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
'Foloul' loses its punch in Egypt The term foloul, or "remnant," was once widely used by the revolutionaries against anyone associated with the Hosni Mubarak regime, but the complexity of Egypt’s political situation has cost the term its effectiveness. Egypt
Sadr's sudden retirement shakes up Iraqi politics Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, leader of a major Iraqi Shiite force, shocked the country by dissolving most of his political operation. Iraq
Can Europe take over if US fails Israeli-Palestinian negotiations? Israeli extreme-right politicians slandered European Parliament President Martin Schulz for his speech at the Knesset, ignoring European contributions in general and those of Germany in particular to Israel's well-being. Palestine
Some Iranians skeptical US has given up hopes for regime change Recent comments by Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that the United States would pursue regime change if it could, indicate that the top Iranian leadership will continue to seek guarantees the United States is not after regime change if the two countries are to improve ties. Iran
Saudi Arabia plans to pitch Obama for regime change in Syria Saudi Arabia has recently taken steps to discourage its nationals from joining jihadist forces in Syria, as it plans an appeal to US President Barack Obama to become more engaged in Saudi-backed efforts to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Saudi Arabia
Iran calls for end to foreign support for extremist groups in Syria An Iranian diplomat also notes his country’s active support for chemical disarmament and humanitarian relief corridors in Syria. Syria
Netanyahu absent from Knesset battle over ultra-Orthodox draft Ofer Shelah, chairman of the Yesh Atid Knesset faction, calls on the prime minister to present immediately for voting the ultra-Orthodox draft bill: "This was what half the coalition negotiations, if not more, were about." Israel
Study shows dire consequences if Palestinian Authority collapses The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research has released a detailed study on the consequences of the fall of the Palestinian Authority. Palestine
Iraq’s politics of posters A proliferation of political posters, especially of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, as Iraq gears up for elections, brings back memories from Saddam Hussein's era. Iraq
Is Erdogan hindering Turkey's foreign policy reset? Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan seems to be undercutting the efforts of his foreign minister to get Turkey’s Middle East policies back on track. Egypt
Time not right for Turkish-Israeli reconciliation Neither Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan nor Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are ready to do what is necessary to begin to normalize relations. Palestine
Lebanon between Obama and Hollande Similar to the convergence between the United States and France over Lebanon in 2005, one between Presidents Barack Obama and Francois Hollande may soon help Lebanon gain a new government and president. Lebanon
