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
Iraq establishes National Oil Company To help further develop Iraq’s energy sector, parliament recently passed a law that establishes the National Oil Company for oil extraction and manufacturing. Iraq
Jerusalem electricity company crippled by Israel, Palestinian Authority The Jerusalem District Electricity Company, which supplies energy to 280,000 customers spanning four districts and employing more than 1,000 Palestinians, faces several challenges by the Israeli and Palestinian governments. Palestine
Foreign ministers set stage for Putin-Erdogan meeting in April Expect to see an effort to boost Russian-Turkish collaboration when the presidents of both countries meet in two weeks. Turkey
Turkey doubles down in pastor row with US American pastor Andrew Brunson, behind bars in Turkey on terrorism-related charges, risks up to 35 years in jail in a politically loaded case that critics describe as “an eclipse of reason.” Turkey
Rift within ultra-Orthodox politics affects coalition stability The reasons for the eruption of Israel’s latest political crisis, and the way it was handled, reflect division within the ultra-Orthodox parties and a leadership crisis. Israel
Will this woman be Israel's next political star? As Knesset member Orly Levy-Abekasis promotes her newly formed party, her popularity already points to a changing of the old guard in Israeli politics. Israel
Gaza farmers denounce Israel pesticide use along border Agricultural lands along the eastern Gaza border are being sprayed with pesticides by Israeli gliders, resulting in the destruction of cultivated crops on Palestinian lands. Palestine
Cairo looks to Sufi sheikhs to counter extremism A new Sufi order has been added to the 77 other orders that are recognized in Egypt; some believe that with this step, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is gearing up for the upcoming elections. Egypt
Why Palestinians say early elections in Israel would change nothing Palestinian sources estimate that whether or not Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu wins in the next election, settlement policies will persist. Palestine
Egypt to 'partially privitize' railways Cairo's plan to involve the private sector in the management of its railways is intended to improve services and fight corruption, but some in Egypt see any movement toward privatization as a dangerous slide. Egypt
IRGC funding for cinema stirs debate in Iran Financial support from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps becomes a heated topic in Iran’s cinema community. Iran
Iranian media abuzz over sudden Tehran mayor resignation The sudden resignation of Tehran’s Reformist mayor has surprised Reformist media and political activists alike. Iran
