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
Cyprus deal to turn Egypt into major gas exporter to Europe Egypt is hoping to rely less on natural gas imports after signing a deal with Cyprus to transport gas from the small Mediterranean island before it is liquefied in Egypt for exporting to European countries. Egypt
While US dithers on peace plan, Israeli right shores up support While the US administration delays presenting its peace plan, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman is busy promising the Israeli right more construction in the West Bank settlements. Palestine
Iraq's new president taps Adel Abdul Mahdi to form government After May elections, the Iraqi parliament finally elected a new president, Barham Salih, who chose the independent Adel Abdul Mahdi to try to form the next government. Iraq
Kurdish rebels join anti-Iran lobbying fray An Iranian Kurdish opposition group has registered to lobby Congress and the Donald Trump administration. Congress
Brunson affair becomes litmus test for Turkish-US ties Uncertainty remains over whether the American pastor will be released from detention next week by a Turkish court. Turkey
Will Iran, Turkey jointly confront US influence east of the Euphrates? Iran and Turkey are gearing their policies in Syria toward jointly tackling the current status quo in northeastern Syria, where US-backed forces constitute a common threat to both Turkish and Iranian interests. Syria
EU votes to withhold funding as Turkish democracy limps The European Union will withhold 70 million euros over Turkey's failure to stop its democratic decline in a blow sure to hurt Ankara where it counts. Turkey
Iranians mob money changers to sell dollars as rial jumps Iranians rushed to money changers in several cities to sell their "home-kept" dollars as their national currency started to regain value. Iran
US keeps aid flowing for Palestinian security forces, for now Despite its deep cuts in aid to Palestinians, the US has continued to offer financial support to the Palestinian security services. Palestine
Netanyahu wants peace with Arabs, not Palestinians Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talks big about improving ties with Arab countries but his speeches are meaningless without first resolving the conflict with the Palestinians. Saudi Arabia
Three years in Syria, Russia sums up achievements and challenges On the third anniversary of the Russian campaign in Syria, Foreign Minister Lavrov summed up Moscow's achievements but conceded challenges persist. Syria
Iran FM: Trump ‘repeating the same mistakes’ Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the Donald Trump administration is repeating the same mistakes that led to the US invasion and occupation of Iraq and growing chaos and instability in the Middle East. Iraq
