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
Pompeo-Mattis briefing on Yemen to Senate bombs Secretaries of State and Defense, Mike Pompeo and Jim Mattis, urged senators to stay the course on US support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen, but senators said they were inclined to vote for legislation to curtail US support. Saudi Arabia
Putin eyes visit to Baghdad amid growing Russian-Iraqi contacts Contacts between Moscow and Baghdad have increased lately and President Putin may visit Iraq early next year. Iraq
Iran's conservatives return to Telegram after failed ban After banning Telegram, Iran's conservatives are now returning to the messaging app to protect Iranians from "the poisoned propaganda of the enemy." Iran
Iranians hail Europe's 'practical step' in safeguarding nuclear deal Iranians have cautiously welcomed reports that France and Germany are establishing a channel for trade with Iran and help salvage the nuclear deal. Iran
Turkey can't build prisons fast enough to house convict influx Turkey has incarcerated so many people on terror and drug-related charges that its prisoner population far exceeds its capacity and overcrowding has become a thorny issue. Turkey
How Soros turned from friend to foe for Erdogan The Open Society Foundation is pulling out from Turkey amid a vitriolic campaign demonizing its sponsor, George Soros, as a backer of forces that seek to unseat President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey
Political vacuum in Palestine leaves fertile ground for radical groups The lack of progress in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is creating opportunities for extremist groups to re-emerge, such as Hizb ut-Tahrir, which calls for the return of the Islamic caliphate. Palestine
Why Ghouta refugees in Afrin refused to send their children to school The displaced from eastern Ghouta protested a decision by Afrin’s local council to ban schools set up by them, by refusing to send their children to mixed schools. Syria
Iran moves forward with railway link to Syria via Iraq Iran is building a 20-mile stretch of railway that will connect railways throughout Iraq to neighboring Syria. Iraq
Will new water-saving measures at Egypt's mosques help save water? The Egyptian ministries of religious endowments and water resources and irrigation are collaborating on a new project to install water-saving nozzles in mosques and churches in order to rationalize water consumption. Egypt
Hamas politicos make rounds internationally to gain backing Hamas' Change and Reform bloc, looking to drum up support for Palestinians and improve bilateral relations, is taking its cause on the road. Palestine
Why Iran is also a strategic asset for Israel A significant number of Arab and Muslim leaders in the Middle East and the world fear Iran. For them, Israel is the only real answer to the Iranian threat and the only country able to confront it. Saudi Arabia
