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
Iran preps for sanctions by expanding major port project Iran has long sought to develop the port of Chabahar, but its plans have recently expanded to building a major industrial center. Iran
Israel's finance minister listens carefully as citizens grumble over price of food The social protests that erupted in the summer of 2011 are still reverberating in Israel, and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon's refusal to allow the price of milk to go up means he senses growing consumer anger. Israel
Why Jordan will be key to any Mideast peace deal Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must show that he is committed to maintaining the status quo at Jerusalem’s holy sites as he declared after meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II. Palestine
The congressional fight over F-35s for Turkey isn’t over Even as a US deal to sell 100 F-35s to Turkey moves forward with a rollout ceremony this week, lawmakers may deny the transfer of crucial technology needed to operate the jets. Turkey
Pro-Kurdish opposition party election workers held as Turkey vote approaches As Turkey's contentious elections near, the only opposition party with any chance of keeping full control out of the president's hands is being hit hard with raids and rampant detentions. Turkey
Why Turks keep billions 'under the pillow' Amid waning confidence in Turkey’s economic prospects, many Turks have come to shun the financial system and keep their savings at home. Turkey
As Astana trio meets in Geneva, questions loom over Syrian constitution The formation of the Syrian Constitutional Committee has been mired by disputes and delays, though this stalling could be beneficial to Moscow and the Syrian government. Syria
Iranian activists' call for talks with US met with bipartisan fire and fury A statement signed by 100 Iranian activists calling for direct talks with the United States has been shot down by conservatives and Reformists alike. United States
As conditions shift in Syria, Kurds open to talks with Damascus Factors pushing Syrian Kurds to consider negotiating with the Syrian government include their loss of Afrin and the US-Turkey accord on Manbij. Syria
Kurdish rebels move to gain US support for operations against Iran Buoyed by an apparent resurgence in interest in Kurdish rebel groups in Washington, Iranian Kurdish rebel leaders appear to be maneuvering to gain support from the United States as Washington moves to confront the Islamic Republic. United States
Iran scores PR win in intelligence wars with Israel Israeli security sources admit that Iranian intelligence scored a point by recruiting former Minister Gonen Segev to spy against his country, but downplay his access to any sensitive information. Israel
No Turkish party free to speak up for captives held by PKK Dozens of Turkish captives held by the Kurdistan Workers Party seem forgotten by Turkey's politicians, none of whom have much to gain and everything to lose by calling attention to their plight. Turkey
