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
Iranian Official Reportedly Killed In Syria Houssam Khosh Nweis has been killed in Syria amid rumors and stories of the circumstances surrounding his death. Lebanon
Tel Aviv Calling, Mr. Obama US President Barack Obama should skip the dismal visits to tombs and monuments in Jerusalem in his forthcoming visit to Israel and drop by Tel Aviv instead, writes Ben Caspit. Israel
Palestinians Not Optimistic About Obama Visit As US President Barack Obama prepares to meet Israeli and Palestinian leaders in their respective capitals, Palestinians do not expect any progress on the peace process, reports Hazem Balousha. Palestine
Is Barzani Assuming Talabani's Role As Mediator in Iraq? Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani has taken up the roles of both broker and mediator in Iraqi politics given Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's absence, in the midst of a tense situation in the country, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
Baghdad Bickers With Regions Over Iraqi Budget The yearly argument over the budget in Iraq has yet again come to the fore, as the parliament cannot decide on what proportion to give to each of Iraq’s regions, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
'Jordanian Option' Not an Option, Says Shimon Shamir Shimon Shamir, former Israeli ambassador to Jordan, tells Akiva Eldar why raising the possibility of Jordan annexing the West Bank is a slap in the face to Amman and runs counter to Israel's interests. Palestine
Dan Meridor: Struggle With Iran Will 'Shape the Middle East' Departing Likud Minister Dan Meridor tells Mazal Mualem about the squandered diplomatic opportunities with the Palestinians, and how the struggle with Iran will shape the Middle East. Israel
Militias Persevere in Modern Iraq Militias have been a feature of Iraqi politics and society since the founding of the modern state, writes Mushreq Abbas. Iraq
Israeli Military Cracks Down On Palestinian Tent Villages Palestinian activists continue to set up tent villages to protest Israel's land grab, and are often met with force by the Israeli army, Linah Alsaafin reports. Palestine
Erekat: No Settlement Freeze Means No Negotiations Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat explains that a freeze on Israeli settlement activity is a condition for resuming negotiations with Israel in an interview with Shlomi Eldar. Palestine
Bahrain Marks Second Anniversary Of Uprising With Dialogue, Deadlock On the second anniversary of the Bahraini uprising, a new dialogue between the government and opposition has opened and the streets of Manama are mostly calm, but political tensions continue to roil, writes Lena Odgaard from Manama. Bahrain
Iranians Support Nuclear Program, Blame West for Sanctions, Says Poll A recent Gallup poll in Iran reveals that Iranians support the government’s nuclear ambitions and blame the West for sanctions, writes Mohammad Ali Shabani. Iran
