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
Pre-Oslo Prisoners Still Obstacle To Palestinian-Israeli Talks Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has rejected an Israeli offer to release 50 of an estimated 107 prisoners detained before the signing of the Oslo Accords, an issue that continues to stall negotiation efforts. Palestine
Egypt’s Opposition Parties Agree: Consensus Before Economy Similar stances between Egypt’s liberal and Salafist parties concerning the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood could pave the way for an unlikely electoral coalition. Egypt
Erdogan, Gezi Park And the Headscarf Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan argues that the Gezi Park protests have to do with the headscarf ban in public places, saying the protesters don’t really know a thing about freedom. Turkey
Erdogan Raises the Stakes The intimidation tactics and high tension strategies that Turkey's prime minister appears to have opted for will unsettle the economy, the Kurdish peace process and eventually the AKP. Turkey
Whether Qusair Will Tip The Balance Remains to Be Seen The defeat of Syrian opposition forces in Qusair may be a turning point toward a deepening of the conflict or a catalyst for a peace conference. Lebanon
Istanbul Square Crackdown Shakes Erdogan’s Regional Credibility Ankara must now go on defense and try to protect itself from negative fallout in Syria. Turkey
Hamas Considers New Blend Of Resistance, Politics In the last of a three-part series on Hamas, its leaders seek to balance their tradition of uncompromising resistance to Israel with more nuanced considerations of governance. Palestine
Former Israeli Minister Predicts Violent 'Israeli Spring' "Don't belittle the chances of an Israeli Spring," warns former Labor party minister Ra'anan Cohen, addressing Israel's lack of economic vision and deepening social gaps. Israel
Netanyahu Not Really Considering Two-State Solution, Says Danon Israel's Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon lets the cat out of the bag. Palestine
Why Iran’s Supreme Leader Wants Jalili for President With his loyalty to the supreme leader and lack of ties to established groups, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili appears to have Khamenei’s backing. Iran
Is This the Beginning Of Erdogan Era's End? Some of the traits that made Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan a success are now emerging as liabilities. Turkey
UN Forces in the Golan Perpetuate Israeli Occupation The withdrawal of the Austrian UNDOF forces from the Golan Heights should remind Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the UN is not in charge of Israel's security in an occupied territory. Israel
