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
Is Turkey, After Gezi Protests, On Path to Democratization? The democratization package to be proposed by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyep Erdogan may address some of the concerns of Turkish citizens. Turkey
Does Rouhani's Style of Diplomacy Mean Change in Iranian Policy? The United States should take signals from Iran seriously. Lebanon
Abu Mazen's Hollow Popularity Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas continues to poll well among Palestinians because of a lack of a viable alternative, not due to public affection for his rule. Palestine
Vedrine: Threat of Force Key To US-Russia Initiative on Syria Hubert Vedrine, a former French minister for foreign affairs, talks to Al-Monitor about the Syrian crisis. Syria
Israeli Colleges Cut Funding for Humanities The Hebrew University, for generations the breeding ground of Jewish thinkers, is cutting dozens of faculty positions in the humanities, succumbing to the powerful forces of the market. Israel
Iran Frees Political Prisoners Before Rouhani Comes to UN Beyond a public-relations gesture in advance of President Hassan Rouhani’s US trip, the release of political prisoners could ease the divisions in Iran following the disputed 2009 presidential elections. Iran
The Hezbollah Question in Lebanon As developments in Syria and elsewhere around the region continue, a look at the role Hezbollah plays in Lebanon is more pertinent than ever. Lebanon
Delay in Forming New Lebanon Government a Record Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam is still unable to form a new government, leading to even greater uncertainty. Lebanon
Davutoglu: Shooting Down of Helicopter 'Punishment' for Syria Turkey’s frustration with the Damascus regime going unpunished, even for using chemical weapons, played a major role in shooting down a Syrian helicopter. Syria
Turkey Should Shut Down Jihadists on Border Turkey's shooting down of a Syrian helicopter that violated its airspace on Sept. 16 should provoke a clampdown on all border activity. Syria
Egypt-Sudan Ties Deteriorate Over Nile Sudan is shifting its position closer to the other upstream Nile states as ties with Egypt's new military leaders grow weaker. Egypt
