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
Egyptian women speak out amid global focus on sexual harassment While social media campaigns are giving voice to many hitherto voiceless women in Egypt, much remains to be done about sexual harassment in the country. Egypt
Jailed Turkish philanthropist ravaged in pro-AKP media Not much is known about the detention of prominent Turkish businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala, and the ruling party and its loyalists seem to be building a slander campaign against him in the media. Turkey
Turkey sees 'village uprising' as rural areas hit hard by liberal economic policies In rural Turkey, farmers and livestock producers are fighting back against the government's new economic policies. Turkey
Anti-US rhetoric helps Erdogan build smokescreens Years of anti-American propaganda help the Turkish president divert blame and discredit damaging news from the West — for example, anything incriminating that might emerge from high-profile cases in the United States involving Iran sanctions. Turkey
Did Khamenei block Rouhani’s science minister? Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has finally introduced two names for the Science Ministry and Energy Ministry positions, although the battles appear to be far from over. Iran
How Trump has propped up Rouhani Rather than undermining Iran's government, Donald Trump's hostile rhetoric may be strengthening President Hassan Rouhani and uniting Iranians around his administration. Iran
Analysts weigh prospects of Egypt-Israel military exercises Though some analysts believe joint Egyptian-Israeli military exercises won't actually take place given the Egyptian public's opposition to the idea, some Arab and Gulf countries seem to be advancing on a path toward normalization with Israel. Egypt
Israel, US coordinated on settlement construction Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to be able to walk between the raindrops by approving hundreds of new housing units in the West Bank without upsetting the Americans. Palestine
Can Netanyahu say 'no' to Trump? Israeli right-wing ministers forced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reject a Palestinian reconciliation, even though the Trump administration is determined to support it. Palestine
Are Russia, Iran outflanking the US in Iraq? Russia deftly manages potentially choppy ties with Iran, while the United States claims Iran "subverting Iraq." Iraq
Kurds in Iraq: Back to square one? The sudden shift in the balance of power between Iraq and its Kurdistan Region has been stunning, even by Middle East standards. Iraq
To counter Iranian sway, US promotes Iraqi-Saudi ties Top Trump administration officials say they see countering Iranian influence in Iraq as important to strengthening Baghdad and preventing destabilizing fissures that helped make way for the Islamic State. Saudi Arabia
