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
Iraqi Kurds watch nervously as Erdogan heads for Tehran Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with Iran's president and supreme leader in Tehran as high-level talks continue between historic rivals in the aftermath of the Kurdistan referendum. Iraq
Will Iran revert to parliamentary system? A group of parliamentarians are organizing to approach the supreme leader to receive his blessing on possibly reverting to a parliamentary system. Iran
Iraqi Kurdish opposition welcomes Abadi's post-referendum measures Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has tightened measures against the Iraqi Kurdistan Region following the Sept. 25 independence vote, a moved welcomed by those opposed to the referendum both domestically and abroad. Iraq
Ankara could misplay its hand again Despite hostile remarks from Ankara, the only way to deal with the Kurdish independence referendum is diplomacy, seasoned diplomats warn. Iraq
Turks brace for tax hikes as Ankara scrambles to bridge budget gaps Under fire over a tax-hike plan, Turkey’s government says it needs fresh funds for security and defense amid rising risks in the region. Turkey
US, Israel on standby as Egypt pushes Palestinian reconciliation The United States and Israel are laying low while Egypt tries to end the rift between Fatah and Hamas, which Cairo sees as an obstacle to regional peace and security. Palestine
Why Israel's finance minister is rushing to approve 2019 budget Getting the 2019 budget approved would ensure Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon that he has funding to move ahead with his plans, even if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surprises everyone by advancing the election. Israel
Landmark ruling could have big implications for Libya's leaders A recent judicial decision ruling that the former head of Libya's Constitutional Assembly should not have been elected given an oft-disregarded law that bans dual citizens from public office could have wide-ranging implications. Libya
Hamas invites Russia to play role in Palestinian affairs As new global crises overshadow the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Hamas seeks to give Russia a wider scope of involvement in a variety of Palestinian issues. Palestine
Sisi launches academy to train Egypt's next generation of politicians Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has established a national academy aimed at training young people to enter political life, but some are questioning the real intention. Egypt
How Israeli settlers turn archaeological sites into political tools In Jerusalem and across the West Bank, settlers exploit archaeological sites as ideological-political tools. Palestine
Ex-Netanyahu national security adviser urges US to keep Iran deal Former Israeli National Security Adviser Uzi Arad urges Washington to build on the 2015 Iran nuclear accord rather than abandon it. Israel
