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
Iraqi prime minister faces pressure in forming his Cabinet Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi faces many obstacles from the parliamentary blocs in appointing his new Cabinet members. Iraq
Palestinian journalists demand justice for slain colleague Khashoggi Although the Palestinian Authority (PA) backs Saudi Arabia in the Jamal Khashoggi affair, reflecting the PA's concern with political relations and a desire for material support, journalists and intellectuals are calling for those responsible to be held accountable. Saudi Arabia
Netanyahu protects Supreme Court’s power, for now Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports weakening the broad interpretive authority the Supreme Court applies, but he does not seek a full-on clash with the judicial system while he himself is under police investigation. Israel
Israel's ultra-Orthodox parties divided as municipal elections approach Numerous ultra-Orthodox candidates in the upcoming municipal elections reflect the growing splits within and among Israel's ultra-Orthodox parties, divisions that threaten to siphon the sector's political power. Israel
What's behind Russia’s 'wait and see' approach on Khashoggi killing? Russia has been keeping a rather low profile on the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, but this stance is driven by profound considerations of Moscow's own role in the Middle East Saudi Arabia
Will US sanctions sway Iran to enter oil deal with Russia? Iranians in general do not trust Russia, but their government may be looking into various oil deals with Moscow to work around US sanctions. Russia
Hariri turns witness for MBS defense Crowd laughs at Saudi crown prince’s joke about Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s captivity; Can Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hold the moral high ground in Jamal Khashoggi case? Saudi Arabia
Erdogan scores points in his foreign policy gamble Turkish President Erdogan scores major diplomatic points from the Khashoggi case to the quadrilateral summit in Istanbul. Saudi Arabia
Israeli intervention in Jerusalem provokes Coptic Christians A recent run-in shines a spotlight on age-old disputes between Christian denominations in the Middle East. Palestine
Reformists begin signaling support for Larijani as president Iran’s parliament speaker, while long a figure in the conservative camp, appears to be gaining Reformist backing for a potential presidential bid in 2021. Iran
To what extent can US aid help Iraq’s minorities? US financial aid to Iraqi religious minorities in the Ninevah Plains brings them hope and raises their expectations about the future of their homeland in northern Iraq. Iraq
