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
Beirut municipality fails, again, to preserve green spaces The destruction of one of Beirut’s last green spaces, as well as the eviction of several startups, points to the government's disregard of the public sector. Lebanon
Uighur students in Egypt face arrest, deportation to China Cairo seems to be trying to please Beijing by continuing to arrest Uighur students in the country. Egypt
Abbas dissolves tribal affairs committee in Gaza Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has ordered the Higher Committee for Tribal Affairs in Gaza disbanded over ties to exiled Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan, but the group is committed to continuing its work. Palestine
Trump, Europeans push to keep space for Iran diplomacy after Saudi attacks Following strikes on Saudi oil facilities, Donald Trump stated his desire to avoid escalation with Iran. Saudi Arabia
Congress aims to restore Syria stabilization aid Congress is calling for the State Department to spend $130 million on stabilizing Syria next year, a rebuke to the Trump administration’s efforts to zero out the fund in its 2020 budget proposal. Syria
Turkey at odds with US and Russia over northern Syria As Ankara loses ground in Idlib, President Erdogan’s threat of military action east of the Euphrates raises the stakes for Turkey. Syria
Erdogan touts grand plans to resettle Syrian refugees in safe zone Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claims a safe zone in northeast Syria could be used to resettle up to three million refugees currently in Turkey and Europe, but critics doubt his proposal is feasible. Syria
Has Erdogan revealed Ankara’s occupational goals? Syrian Kurds and Armenians fear a Turkish-run safe zone east of the Euphrates, particularly since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had threatened to establish a military safe zone east of the Euphrates and labels the Kurdish People's Protection Units as terrorists. Syria
Was Netanyahu’s controversial visit to Hebron worth election efforts? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a rare visit to the West Bank city of Hebron, drawing anger among Palestinians who warn against Israel’s efforts to extend sovereignty over Hebron’s Old City. Palestine
Will Israel cut electricity supply to West Bank? The West Bank has started to witness partial electricity cuts as the Israel Electricity Corporation claims debt owed by the Jerusalem District Electricity Company. Palestine
Self-proclaimed marja riles other Iranian ayatollahs Conservative ayatollahs in Qom, Iran, are losing patience with one of their own because he deems himself a marja, or top religious authority, and because of his secular leanings. Iran
