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
Proposed Sudan Media Law Targets Press Freedom A newly proposed media law is a setback for press freedom in Sudan, Reem Abbas reports from Khartoum. Sudan
US ‘Public Diplomacy’ Funded By Private US Companies Cash-short State Department gets private money to fund outreach to Middle East youth. Originals
Syria and the Lebanon Model Nassif Hitti asks whether the "Lebanon model," which breeds fragile and sectarian democracies, is suited for Syria. Lebanon
Bibi’s Choice After Election Will Set Course for Israel Assuming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu comes out on top in next week’s elections, his choice about who to include in the governing coalition will affect Israel for years to come, writes Shai Feldman. Israel
Syrian Refugees in Lebanon Try to Keep Hope Nasser Chararah reports on a young Syrian couple in Beirut who have fled from the conflict in Syria and, despite the tough conditions, maintain optimism that they will one day return. Lebanon
Salafists Vow to Fight Until There Is 'Islamic State in Syria' In a rare interview, an Ahrar al-Shams fighter tells Al-Monitor that the goal of his Salafi group is to establish an Islamic state in Syria and that "We will not let go until we achieve our goal." He explained that most of his comrades “don’t know anything” about the external Syrian opposition, and that he believes Turkey is profiting from the war. Syria
Paris Killings Highlight Kurdish, Regional Issues for Turkey The murders of three PKK activists in Paris highlight the centrality of the Kurdish issues in Turkey, Iraq and Syria, writes Cengiz Candar. Turkey
What Next for PUK, Iraqi Kurdistan? Iraqi Kurdish leaders are holding intensive meetings to address Iraqi Kurdish politics in the absence of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
Iraqi Protests Escalate, Enter Third Week As anti-Maliki protests in Iraq enter their third week, the demonstrations are increasing in size, and all sides are urging calm and restraint, writes Ali Abel Sadah. Iraq
Iraqi Border Closures Affect Commerce in Sunni Regions Iraq's decision to close border crossings in Sunni regions bordering Syria may be primarily for security, but it is also taking an economic toll, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Reality TV Breaks Barriers Between Israeli Jews and Arabs Television reality shows have become the only meeting point between Jewish and Arab Israelis, writes Shlomi Eldar. Israel
Sistani Calls for 'Civil State' in Iraq Mustafa al-Kadhimi discusses the role of Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Iraqi politics. Iraq
