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 invitation a first step with Iran Resolving the problems that mar Saudi-Iran relations remain out of reach for now, but Saudi Arabia’s invitation to the Iranian foreign minister to visit the kingdom is an opportunity to calm tensions. Saudi Arabia
Erdogan under pressure over threat to Tatars in Ukraine Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is boxed in by a looming civil war in Ukraine and an intractable conflict in Syria. Syria
Netanyahu focused on stopping Rivlin's bid for president Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to believe that only a new law, guaranteeing that the head of the biggest party is mandated to form the government, will secure his seat next time around. Israel
Tehran poll: 60% believe media has little or no freedom Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance has released the results of a domestic poll of how Tehran residents view television and print media. Iran
Millions will boycott Egypt's elections Sisi expects a comfortable win, while a boycott campaign may hurt Sabahi's chances. Egypt
Israeli Arabs, Jews rally to save organic olive grove Jews and Arabs together are battling Israeli authorities to save their fragile organic olive grove from electrical lines planned to pass over their lands to avoid military training zones. Israel
Members of Mubarak's old party plot comeback Members of the disbanded National Democratic Party in Egypt are seeking to run in the upcoming parliamentary elections, despite a court ruling prohibiting their participation. Egypt
Netanyahu rides nationalist wave In an interview with Al-Monitor Vice President of the Israel Democracy Institute Mordechai Kremnitzer associates the anti-Arab feelings prevailing within the Israeli public and the recent flow of nationalistic bill. Israel
Iraqi MP fined for offering land for votes A video of an Iraqi MP from the State of Law Coalition distributing deeds to plots of land in exchange for votes for the coalition has triggered controversy, and raises broader questions about a rise of political patronage in the country. Iraq
Iraqi political blocs mislead with leaks on election results A number of Iraqi politicians and political blocs have used social media for what they claim are leaked election results from last month’s parliamentary elections. Iraq
AKP government under fire over coal mine tragedy Was the mine disaster in Turkey, which has claimed at least 283 lives, the result of flawed policies and negligent acts, or an inevitable accident? Turkey
Fahmy: Egypt seeks talks, not conflict, over Ethiopian dam In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy rejects conditionality on US aid while stressing progress on the road map as key to US-Egypt ties. Egypt
