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
French president says no apology for colonization of Algeria Algeria asked France to apologize for its actions during the more than 100 years of occupation. Algeria
Biden to talk Iran deal in early calls with foreign leaders, White House says Incoming Biden administration officials have suggested a return to the nuclear deal is a long way off. United States
Turkey's scapegoating of McGurk rooted in revisionism National Security Council coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk has worked closely with the Turks for many years on a range of knotty issues, and the growls from Ankara suggest that Turkey continues to pin US policies that it doesn’t like on "rogue" individuals. Turkey
Israel’s UN envoy takes second role as ambassador to US Israel’s ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan will start serving today also as the country’s ambassador to the US. Israel
Biden offers Israeli left chance to regain relevance With a new and friendlier US administration, Israeli progressives have an opportunity to promote their ideals, including the two-state solution. Israel
Dahlan complicates Abbas' plans for Palestinian elections The upcoming Palestinian elections are expected to stir a new confrontation between Fatah and Mohammed Dahlan’s movement should the reconciliation efforts exerted by some Arab countries fail to unify the Fatah movement. Palestine
King Abdullah engaged regional leaders in preparation for Biden’s presidency In the week ahead of President Joe Biden's inauguration, Jordan engaged in a flurry of diplomatic activity. Jordan
Egypt says it is renewing diplomatic relations with Qatar Qatar Airways also announced the resumption of its Cairo route as the Gulf rift comes closer to an official end. Qatar
What Democrats' Senate majority means for the Mideast Incoming Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez opposed the Iran nuclear deal and has been a proponent of the US recognizing the Armenian genocide. Congress
Biden ends Trump’s ban on travel from Muslim-majority countries Immigration advocates hailed Biden's decision, but said undoing the effects of the travel ban won’t happen overnight. United States
Trump issues pardons related to Israeli spying, Iran sanctions on last day in office The now former president pardoned the Israeli handler of American spy Jonathan Pollard as well as an Iranian-American man who was charged with violating Iran sanctions, among dozens of others. Israel
Turkey faces alarming increase in public debt Turkey’s public debt has swelled more than 40% over a year, adding to economic risks despite a relative recovery in the second half of 2020. Turkey
