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
Likud's election day dirty tricks The day after Knesset elections, a public relations firm that worked for the Likud revealed the party's “secret plan” to deter Israeli Arabs from voting. Israel
Jordanians questioning the value of hosting World Economic Forum Earlier this month, Jordan hosted the World Economic Forum for the 10th time, but a number of analysts charge that the gatherings have not produced any tangible economic results for the kingdom. Jordan
Why Netanyahu won big outside of Israel’s major cities The election results showed clearly that, contrary to the Likud and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Blue and White party does not have a foothold in Israel’s outlying towns. Israel
Is Blue and White strong enough for life in opposition? The election results have relegated the Blue and White Party, a team created solely to topple Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to the opposition benches. Israel
Congress adds new irritant in US-Turkey relations with pro-Cyprus push Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee want to lift the arms sale ban on the disputed island. Turkey
Fall of Iran’s former ally in Sudan sparks online reactions Iranian journalists and social media users closely watch events in Sudan, as the former ally transitions to a new era. Iran
Zarif reshuffles key envoys in push for active diplomacy In an effort seemingly meant to step up diplomacy, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has reshuffled key ambassadors, signaling plans for a more active engagement with the world. Iran
How the Kurdish factor had a boomerang effect in Erdogan's election defeat Turkey’s main pro-Kurdish party played a key role in Erdogan’s defeats in big cities in the local polls, managing to get its voters to back mayoral candidates from the main opposition bloc while sitting out the races. Turkey
Police raid homes in Istanbul as AKP demands new vote As the Justice and Development Party calls for an election rerun in Istanbul, police have been raiding dozens of homes in one of the city's districts on the hunt for more than 20,000 voters the ruling party claims the main opposition falsely registered or unlawfully removed from the lists. Turkey
From Aleppo to alpha male: Beirut dance fest takes on the world Founded 15 years ago, the Beirut International Platform of Dance strives to make contemporary dance a staple of Lebanon’s artistic culture while pushing the boundaries of the art form to speak to the issues of the day. Lebanon
Tunisian president says he won't run again — sort of Speculation shrouds Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi's declaration that he will not run for a second term and his call to unfreeze the Nidaa Tounes party membership of Prime Minister Youssef Chahed. Tunisia
Protests drag on as Algerians demand real change Protests in Algeria continue even with an interim president in place and fresh elections set for July, and the country’s economy may soon suffer. Algeria
