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
How crisis with US dealt fresh blow to Turkish press The depreciation of the Turkish lira, fueled by the crisis between Ankara and Washington, has raised the cost of imported paper enormously, pushing already-struggling publications to the brink of collapse. Turkey
Rouhani’s economy minister impeached Just one year into his second term, Hassan Rouhani’s economic team has come under fire with two ministers impeached in one month. United States
Iran yanks favored exchange rate from students abroad The Iranian government’s new foreign exchange rules are keeping many students abroad from obtaining currency at the lower official rate, with the backlash posing a new challenge for the Rouhani administration. United States
Ghalibaf retools image to lead Iran's new conservatives After several failed presidential bids, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf appears to be maneuvering to become the leader of a younger generation of Iranian hard-liners by trumpeting what he calls the 'new conservatism.' Iran
Three Arabs beaten nearly to death as nationalism sweeps Israel Shocking violence against three Arab Israelis is just the latest disastrous consequence of the right's hateful policies. Palestine
Israel, US seek to redefine Palestinian refugees Israeli diplomats claim that the UNRWA’s mandate must be revised so that the issue of Palestinian refugees will include only the generation that really lost its home. Palestine
Tunisia’s next political battle: equal inheritance rights President Beiji Cai Essebsi’s call for a law establishing equal inheritance rights for men and women has sparked debate in Tunisia, a pioneer in women's rights in the Middle East but also a largely conservative society where most people reject contradicting Sharia. Tunisia
Congress dangles Turkey trade deal as carrot to Trump’s stick Lawmakers are floating a free trade agreement with Turkey as the president doubles steel and aluminum tariffs on Ankara for its ongoing detention of a US pastor. Turkey
FSA takes hit with slump of Turkish lira The collapse of the Turkish lira paralyzed markets in Operation Euphrates Shield areas and is harming the livelihood of more than 100,000 families. Syria
What would 'post-America' Turkey look like? Turkish-American relations are suffering one crisis after another, threatening an end to the longtime alliance, unless current issues can be resolved. Turkey
US-Turkey cooperation against Islamic State ongoing, Pentagon says Ankara and Washington remain committed to the joint mission of rooting out Islamic State holdouts despite the diplomatic row over Pastor Andrew Brunson, Pentagon and State Department officials say. Syria
Iraqi Kurds throw lifeline to Iranian Kurds as sanctions begin to bite Iraqi Kurds, who remember the help they received from Iranian Kurds in the past, want to return the favor now that their brethren are suffering under US sanctions. Iraq
