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
Gaza not soothed by minor Israeli trade concessions Despite a truce understanding, tension is still high on the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. Palestine
Netanyahu says he’ll never evacuate West Bank settlements By stating that Israel will never again evacuate settlements, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially denied any intention of pursuing his 2009 recognition at his Bar Ilan speech of the two-state solution. Palestine
Iraq's diversity institute combats religious stereotypes and hate speech A new Iraqi institute aims to change the country's discourse toward minorities through educational curricula designed by religious minorities. Iraq
US forced to mull sanctions against Turkey after S-400 purchase The delivery of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system to Ankara has forced a new US sanctions regime into effect. Turkey
Updated: Iran's foreign minister receives visa, to arrive in NY Sunday Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was expected to arrive in New York on Sunday after uncertainty over whether he would receive a US visa amid tensions between Tehran and Washington. United States
Traps abound as Iraq charts independent course based on ‘national vision’ Iraq's new foreign policy vision promotes noninterference and economic integration; Turkey's bombing of PKK sites in Iraq's Qandil Mountains tests Baghdad's resolve. Iraq
US wants Kurdish groups to reconcile in eastern Syria In an interview with Al-Monitor, Abdul Karim Mohammed of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in Syria talked about the US initiative to bring disputing Kurdish parties in eastern Syria closer together, with the ultimate goal of preventing the return of the Islamic State. Syria
Qatar to fund Gaza's new industrial zone The Israeli blockade has crippled Gaza's exports, but a new industrial zone funded by Qatar in Gaza might alleviate the coastal enclave's financial burdens. Qatar
It's time for Israel-US defense treaty A defense pact with the United States would mean much more for Israel than statements such as recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Israel
Israel accuses Hamas of building explosives lab in West Bank Israel has announced that it foiled a Hamas plan to establish an explosives lab in the West Bank, warning that Hamas still seeks to extend the armed resistance from Gaza to Ramallah. Palestine
Can Tunisia get back into international good graces after imprisoning UN expert? Following the release of UN expert Moncef Kartas, Tunisia was elected a nonpermanent member at the UN Security Council, which some say should help it regain the trust it lost on the international scene. Libya
Are Trump team’s overtures to Palestinians serious? After the failure of the Bahraini workhop, the Trump team is making overtures to the Palestinian president and suggesting the reopening of the Palestinian mission in Washington — but can this be taken serious? Palestine
