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
Israeli right likely to maintain support for Netanyahu if indicted The Likud and the right-wing bloc is positioned to win the Israeli elections, and most of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition partners will agree to join him again even if he is indicted. Israel
Egypt closes crossing to Gaza as Abbas tightens noose The Palestinian Authority's latest action in the Gaza Strip is expected to worsen conditions for the already suffering Palestinians in Gaza. Palestine
Tunisia joins Arab efforts to mend ties with Syria’s Assad Tunisian political parties have been calling for the restoration of ties with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad six years after the former troika government expelled the Syrian ambassador. Syria
New Right more reality show than party After splitting from HaBayit HaYehudi for personal political reasons, Ministers Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked are struggling to define a distinct agenda for their new political platform. Israel
Kurdistan flag row threatens to reignite Kirkuk powder keg The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan raised the flag of Kurdistan over its headquarters in the multiethnic city of Kirkuk, fueling tensions between Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan over the disputed, oil-rich city. Iraq
Pompeo's Cairo speech panned as ‘tone-deaf,’ ‘hyper-partisan,’ ‘offensive’ Former diplomats and regional experts say Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s Cairo address fell short on substance and policy vision, while inappropriately taking domestic partisan arguments to foreign soil. Egypt
The real reason Egypt tried to quash Sisi's '60 Minutes' interview While the Egyptian president's comments on human rights and political prisoners angered Western observers, his comments on coordination with Israel pose a greater domestic threat. Egypt
Iran state TV airs video making case for jailing of British-Iranian dual national A video aired on Iranian state television featured previously unseen footage of the arrest of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. Iran
Turkey says Syria offensive does not depend on US troop withdrawal Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has warned against attempts to delay Turkish plans to fight a Kurdish militia in Syria when the United States pulls its forces out. Syria
Turkey’s crisis-hit soccer clubs face bitter pills in rescue plan A “rescue” plan is in the making for Turkey’s cash-strapped soccer clubs, but the operation might result in further political control over the soccer industry. Turkey
Debate over Syrian refugees gathers steam in Turkey Young Syrians celebrating New Year’s Eve in public Istanbul squares ignited false claims that Syrians are enjoying life in Turkey while Turkish soldiers die for their country. Syria
