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
Gazans Alarmed by Draft Law Including Islamic Punishments A hard-line draft penal code that calls for Islamic punishments including flogging and amputation has sparked fierce debates in Gaza, writes Hazem Balousha. Palestine
Jerusalem Day Needs a Makeover On the occasion of Jerusalem Day, which is not celebrated by 67% of residents, Akiva Eldar wonders what could happen if the so-called “united city” combined to vote for a Palestinian Jerusalemite candidate. Palestine
Will the Iraqi Cabinet Meet In Kurdistan Region? Iraqi and Kurdistan Regional Government sources have confirmed that a cabinet meeting will be held in Erbil, reports Ali Abel Sadah. Iraq
The Return of the Jordan Option For Palestine Geoffrey Aronson writes on the emergence in Jordan of the view that Palestine is Jordan. Jordan
Human Rights Watch Slams Iraqi Government for Hawija The Iraqi government is being held accountable for the attack on demonstrators in Hawija on April 23 that resulted in 50 deaths, writes Mushreq Abbas. Iraq
Egyptian Prisoners Languish In Israeli Jails Egyptian prisoners in Israeli jails are launching a hunger strike, in the hope that Cairo starts taking interest in their plight, writes Shlomi Eldar. Egypt
Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound UnrestThreatens Israel-Jordan Diplomacy Jordan has decided to withdraw its ambassador from Tel Aviv, and its parliament has voted unanimously to expel the Israeli ambassador in reaction to the latest Israeli incursion into Al-Aqsa mosque, reports Daoud Kuttab. Palestine
Hezbollah’s Opponents Filling Power Vacuum With Lebanon waiting for the prime minister-designate to form a government and Hezbollah engaged in the Syrian civil war, Beirut's political factions are maneuvering for position, writes Elie Hajj. Lebanon
Kerry Breaks the Ice in Moscow; Russia Sticks to 'Principle' on Syria US Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to Moscow came in a context of genuine good will, although the US and Russia still differ on the sequencing for a transition in Syria, writes Fyodor Lukyanov. Syria
Palestinian Groups in Gaza Condemn Israeli Strikes on Syria Palestinian factions in Gaza urge Arab states to prevent Israel from taking advantage of the Syrian crisis, reports Mohammed Suliman. Palestine
How the Arab League Can Help Israel, Palestine Negotiate Nassif Hitti writes on the John Kerry–Arab League meeting and how to resume negotiations for a peaceful Israeli-Palestinian resolution. Palestine
Jordan, Iran Agree on Need For Political Solution in Syria Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi made a rare visit to Jordan, which showed some shared interest in a peaceful transition in Syria, writes Osama Al Sharif from Jordan. Jordan
