps rejecting Sephardic female students, wishing to maintain their separate education system, neighborhoods and marriages. Israel
Hamas sees Russia visit as means to end regional isolation Hamas political bureau leader Khaled Meshaal will visit Moscow in the coming weeks, where he is expected to ask Russia to help restore Hamas' ties with Iran and to pressure Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to soften his opposition to the Islamist movement. Palestine
Turkey’s intra-Islamic witch hunt The deeper lesson from the Erdogan-Gulen war is that even "good Muslims" do not fare well when dominating an authoritarian state. Turkey
Exclusive: Abu Zaida talks on his removal from Fatah In an interview with Al-Monitor, Sufian Abu Zaida, expelled from Fatah, defines Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as a "dictator," while criticizing Israel's objection to the unity government, saying it offers Israel both security cooperation and recognition. Palestine
Rouhani accused of trying to separate religion, administration Iranian President Hassan Rouhani continues to be criticized for saying that the administration should leave religious direction in the hands of experts and the clergy. Iran
Arab Peace Initiative still Israel's best option Israeli leaders who refuse to take up the Arab Peace Initiative are missing a historic chance for peace. Israel
Syria confident of Russian military support In an interview with Al-Monitor in Damascus, a senior Syrian official said the Syrian war would end like the Algerian one, with the state defeating the terrorists and staying in power. Syria
Maliki’s call for unity conference in Anbar may be too late Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki recently called for a conference to solve the Anbar crisis, which might be futile if the tribal and political differences are not settled first. Iraq
