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
Kerry's artificial negotiations Secretary of State John Kerry's frustrations on the Middle East should not come as a surprise. Palestine
Gaza theaters battle censorship, conservatism A lack of female performers, the siege and close monitoring by the Hamas government has resulted in a dwindling Gaza theater industry. Palestine
Lapid goes after nepotism in government companies Seven years after a state comptroller's report on nepotism, Finance Minister Yair Lapid imposes new regulations designed to reduce corruption in Israel's major public companies. Israel
Iraqi Kurds still deadlocked over new government Iraqi Kurdish political parties remain in a stalemate over the formation of a new regional government, six months after parliamentary elections were held in Iraqi Kurdistan. Iraq
Hezbollah sanctions bill targets central banks The House Foreign Affairs Committee is set to unveil a new sanctions bill targeting the Iran-backed militia Lebanon
Abbas falls into prisoner release trap The release of Palestinian prisoners has been diverted from a trust-building measure to a decisive issue for the negotiations' advancement and for the credibility of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas vis-a-vis his people. Palestine
Israeli politicians easy targets on April Fools' Day Facebook has become the platform for April Fools' Day hoaxes in Israel, where politicians are mocked on the background of social and security tensions. Israel
Why Erdogan keeps winning Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has managed to fuse Turkey’s center-right and Islamist-right into one major bloc accepting his explanation of recent political scandals to be conspiracies against his rule. Turkey
Both Pollard, Barghouti should be released Jonathan Pollard should be released on humanitarian grounds, but the release of prominent Fatah member Marwan Barghouti could resuscitate negotiations with the Palestinians. Palestine
Hamas to launch new satellite TV channel Hamas is preparing to launch a new television channel to promote its perspective despite its current financial crisis. Palestine
Iraq civil activists fight to preserve constitutional rights Despite the civil rights safeguarded by the Iraqi constitution, conservative political parties have been increasing restricting citizens’ freedoms in recent years. Iraq
The illusion of Ehud Olmert Ehud Olmert's conviction is a blow to Israel's center-left and an illustration of the moral relativism of Israeli politics Israel
