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
Sinai ignored in Egypt development plans Egypt celebrated the liberation of Sinai from Israeli occupation on April 25, but Sinai locals, who feel neglected by the central government, have little to cheer about. Egypt
In Turkey, how Germany’s president became ‘Germany's imam’ The rampant political paranoia in Turkey is even capable of demonizing German President Joachim Gauck as the “imam” of a treacherous “parallel state.” Turkey
Israeli sanctions on Palestinians could backfire The Israeli assumption that economic pressure will return the Palestinians to "the straight and narrow path," has already proven to be ineffective and might endanger the motivation for successful security cooperation. Palestine
Al-Monitor remembers Bassem Sabry Bassem Sabry's colleagues at Al-Monitor reflect on the mark he left across the region. Egypt
Details emerge on Palestinian Gaza declaration The Palestinian reconciliation deal appears to be moving ahead, with Hamas and Fatah agreeing to return the presidential guards to the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. Palestine
Kerry's warning to Israel lost in furor over 'apartheid' Instead of internalizing the warning from US Secretary of State John Kerry about a single-state solution, pro-Israel advocates in the United States and the Israeli right focused instead on his choice of words. Palestine
Turkish liberals should back Erdogan's message to Armenians Turks should come to terms with the Armenian genocide, recognize the momentous step taken by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and embrace the legacy of the many Turkish officials who saved Armenians from death. Turkey
Iraqi election could lead to partition Iraqi parties across the political spectrum seek to break Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s monopoly on the central government. Iraq
Iraqi elections marred by hit squads targeting candidates Amid rising assassination attempts of candidates for today’s Iraqi parliamentary elections, some political blocs are accusing parties in the government of being behind these operations. Iraq
Israeli presidential hopeful supports Palestinian deal In an interview with Al-Monitor, Meir Sheetrit supports Hamas-Fatah reconciliation, even though this might not be the most popular stance with the Israeli public for a presidential hopeful. Palestine
Rouhani administration on defensive over house arrests The recent heart troubles of opposition leader Mir Hussein Mousavi has put the Rouhani administration on the defensive over its progress on the continuing house arrests. Iran
Head of Lebanon’s Islamic Group opposes any intervention in Syria In an interview with Al-Monitor, Azzam al-Ayoubi, head of the political bureau of the Islamic Group in Lebanon, said that his party has no official ties with Hezbollah and revealed that Saudi Arabia had assured his organization that it would not be included on its expanded terrorism list. Originals
