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
Hamas chief is still talk of the town in Gaza 9 months after election Since his election, new Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has made major decisions that may scare some of the movement. Palestine
US optimistic about Mideast peace deal The US administration will soon publish guidelines for restarting Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Palestine
House leaders neuter anti-war Yemen bill House leadership has watered down a resolution addressing US support for the Saudi-led campaign against the Houthis. Saudi Arabia
Russian summit on Syria raises controversy, doubt The Syrian opposition suspects Russia’s upcoming congress is a ploy to bolster the regime and dilute the United Nations’ influence. Syria
Have Israelis forgotten that Rabin was killed over politics? After years of sidelining the fact that Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassination was politically motivated, his son Yuval Rabin stands up and denounces the political incitement that led to the murder. Israel
Purge of Turkish mayors could hit opposition strongholds Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says legal action could be taken against more mayors if their political parties do not "solve problems themselves." Turkey
Egyptians highlight human rights abuses as government campaign backfires After the Egyptian government encouraged World Youth Forum participants to engage with one another ahead of the conference using the hashtag #WeNeedToTalk, many citizens took the opportunity to call out alleged human rights abuses. Egypt
Iranian negotiator says US bad intentions not limited to Trump The Iranian deputy foreign minister spoke to Iran’s parliament about both the benefits and challenges of the nuclear deal. United States
Zoroastrian takes center stage on Iran’s political scene The suspension of an elected Zoroastrian city council member in central Iran stirs heated debate. Iran
Why Turkey’s 'naked art' needs protection Stuck between censorious local authorities and vandals ready to smash what they do not like, statues of nudes are quietly being removed from public spaces. Turkey
Why hasn't Abbas lifted sanctions on Gaza? Palestinians are wondering why President Mahmoud Abbas has yet to lift the sanctions he had imposed on Gaza to pressure Hamas to dissolve its administrative committee and relinquish control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority. Palestine
Palestinians cry foul at FIFA decision Some say FIFA is getting involved in the political game after it refused to take action on six Israeli soccer clubs playing in settlements of the occupied West Bank. Palestine
