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
Istanbul mayor cuts funding to pro-AKP groups as city spending comes under scrutiny As evidence of controversial spending under AKP officials accumulates in southeast Turkey, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has cut funding for certain state-linked foundations. Turkey
Lebanese-Israeli front heats up as Hezbollah vows retaliation Hezbollah's leader has promised to retaliate for Israel killing two of its operatives in Syria and bombing the movement's office Lebanon. Israel
Palestinian, Israeli economies intertwined A tour of the West Bank city of Bethlehem makes it clear that the Palestinian and Israeli economies are intertwined. Palestine
Netanyahu multiplies efforts for Likud to be the biggest party Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chalked up a major victory in convincing Zehut leader Moshe Feiglin to take his party out of the running for the Sept. 17 election. Israel
Iraqi Mandaeans fear extinction The Mandaean community in Iraq is dwindling to such low numbers that its members fear extinction. Iraq
Cash-strapped Jordan imposes new taxes; public anger ensues Economists suggest the Jordanian government should cut its own expenses and those of its staff instead of imposing taxes that add to the people’s economic burden. Jordan
Another international player gets involved in Syrian Kurdish rapprochement A British delegation recently visited the Kurdish region in Syria and met with rival Kurdish parties. Syria
Israel pays the price for sidelining Europe on the Iranian file The latest visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Biarritz indicates that France is willing to offer Israel a respite on the Palestinian issue, but not on the Iranian file. Israel
Will Putin's 'ice cream diplomacy' with Erdogan help resolve Idlib? In Moscow, ice cream may have been the only thing Erdogan got for free from Putin. Syria
Putin backs US-brokered security zone in Syria during Erdogan's Moscow visit Moscow has put its support behind a US-brokered security zone along the border between Turkey and Syria. Syria
Rouhani backpedals on suggestion of talks with Trump The Iranian president has conditioned any meeting with his US counterpart on sanctions removal, a clear shift from an earlier statement that he was prepared for any meeting that might help his country. United States
Will Iran-backed factions attack US troops in Iraq? Pro-Iranian militias in the Popular Mobilization Units are calling for taking strong action against the United States and for even targeting its presence in Iraq. Iraq
