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
Youth remain low priority for Hamas The Hamas government in Gaza has failed to take serious steps to address problems facing the youth. Palestine
Istanbul's skyline betrayed A generation that professes to worship the Ottomans betrayed Istanbul by destroying its silhouette with high-rises. Turkey
Burns to Al-Monitor: 'No illusions' about nuclear diplomacy with Iran In an exclusive interview, Deputy Secretary of State William Burns discusses leading the US back channel to Iran, the upcoming Geneva II conference on Syria, the role of secret diplomacy and 32 years in the US foreign service. Saudi Arabia
Zarif trip to Lebanon includes signal to Saudi Arabia Iran and Hezbollah's abrupt change toward the formation of a Lebanese government might be part of a regional settlement. Saudi Arabia
Syrian Kurds aim to benefit from Islamist infighting Syrian Kurdish forces navigate the fighting between the Free Syrian Army and the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham to gain ground in northern Syria. Syria
Has al-Qaeda found Zarqawi's successor? The emergence of Shaker Wahib, a young, charismatic field commander in the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), may be tied to the organization’s deeper goals. Iraq
Egyptians fear return of surveillance state The release of recordings of telephone conversations among Egyptian activists has sparked a new debate over media freedom and privacy. Egypt
Liberman a firestarter with land swap proposal Arab-Israelis have constructed lives coexisting with their Jewish neighbors, only to find that some Israeli politicians would like to swap them in a future agreement with the Palestinians. Israel
Turkey's Christians fear possible hate campaign An aggressive campaign against Christmas and New Year’s festivities in Turkey last month, including the circumcision of Santa Claus, has sparked fears that deadly attacks on Christians may begin anew. Turkey
Chechnya's silent diplomacy in the Middle East Russia is working to turn domestic challenges into opportunity. Turkey
Gul calls for reset of Turkey’s Syria policy Turkish President Abdullah Gul's call for a "recalibration" of the Syria policy is a thinly veiled rebuke to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Turkey
Israeli deputy minister: Kerry's proposals 'move us further apart' In an interview with Al-Monitor, Ofir Akunis says he agrees with Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon about US Secretary of State John Kerry's approach to the peace process, but would have said it differently. Palestine
