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
Palestinians struggle to preserve memories in younger generation As memories and stories fade with the survivors of the Nakba, so does the personal connection held by descendants of Palestinian refugees. Palestine
Israeli bill threatens courts’ ability to protect minority rights A new bill that would allow the Knesset to re-legislate laws struck down by Israel’s supreme court jeopardizes the independence of the judicial branch. Israel
Kurdish alliance emerges as key actor in Turkey's upcoming elections Rejected by two major electoral alliances, the Kurds have set up their own alliance with an eye on prizes much further away than Turkey’s snap polls. Turkey
Women ready to run for office in Egypt Egyptian women are being groomed to win elections and become effective leaders once they do. Egypt
West Bank takes charge of electricity, ending Israeli control Under a recent deal reached between the Palestinian Authority and the state-owned Israel Electric Corp., Israel will no longer control electricity distribution to the West Bank. Palestine
Groups help mothers, families of missing Tunisian migrants Organizations in Europe and Tunisia are taking a page from a Central American movement, teaming up to help people whose family members have disappeared or died while seeking a better life in new countries. Tunisia
Putin’s stock rises as 'go-to' mediator between Israel, Iran Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may have given Russian president advance notice of attack on Syria; Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan labels United States as loser in decision to withdraw from Iran nuclear deal. Israel
Eager to vote, Iraq's displaced faced obstacles on election day Promises of jobs and support to rebuild their homes sent many of Iraq's internally displaced in search of voting stations that would allow them to cast their vote on May 12. Iraq
Is Iraqi PM counting on Sunni, Kurdish votes for re-election? Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi appears to be counting on Sunni and Kurdish votes to win the next election, with visits to traditional Kurdish and Sunni strongholds. Iraq
Iranian oil exports set to continue under US sanctions While the US reimposition of sanctions on Iran is not likely to majorly hit Iranian oil exports in the near term, it could have severe consequences for the country’s energy sector in the long term. Iran
Candidates' past ties to Saddam create uproar in Iraq's Kurdistan Region Despite the Kurdistan Regional Government's strong rhetoric against Saddam Hussein and his collaborators, several Kurdish figures who worked with the former Iraqi president's Baath regime are participating in the upcoming elections. Iraq
Will escalation in Iran-US tensions impact Syria conflict? With tension between the United States and Iran rapidly increasing, northern and eastern Syria could witness an upsurge in proxy clashes between parties backed by each side. Syria
