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 judiciary upholds another death sentence for economic corruption Iran’s judiciary has sentenced dozens of individuals to prison for cases related to the fluctuation in the currency market earlier in the year. Iran
US erects observation posts to avert war between Turks, Syrian Kurds The move highlights the complexity Washington faces in its efforts to maintain a military presence in Syria while appeasing fellow NATO ally Turkey. Syria
Turkish court recognizes Alevi houses of worship Turkey’s Alevi community awaits the government’s response to a landmark court ruling recognizing their houses of worship. Turkey
Forged Jerusalem home sale gets Jordan’s attention A Jordanian parliamentarian revealed forged documents notarized by a Jordanian lawyer to sell a Palestinian home in East Jerusalem to Israelis, raising the ire of Jordanians and Palestinians alike. Palestine
US sees renewed leverage over Assad in Syria The Donald Trump administration is confident that its pressure is eroding the Syrian regime and its allies. Syria
Why Gaza's flowers are no longer in bloom Gaza's flower exports had continued to grow since the 1990s, until it ran into the winter of the Israeli siege. Palestine
Why the Rouhani administration must eliminate energy subsidies Despite pressure from lawmakers and the general public, the Rouhani administration must proceed with fuel-subsidy reform in order to relieve itself of avoidable financial burdens. Iran
Is the GCC dead? Although Saudi Arabia has invited Qatar to attend the Gulf Cooperation Council summit Dec. 9, a resolution to the dispute between Doha and its Gulf neighbors seems far off, threatening the entire council with irrelevancy. Saudi Arabia
Erdogan expands gold business partnership with Venezuela despite sanctions Despite US sanctions against the South American country, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro are expanding their gold business. Turkey
Will China buy Turkey on the cheap? Some argue China may “swallow” Turkey through acquisitions, given China’s growing interest in the region and Turkey’s economic crisis, which has cheapened its assets and left it in dire need of external funds. But the realities on the ground speak otherwise. Turkey
US, Israeli, Palestinian leaders more hawkish than their peoples On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Palestinian leadership’s stance is more extreme than that of its public, the Israeli leadership’s stance is more extreme than that of the Israeli public and the Trump administration’s stance is far from the American public's position. Palestine
Iraqi official denies Bahaism as religion An Iraqi official's statement against the Baha'i religion raises concerns of Baha'is and other religious minorities in Iraq. Iraq
