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
Tehran careful to frame steps against money laundering as independent move Iran is moving cautiously forward on legislation to combat money laundering and terror financing, as the steps crucial to the health of Iran's economy must not be seen as concessions to outside pressure. Iran
Rouhani moves closer to Khamenei amid bipartisan backlash President Hassan Rouhani’s appearance before parliament to answer economic questions did not satisfy Principlists or Reformists. It did, however, please Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran
Why Turkey wants a permanent naval base in Northern Cyprus With the heated atmosphere in the eastern Mediterranean because of the Syrian crisis and the rivalry over hydrocarbon reserves, Turkey’s desire to install a permanent naval base in Northern Cyprus is being debated. Turkey
Jerusalem court recognizes settlement built on private Palestinian land The Jerusalem District Court has found that an Israeli settlement built on privately owned Palestinian land is legal, but Palestinian owners have not given up hope for the Supreme Court. Palestine
Palestinian judges resign in protest against executive branch interference Fourteen judges from the Supreme Court of Palestine announced their collective resignations Sept. 5 in protest against amendments to the Judicial Authority Law that would pave the way for the executive branch’s interference in the judicial sector. Palestine
Factions call for changing Iraq to presidential government A group of pro-Iranian leaders in Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units want to switch the Iraqi governing system from parliamentary to presidential. Iraq
Abbas says OK to demilitarized Palestinian state Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said to Israeli peace activists that he would approve the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state, which his close associates saw as a message to Israel that Palestinians want peace. Palestine
Selling government land in Gaza raises eyebrows Hamas says its Ministry of Finance in the Gaza Strip plans to sell a plot of government land, which some experts say is illegal. Palestine
Tunisian parliament to consider criminalizing racial discrimination Though Tunisia was one of the first countries to abolish slavery, violence and discrimination against its black minority continues to plague the country, and proponents say an anti-discrimination law is long overdue. Tunisia
What to do about 10,000 al-Qaeda-linked terrorists in Idlib? Hayat Tahrir al-Sham stymies Turkey’s bid for cease-fire, welcomes Syrian assault. Syria
US friends in the Middle East lose a champion in John McCain The late senator from Arizona leaves behind a legacy as one of the Senate’s last prominent proponents of US interventionism. Iraq
Pentagon revamps Egypt war games in trust-building exercise US-Egypt war games kick off Saturday, a sign that the Pentagon is serious about reviving the flagging relationship. Egypt
