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
Can Peretz breathe new life into the Labor Party? Amir Peretz’s victory in the Labor Party primary is a vote for someone who has promised to revive the party and a defeat for Ehud Barak, who had other plans for it. Israel
Will new chairman of Iranian foreign policy panel set fire to nuclear deal? The election of Mojtaba Zonnour as chairman of Iran’s parliamentary foreign policy commission has led to speculation about possible moves he may make to force the government to leave the 2015 nuclear deal. Iran
World powers implore Iran to stick with nuclear deal European nations expressed regret that Iran had exceeded a 300-kilogram cap on its stockpile of low enriched uranium, but diplomats said they were seeking ways to keep Iran in the nuclear deal. Russia
Israel’s Liberman takes on radicalization of religious Zionism Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Liberman may have exaggerated in railing against the country’s religious pre-military academies, but he's correct about the radicalization of the religious Zionist stream. Israel
Erdogan finds warm welcome, 'shared vision' in Beijing Turkey and China put their differences aside at a summit to expand trade and investment, but Beijing’s treatment of its Uighur minority and competition over foreign markets still trouble the relationship. Turkey
Trump critics rethink US policy toward Saudi Arabia A change in direction of US policy toward the Saudis should be part of a broader change in policy to the region, especially regarding Iran. Saudi Arabia
Palestine seeks to achieve energy independence Seeking to reduce its huge dependence on Israel, Palestine is set to establish its first waste-to-energy power project. Palestine
Iran ready for 'second phase' in scaling back nuclear deal commitments Iran is expressing full determination to enter a "second phase" in reducing its commitments under the nuclear deal as it perceives European moves to protect the pact as insufficient. United States
Escalation in Idlib may force Turkey to review its position Confrontations between Turkish forces and the Syrian army are becoming more frequent in and around Idlib, the last stronghold of the Syrian opposition. Syria
Iraq orders militias to fully integrate into state security forces In an important move amid US-Iran tensions, the Iraqi prime minister issued a decree ordering the Popular Mobilization Units to come under the full control of the state. Iraq
Top US general’s retirement marks turning point in Mideast operations Will Gen. Joseph Votel's retirement result in the end of US low-budget warfare in the region? Iraq
Intel: Why Turkey is intent on proceeding with Russian arms deal The first shipment of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system will arrive in Turkey “within one week or 10 days,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced yesterday. Turkey
