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
Iraqi Provincial Elections Postponed in Anbar As protests continue in Iraq’s western province of Anbar, local authorities have decided to postpone provincial elections scheduled for April 20, writes Ali Abel Sadah. Iraq
Moshe Ya'alon Will Bring Balance To Israeli Defense Ministry Ben Caspit retraces the career of Moshe “Bogie” Ya’alon, the expected choice for defense minister in the new Israeli government. Palestine
New Israeli Defense Minister No Threat to Netanyahu's Policies Israel's next defense minister, Moshe Ya’alon, is not expected to challenge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the Iranian threat or the Palestinians issue, writes Mazal Mualem. Palestine
Lebanese Elections: Three Scenarios As Shiite, Sunni and Christian considerations threaten to disrupt and even cancel the Lebanese elections scheduled for this summer, Jean Aziz outlines the three potential paths developments could take in the near future. Lebanon
Visiting Nablus Since Last Intifada Shows Renewed City After 10 years, Shlomi Eldar returns to Nablus and discovers it different from the city he remembers from the second intifada. Palestine
Three Powerful Men Decide Turkey's Future Kadri Gursel writes on the three men who are critical to Turkey’s future: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan; Abdullah Ocalan, imprisoned head of the Kurdistan Workers Party [PKK]; and Fethullah Gulen, exiled head of the Gulen Sunni movement. Turkey
No Prospects for Palestinian Currency With Israeli maintaining control of the Palestinian economy and internal divisions stalling reconciliation, a Palestinian currency seems little more than a dream, writes Omar Shaban. Palestine
Davutoglu Should Give Up 'Military Solution' in Syria Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is getting nowhere in his bid to have the European Union lift the arms embargo on Syria, and he should realize his pursuit of a military solution there is only prolonging the conflict, writes Semih Idiz. Syria
The New Muqtada al-Sadr Seeks Moderate Image in Iraq Iraq’s Muqtada al-Sadr started his political career as a radical Shiite cleric but has transformed himself into a force of moderation and stability, writes Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Iraq
Palestinian Athletes Suffer Under Gaza Blockade After years of Israeli blockade and repeated military offensives, Gaza's athletic facilities as well as the athletes themselves struggle to function, reports Hazem Balousha. Palestine
Lebanon Foreign Minister Creates Stir Over Syria Lebanon’s foreign minister, Adnan Mansour, draws criticism from both his own government and the Gulf states by calling for the reinstatement of Assad’s Syria in the Arab League, writes Elie Hajj. Lebanon
Is Morocco a Model or a Mirage? Neither of these two polar-opposite views, model or mirage, does justice to Morocco's uniquely mixed picture or prospects, writes David Pollock. Originals
