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
Expect drama as attorney general weighs Netanyahu indictment The Israeli police's recommendation to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife for taking bribes in the so-called Case 4000 could lead to several dramatic possibilities for the people of Israel. Israel
Israeli mayor swears to keep his city Jewish The election of an inciting mayor in the city of Afula, who promotes an anti-Arab agenda, emphasizes the racist ramifications of the Nationality Law. Israel
UN Syria envoy's last Astana meeting ends with mixed results While the UN envoy to Syria lamented the 11th meeting of the Astana talks as a "failed possibility" to make progress, other participants felt differently about the results. Jordan
US sanctions unlikely to crack Iran’s support for Syria Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have perfected low-budget warfare; Putin draws his own red line with Israel and Iran; Erdogan’s zero-sum approach to Syrian Kurds. Israel
Congress gives Rand Paul the run-around to pass Syria sanctions bill Congress may resort to parliamentary parlor tricks to pass overwhelmingly bipartisan Syria sanctions legislation because of opposition from one senator. Syria
Why US sanctions won’t ‘starve’ Iran of means to pursue its regional policy The Trump administration’s stated aim to “starve” Iran of the financial resources to conduct its regional policy is unlikely to succeed for many reasons, including the fact that Tehran has honed inexpensive hybrid warfare. United States
New Egyptian panel will defend government, not human rights Numerous so-called human rights organizations in Egypt are working to shine up the regime's image, blasting any independent or global rights groups that dare to speak up about human rights violations in Egypt. Egypt
Legal discrimination in Israel spreads to utilities, local governance The Israel Electric Corporation's announcement that it will refrain from cutting off power for delinquent Jewish customers during the Jewish holidays marks another insidious ripple effect of the discriminatory nationality law. Israel
Does PA anti-terror plan aim to strangle Hamas financially? The Palestinian government says it recently approved the National Strategy for Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing in a bid to protect the economy, but many believe the step targets Hamas directly. Palestine