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
Many Turks outraged by state religious authority's bloated budget Turkey's 2019 budget includes a sharp increase for its Religious Affairs Directorate, drawing criticism of what some see as a vast overreach in influence. Turkey
Netanyahu’s political victory is only temporary Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won a political battle, but he remains with a narrow coalition and an eroded public image. Israel
Israeli right storms Jerusalem mayoral race Jerusalem's new mayor ran a radical and deceptive campaign that bodes ill for the upcoming general elections. Israel
With rising US pressure, Iran worries about losing ground in Iraq Iran is worried about losing influence in Iraq after the reimposition of US sanctions on Iran and because of US pressure on Iraq to distance itself from Iran. Iraq
Iran turns to pragmatism as Israel woos Oman While Iran is unlikely to have been happy about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Oman, it has tried to remain pragmatic in order to prevent tensions with a longstanding Arab friend. Saudi Arabia
Turkey, Russia finish new gas pipeline Ankara and Moscow have inaugurated a portion of a natural gas pipeline under the Black Sea while the latest Turkish news on murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi includes his refusal to send a message to his son. Saudi Arabia
Egypt looks to remove religion from ID cards — but is it too little, too late? A proposed bill to remove religious status from national ID cards is welcomed by activists, but they say much more needs to be done to counter the discrimination and unprecedented levels of persecution suffered by Egypt's religious minorities. Egypt
Will Turkey remain involved in Libya? Although some perceive Turkey’s walking out of the Palermo conference as stepping back from the Libya process, it doesn’t mean that Turkey is giving up its struggle for influence. Originals
Palestinian refugees in Syria hope to return to Yarmouk While some Palestinian refugees are hopeful than they will return to the Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria, others are less confident in the Syrian government's facilitation of the process. Palestine
Netanyahu trapped over Gaza, political crisis Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must prove to the Israeli public that his decision to accept a cease-fire with Hamas and advance an arrangement could actually bring about quiet to the south. Palestine
How Hamas’ rocket barrage affects Israeli defense policy The latest Egypt-mediated cease-fire that follows the most recent flare-up of hostilities between Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza and Israel has sparked celebrations in the streets of the Gaza Strip and anger in Israel. Palestine
