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
Senate seeks to tie Trump’s hands on war powers with vote to end military role in Yemen The vote to end US support for the Saudi coalition in Yemen deals another blow to Riyadh, but it’s also an effort by liberals to curtail the president’s war-making authority. Saudi Arabia
Moscow monitors situation in Algeria as protests continue Russia is watching widespread Algerian protests with caution, wanting to preserve its assets in the country, as well as its strategic relationship. Algeria
Turkish opposition candidate faces allegations in lead-up to local elections The favored candidate to become mayor of Ankara has been charged with professional misconduct as a lawyer, but it seems the attempt to discredit him hasn't worked as planned. Turkey
Rouhani leverages Sistani visit to maneuver on Iran's regional policy Hassan Rouhani’s first state visit to Iraq as president has ushered in a series of important economic and political accords between the two countries — but his crowning achievement was his audience with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. Iraq
Turkey, US head to new crisis over Ankara’s S-400 purchase Washington’s threats of dire consequences for Turkey if it goes ahead with the Russian air-defense deal are being disregarded by Ankara. Turkey
Islamic group OKs fund to support Palestinians via UN A new endowment fund established by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation with the participation of the Islamic Development Bank will support UN efforts to help Palestinians, who have been cut off from US funding. Palestine
Iraq set to try Islamic State detainees according to local laws Iraq has received hundreds of Islamic State detainees from Syria and is preparing to try them in Iraqi courts. Iraq
Tunisia ends decadeslong agreement with France Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed decided to terminate an agreement with a French company exploiting sea salt, ending France’s monopoly over Tunisia’s salt market, which has been ongoing since the colonial era — but is this move part of an early electoral campaign? Tunisia
Abbas picks Fatah heavyweight Shtayyeh to lead government President Mahmoud Abbas appointed Mohammad Shtayyeh, a veteran politician and member of the Fatah Central Committee, as prime minister, placing on his shoulders the heavy burden of forming a government that pleases all Palestinians. Palestine
Netanyahu, King Abdullah in bind over Temple Mount Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jordanian King Abdullah II share a similar dilemma: They both need for tensions on the Temple Mount to calm down, but cannot afford to appear as the weak side in this affair. Palestine
Where Cairenes go just for laughs Stand-ups in Cairo ease the sometimes grim reality of everyday life in their chaotic megalopolis. Egypt
GOP blocks Trump administration’s bid to save Palestinian aid The Donald Trump administration has pushed Congress to preserve Palestinian security aid only to find resistance from the president’s Republican allies. Palestine
