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
Will ElBaradei run for president of Egypt? Supporters of former interim Vice President Mohamed ElBaradei have begun a campaign to gather enough signatures to authorize him to run for president, but some consider his chances to be very low. Egypt
Marginalized Saudi youth launch virtual protests Some Saudi youth have taken to social media to express their grievances with Saudi government policies. Saudi Arabia
'Halal beer' flops in Turkey Turkish consumers reject even nonalcoholic beer for various cultural reasons. Turkey
Hakim launches 'Citizen Coalition' in Iraqi elections In the lead-up to the April 30 Iraqi elections, Ammar al-Hakim’s Citizen Coalition has sought to ensure comprehensive reform and released a serious and thorough electoral program. Iraq
Gulf states should form regional bloc with Iran Arab Gulf states can no longer ignore Iran’s vital role in bringing stability to the Gulf region, and should work on establishing a security and economic arrangement with Tehran. Legacy: Gulf
European jihadists form ISIS brigades in Syria Enough European jihadists are fighting for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) that the radical group has created French- and German-speaking brigades. Syria
Divisive sectarian rhetoric dominates lead-up to Iraq vote As elections approach in Iraq, sectarian rhetoric has distracted voters from more serious issues. Iraq
Liberman keeps eye on bid for Israeli premiership By torpedoing negotiations on one hand, while setting conditions for their resumption on the other, Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman's tactics enable him to gain points with the left and the right of the political spectrum, pursuing his route toward the premier's seat. Palestine
Will UK list Muslim Brotherhood as terror group? Britain’s announced inquiry into the Muslim Brotherhood’s activities might be an attempt to appease its Gulf allies without offering any tangible changes. Saudi Arabia
Erdogan presidency no foregone conclusion Turkish President Abdullah Gul still holds the key to how Turkey will be governed, even if Recep Tayyip Erdogan runs and wins, which may not be a foregone conclusion. Turkey
More Israelis living in poverty on eve of Passover A special report by the state comptroller published the week before Passover reveals growing poverty, attributed to the new government’s public welfare cutbacks. Israel
Sisi’s candidacy appears to ease Egypt-Hamas tensions Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s candidacy in Egypt’s upcoming presidential elections has eased tensions between Cairo and Hamas, but this might be a tactical move by Sisi. Palestine
