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
Palestinian Authority warns Israel of strengthening Hamas Senior Ramallah Palestinians warn Israel that its efforts to weaken President Mahmoud Abbas would end up with Hamas taking over the West Bank and Palestinian leadership. Palestine
Is Erdogan’s brinkmanship forcing Washington to climb down? Ankara is pleased with Trump’s decision to pull out of Syria, but it greets this decision with a mixture of caution and skepticism. Syria
How real are Erdogan’s ‘second Gezi’ worries? Turkey’s president and his far-right ally have come to issue harsh warnings against opposition protests, but in the absence of any sign that such protests could erupt, their real aim appears to be to nourish polarization. Turkey
How insecurity in Iran's southeast could benefit UAE, Pakistan Regional rivalry over maritime trade has intensified speculations in Iran about possible Emirati-Pakistani involvement in the recent terror attack in the southeastern port of Chabahar. Iran
Iranian analysts welcome US withdrawal from Syria Iran's government has not officially reacted to Trump's announcement of a US withdrawal from Syria, but Iranian analysts have welcomed the news. Syria
Iraqi artist preserves Iraqi heritage in 3D exhibition An Iraqi engineer leads his own mission to preserve Iraq's heritage in 3D reconstructions. Iraq
Will kafala system come to an end in Gulf countries soon? Egyptian expats expressed hope after Egypt and Kuwait signed a memorandum of understanding to regulate the status and sponsorship of workers, which paves the way for the elimination of the controversial kafala system. Kuwait
Netanyahu’s government full steam ahead with undemocratic legislation Israeli security and judicial systems both object to measures against Palestinian civilians, yet the Netanyahu government keeps advancing undemocratic legislation. Palestine
Israeli settlements threaten to engulf West Bank communities Israel announced a project to build a water pipeline connecting two settlements in southern Nablus, which raises Palestinians' fears that a larger plan is in the works to divide the West Bank. Palestine
House Democrats prepare to take on Trump over Iran sanctions Democrats and advocacy groups are preparing to confront the Donald Trump administration about obstacles to humanitarian exemptions in the Iran sanctions regime. United States
Mohammed bin Salman's awful year King Salman will pay a price for standing by his son as 2018 has become the year it all went bad for the crown prince and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
Despite difficulties, Russia optimistic about Syria's Constitutional Committee Though the UN has yet to confirm who will serve on Syria's Constitutional Committee, the Astana trio is optimistic about the committee's overall prospects, especially after the United States announced it will withdraw its troops from Syria. Syria
