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 increases taxes amid public discontent The Iraqi government has increased non-oil revenues by imposing a sales tax to get $1.8 billion this year. Iraq
How Sisi is trying to win votes of informal sector workers As presidential elections approach, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called for an initiative to provide insurance for irregular workers who have no social security, pensions or health coverage. Egypt
Erdogan calls for mobilization of army reserves in Syria Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s growing advocacy of nationalism and war has triggered a new debate in the country, with the opposition calling for sending 800,000 Syrian males in Turkey to fight in Syria before mobilizing Turkish army reserves. Syria
Price hikes alone won't fix Egypt's ailing rail system A deadly train wreck this week spurred calls for improvements to Egypt's poorly maintained railway system and renewed discussion about a delayed increase in ticket prices. Egypt
Women's Taif TV blocked in Gaza two hours before launch The Palestinian Ministry of Information in the Gaza Strip blocked the launch of Taif TV two hours before it was due to go on air, in what raised concerns about freedom of the press in Gaza. Palestine
As fighting rages in Egypt's north Sinai, students get lessons online Schools are closed while Sinai is rocked by fighting during an anti-terrorism operation, and a new online program is helping students continue learning while they wait for calm to return. Egypt
Europe starts preparing Mideast peace initiative The one-sided decision by the United States to relocate its embassy to Jerusalem in May opens the way for a European Mideast peace initiative. Palestine
Israeli recognition of Ethiopian religious leaders just a start It took Israel decades to accept Jewish Ethiopian religious leaders and to integrate them as rabbis, but it remains to be seen how much the reforms will be implemented. Israel
The 'enforced disappearance' of Egypt’s secular youth While Egypt’s National Security Agency targets perceived Muslim Brotherhood supporters, secular activists are also becoming major targets. Egypt
Russia's UN veto sign of warming ties with Iran says Khamenei adviser Russia’s veto of a UN Security Council resolution condemning Iran in Yemen’s civil war is a sign of the growing ties between Tehran and Moscow, according to a top adviser to the supreme leader. Russia
Turkey continues hostilities in Afrin despite UN cease-fire President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to stay and slay a "dragon" in his military’s month long-campaign against a Kurdish militia in Syria, dismissing assertions from Western allies that the Security Council resolution is intended for the entire war-battered country. Syria
Turkey’s sugar privatization faces bitter opposition The Turkish government’s plan to privatize 14 sugar plants has sparked nationwide protests, irking not only factory workers and local communities but also Turkish consumers in general. Turkey
