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
Iran shrugs off new sanctions Iranian officials said they will continue to reduce their nuclear commitments under the JCPOA. United States
Will drone downing lead to Iran-US negotiations? Although some in Tehran see a prime opportunity for talks, major obstacles still stand in the way. United States
Palestinians expect little from Bahrain summit Many analysts are skeptical about the economic plan for the West Bank and Gaza that the US administration has prepared for this week's workshop in Bahrain. Bahrain
US, Netanyahu hand-pick Israeli journalists for Bahrain conference The State Department authorized only six Israeli outlets to cover the Bahrain conference, picking mostly journalists likely to write positively or journalists who aren't too critical of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Bahrain
Eastern Mediterranean heats up as gas rivalry stakes grow higher Turkey’s launch of a second ship to drill in disputed areas off Cyprus is the harbinger of further escalation in the eastern Mediterranean and tough choices for Ankara. Turkey
Israel threatens to expulse hundreds of Filipino children Israeli authorities have notified dozens of Filipina migrant workers that they will be expulsed from the country once the school year is over, together with their children. Israel
Hamas silent on Saudi Arabia arrests of Saudi nationals supporting the movement Lebanon’s Al-Akhbar reported that the Saudi authorities have been arresting Saudi nationals and Palestinian expats who support Hamas, over the movement’s declared position in support of Iran. Legacy: Gulf
Brotherhood seeks international pressure to prosecute army leaders The Muslim Brotherhood is redoubling its effort for the prosecution of high-ranking military officers involved in the 2013 deaths of protesters and to abolish a law granting immunity to military leaders. Egypt
How Netanyahu exploits US-Iran tensions For Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the low-level US-Iran tensions are a great opportunity to bolster his security image and to divert public attention from his legal imbroglio. Palestine
Opposition candidate wins Istanbul mayor's race in blow to AKP Voters rebuke long-time AKP dominance in Istanbul, delivering victory to CHP candidate Ekrem Imamoglu in a controversial election do-over. Turkey
Jailed militant leader enters Istanbul election fray An unexpected message from Abdullah Ocalan, who is serving a life sentence for treason, urged Kurds to stay “neutral” and could tilt the outcome in a bitter campaign for control of Turkey’s biggest city. Turkey
Russian diplomats sweep through Lebanon, Iraq, Syria Russia's Syria envoy Alexander Lavrentiev and others recently paid important visits to the Middle East to present Russia’s refugee plan and discuss the latest regional developments. Iraq
