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
Nasrallah Increases Stakes in Syria War Famous for his use of allusions and nuance, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah spoke with an unusual clarity and directness on May 9 about Syria, writes Scarlett Haddad. Israel
PKK's Withdrawal From Turkey Shows Peace Process On Track Murat Karayilan, a leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), is taking the peace file with Turkey from imprisoned Abdullah Ocalan, signaling normalization of the process, writes Kadri Gursel. Iraq
Will Syria Retaliate For Israeli Airstrikes? If Syria is going to retaliate for Israeli's recent strikes, it is unlikely to do so soon, alone or in a manner that would lead to a comprehensive war, observes Haytham Mouzahem in an examination of official statements. Israel
Gaza Salafists Accuse Hamas Of Harassment, Torture Salafist prisoners in Gaza have reportedly begun a hunger strike in protest against their detention and continued harassment by Hamas authorities, Mohammed Suliman reports. Palestine
Hezbollah's Russian Connection Jean Aziz asks whether Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah has reassured his base following two televised speeches in nine days. Lebanon
Report Calls for New EU ApproachTo Israel, Peace Process A new European report urges the EU to toughen its stance on Israel and push it toward a two-state solution, reports Daoud Kuttab. Palestine
Egypt’s New Cabinet: More of the Same Nervana Mahmoud writes that the new cabinet announced by President Mohammed Morsi offers little prospect for progress or change. Egypt
Netanyahu Teaches Lapid A Lesson in Politics The message of support Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent Finance Minister Yair Lapid was a political maneuver against Lapid, already under fire for his austerity plan, writes Mazal Mualem. Israel
Is Turkey Headed for Sharia Rule? Mustafa Akyol argues that even if Turkey's Islamists have a "hidden agenda" of imposing sharia or Islamic law, they don't have much chance because of societal trends. Turkey
Exclusive: Islamic Jihad Rethinks Role In Palestinian Politics In the second of four exclusive reports from Gaza on the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, Asmaa al-Ghoul reports on the movement's greater involvement in Palestinian civic and political life, including municipal elections. Palestine
Davutoglu Warns Of 'Ethnic Cleansing' in Syria Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu lectures on Syria as the Kurdistan Workers Party starts to withdraw from Turkey, writes Tulin Daloglu. Syria
PKK Challenges Barzani In Iraqi Kurdistan Denise Natali writes that the withdrawal of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) forces from Turkey and developments in Syria will keep the Kurdish nationalist movement fragmented from within and across borders. Iraq
