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
Defense Chiefs Distrust Israeli Political Leadership Recent revelations about the relations between former chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi and Defense Minister Ehud Barak imply that the defense establishment questions the capabilities of the Israeli political leadership, writes Alon Ben David. Israel
Palestinians Must Unite Before Israeli Elections Clovis Maksoud writes that the likely victory by right-wing parties in the coming Israeli elections sets a deadline for Palestinian reconciliation. Palestine
Paris Murders Just One Element Of PKK Puzzle Tulin Daloglu writes that the recent murders of three PKK members in Paris may not derail the current initiative by Prime Minister Erdogan, but other issues might. Turkey
Lebanese Electoral Law Shakes Political Coalitions Political alliances are shifting and rifts widening as legislators again take up a new electoral law, reports Elie Hajj. Lebanon
Syrian Silent Majority Demands'Transition to Rationality' Syrians are voicing their desire for a new civil society based on rationality, negotiation and compromise, writes Geoffrey Aronson. Syria
Assad's Speech and the Syrian Political Solution Sami Moubayed analyzes prospects for a political solution in Syria following the speech by President Bashar al-Assad. Syria
Netanyahu Needs A Partner From the Center Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs not only right-wing parties in his next coalition, but also a center party partner — thus, minimizing pressure from the international community on one hand, and leaving him with some maneuver space from within the coalition on the other, writes Nadav Eyal. Israel
Transitional Justice in Iraq Is Anything But Transitional justice in Iraq has been a front for political score-settling and vengeance and that must change, writes Mushreq Abbas. Iraq
Young Palestinian Activists Seize Initiative at Bab Al-Shams The grassroots Palestinian move to erect an outpost in an area wanted by Israel for illegal settlements could be the start of a new tactic, Daoud Kuttab writes. Palestine
New Generation of Political Stars Under Spotlight of Israeli Elections The new generation of young Israeli political stars will be tested in the current campaign and beyond, writes Mazal Mualem. Israel
Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense US President Barack Obama has made an inspired choice by nominating Chuck Hagel to be US Secretary of Defense. Pan Arab
'Sheratongate' Shakes Tunisian Ruling Party The scandal implicating Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem — the son-in-law of Ennahdha party head Rached Ghannouchi — over expensive hotel bills is yet another challenge to Tunisia’s ruling party and government, reports Mischa Benoit-Lavelle from Tunis. Tunisia
