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
Alleged Beating by PA Interrogators Costs Palestinian Man His Speech Reports of beatings and torture by PA security forces are common, but there is no follow up or accountability, reports Linah Alsaafin. Palestine
Billionaire Adelson Meets Privately With Israeli Finance Minister Lapid Mazal Mualem wonders whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should worry about Finance Minister Yair Lapid, his potential heir, who recently met with a top Netanyahu backer. Israel
Ultra-Orthodox Conflict Threatens Secular Israeli City The secular residents of Beit Shemesh are preparing for a final battle against ultra-Orthodox inhabitants over the character of the city, reports Daniel Ben Simon. Israel
Hezbollah Leader 'Will Not Let Syria Fall' Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has said that "Syria has real friends in the region, and the world will not let Syria fall into the hands of America, Israel or [radical Islamist] groups," reports Ali Hashem from Beirut. Lebanon
Iran Has Reasons to Spoil PKK-Turkey Peace Process The Kurdistan Workers Party has announced a withdrawal from Turkey, a move that could isolate Iran and end a cease-fire between it and the PKK’s Iranian offshoot, reports Wladimir van Wilgenburg. Turkey
Arab League Land-Swap Offer Angers Palestinians The decision by the Arab League’s Washington delegation to offer a land swap to Israel has raised the ire of Palestinians, who say the move was unauthorized, reports Dalia Hatuqa. Palestine
Turkey's Constitutional 'Mayday' This year's May Day protests in Istanbul are linked to opposition to a draft constitution by the Justice and Development Party, writes Yavuz Baydar. Turkey
Fayyad Says Palestinian Leadership Must Stay Relevant, Engaged Outgoing Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad shows no sign of winding down politically in an interview with Daoud Kuttab. Palestine
The Case for an Israeli Referendum on Peace Mazal Mualem argues that a referendum law may well emerge as a useful lever for jump-starting the peace process. Palestine
Iraq Plans to Launch Satellite To Deal With Water Crisis As part of efforts to monitor desertification and growing water shortages across the country, Iraq is working to build and launch a satellite before the end of the year, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Russia Confronts Mideast SalafistsBy Courting Christians, Minorities Russia is courting Middle Eastern minorities, especially Christians, in a bid to confront Salafist extremism, writes an Al-Monitor correspondent in Beirut. Israel
'Israel Has Nothing to Fear' Daniel Abraham, founder of the Center for Middle East Peace, warns Ben Caspit that without an agreement with the Palestinians, Israel will find itself with a non-Jewish majority. Palestine
