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
The Bahrain Blackout in Arab Media The state-sponsored Arab news networks in the Gulf have given scant coverage to the reform and protest movements in Bahrain, writes Ali Hashem. Bahrain
In Erdogan’s Turkey, Censorship Finds Fertile Ground Censorship in Turkey is on the rise, raising questions about the state of Turkish democracy, writes Sibel Utku Bila. Turkey
Israeli College in West Bank a Setback For Two-State Solution Dalia Hatuqa analyzes the consequences of Israel accrediting Ariel University in the occupied West Bank with official university status. Palestine
Who Is Behind Paris PKK Murders? Kadri Gursel speculates on whether the murders of three PKK activists in Paris might be linked to the recent peace initiative between Ankara and the PKK, and the "regionalization" of the Kurdish issue in Turkey, Syria and Iraq. Turkey
KRG Oil Sales to Turkey Inflame Tensions with Baghdad Baghdad has threatened legal action in response to the Kurdistan Regional Government's decision to export oil to Turkey, while Washington stands by, writes Semih Idiz. Iraq
Iran Not a Priority For Most Israeli Voters Israeli voters are more concerned about domestic politics than the threat from Iran, Meir Javedanfar explains. Israel
Netanyahu's Real Headache Will Begin Day After Elections Once the elections are over, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have to choose whether to create a narrow coalition with the ultra-Orthodox, or try to persuade reluctant center-left parties to join a wider coalition, writes Nadav Perry. Israel
Iraqi Struggle for Secular Democracy Losing Ground Ali Abdel Sadah analyzes the struggles of secular democrats in Iraq against Islamic sectarian politics. Iraq
Palestinian Reconciliation: Three Tests Daoud Kuttab writes that there are three key indicators that will prove whether Hamas and Fatah are serious about reconciliation. Palestine
President Morsi Urges Unity for Palestine Clovis Maksoud writes that Cairo's hosting of the Hamas and Fatah leadership is a sign that Egypt takes Palestinian unity seriously, even if Palestinian leaders seem to be in no hurry. Lebanon
Peace Missing in Israeli Campaign Ads Mazal Mualem reports on the first night of campaign election ads and observes slogans, a sharp right turn and the absence of "peace." Israel
Saudi Execution of Sri Lankan Maid Exposes Vulnerability of Foreign Workers The execution of a Sri Lankan maid, who was charged as a minor with killing a 4-month-old Saudi baby, has drawn attention to the plight of foreign workers in the kingdom, reports Caryle Murphy. Saudi Arabia
