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
Egypt’s New Draft Constitution Threatens Islamist Parties Egypt's draft constitution bans religious political parties, a move that has sent many parties scrambling to remove Islamist traces from their platforms. Egypt
Israel Stalls, Drags Out Peace Talks Palestinian negotiators are frustrated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s team is not willing to pick up where talks with former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert left off. Palestine
Egypt Debates US Strike on Syria Anti-Americanism has clouded perceptions in what is now the post-realist phase of the Egyptian revolution. Egypt
Lapid, Bennett Performances Disappoint on Israeli Economy On this Jewish time of “assessments” for the New Year, many are reconsidering the performance of Finance MInister Yair Lapid and Minister of Economy and Trade Naftali Bennett. Israel
Turkey’s Middle East Policy Lies in Shambles While Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan may still have some admirers in the "Arab street," he may be losing the admiration of many of the region’s leaders. Egypt
Is Turkey Backpedaling on Syria? Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc has signaled that Turkey hasn't fully decided to join the coalition of the willing against the Syrian regime. Syria
Is There a Plan For Day After Military Strike? As the world awaits a potential Western military strike on Syria, the results and repercussions of such a strike would largely depend on the plan or vision to be implemented the day after. Lebanon
Tamarod Calls for Protest Against Hamas in Gaza The Palestinian Tamarod movement has set the date of Nov. 11 for a mass protest against Hamas' rule of the Gaza Strip. Palestine
Maliki to Run for Third Term Following Court Decision A Federal Supreme Court decision in Iraq has paved the way for standing Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to run for a third term of office. Iraq
Iraqi Politicians Mobilize Followers Through Feasts Given the tribal nature of Iraqi society, politicians often must seek the support of large clans to ensure success in elections. Iraq
Will a Rafsanjani Be Tehran's Next Mayor? Tehran's next mayor will be following large personalities who filled that position and will need to address many of Tehran's urban issues. Iran
US Military Force Could Promote Diplomacy in Syria If the endgame is a diplomatic solution, the Obama administration should seek to strengthen secular Syrian opposition forces in advance of the Geneva II conference. Syria
