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
Syrians in makeshift displacement camp face ‘impossible choice’ A joint United Nations-Syrian Arab Red Crescent mission has arrived at the Rukban camp, near the Jordanian border, where more than 10,000 people are living in dire conditions, to ask them if they want to go back to the government-held area of Homs province. Jordan
Can Abbas revive peace vote for Israeli left? A meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and a Democratic Union delegation was conducted with the hope of returning the two-state solution to Israeli electoral politics and encouraging Israelis who still back that approach to get out and vote in Knesset elections in September. Palestine
Egypt’s security forces face accusations of extrajudicial killings Egyptian security forces killed 17 suspects they say were involved in a car bomb that killed more than 20 people in Cairo, raising questions about the operation, which happened quickly. Egypt
Hamas seeks ties with other factions, Palestinian families Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar revealed details of a recent meeting between Hamas and Islamic Jihad to coordinate efforts to confront Israel and pursue the Palestinian cause. Palestine
Macron to press Trump on Iran diplomacy at G-7 French President Emmanuel Macron says he will present US President Donald Trump ideas for an economic incentive package to try to advance Iran diplomacy at the G-7 summit in Biarritz this weekend. United States
How Russia could facilitate China’s role in rebuilding Syria Moscow and Beijing are eyeing a number of opportunities to push forward on the reconstruction of Syria and Lebanon could play a central role. Lebanon
Likud fears small right-wing parties will fail elections Polls show that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doesn’t have enough seats to put together a right-wing, ultra-Orthodox government, yet three small parties on the far right still don’t plan to drop out of the race. Israel
Netanyahu turns his back on Democrats, US Jews Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not react to the statement by President Donald Trump about American Jews not loyal to their homeland, because for a long while now he has not counted them as a strategic asset of Israel. Israel
End game looms for Turkey in Idlib Turkey has found itself with little room to maneuver in Idlib after its last-minute moves failed to avert the fall of Khan Sheikhoun in a Syrian army offensive that seemed to be a response to the new Turkish-US partnership to the east of the Euphrates River. Syria
Turkey recalibrates refugee policy as Idlib fighting displaces more Syrians Turkey’s Interior Ministry is moving to formalize refugee policies as new wave of displaced Syrians amasses in Idlib. Syria
Iran’s Reformists scramble to avert defeat in key polls With only six months to go until Iran's crucial parliamentary elections, the country's Reform Movement is grappling with multiple crises and could lose its overwhelming majority to rival hard-liners. Iran
What was behind regional tour of Iranian foreign minister? Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif goes to Kuwait and Qatar to promote dialogue, perhaps because opportunities that once developed through Oman may no longer be as fruitful as they once were. Saudi Arabia
