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
Israeli defense minister draws red lines with families of missing soldiers The refusal of Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman to follow the line requested by the bereaved Goldin and Shaul families demonstrates his willingness to take the heat. Palestine
New chapter in Iran-Turkey ties could have major impact on Syria While the closer Turkey-Iran alignment on regional issues is not likely to fully mean the same thing in Iraq as in Syria, the broader picture is closer Iran-Turkey-Russia cooperation on the ground. Syria
Iranian FM who opposed US embassy takeover dies Iranian officials and newspapers across the spectrum expressed their condolences on the death of former Foreign Minister Ebrahim Yazdi. Iran
Why is Turkey so invested in rehabilitating Syrian city of al-Bab? After Turkey and allied rebel forces ousted the Islamic State from the northern Syrian city of al-Bab, Ankara is now doubling down on efforts to rebuild infrastructure and boost education in the area. Syria
For Israeli right, there is no occupation The Israeli government's denial of the occupation has led it to intimidating those who dare acknowledge its existence or use the word "occupation." Palestine
Kurdish rivalry undermines peshmerga forces in Kirkuk The Islamic State is losing ground in Iraq and Syria, but south of Kirkuk, the militants are inflicting heavy casualties on peshmerga fighters, who blame needless losses on a lack of support. Iraq
Israel takes stock of Putin’s pull with Iran There’s a flurry of positioning as Iran, Russia, the United States and Israel all want assurances about the future balance of power in Syria. Israel
Ankara silent on Turkish agents allegedly caught in Iraq assassination plot Kurdish militants claim to have captured two Turkish intelligence officers planning to assassinate a senior Kurdistan Workers Party figure, though it's not clear what the group is demanding in exchange for their release. Iraq
Will Zarif, Tillerson meet for session on nuclear deal? A possible Iranian request for a meeting about the nuclear deal would set up the first talk between the Iranian and American foreign ministers since the election of President Donald Trump. United States
Netanyahu in tight spot amid Hamas prisoner swap debate Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said that Israel must not “repeat the mistakes made with the Shalit deal," namely releasing hundreds of Hamas operatives in the framework of a prisoner-exchange deal. Palestine
Supporters scramble to distract Turkey from Erdogan's unpopular decisions Journalists and trolls who support the rule of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan often help him by distracting the public from any questionable decisions he makes with perennially rabble-rousing but vague scandals. Turkey
Moscow, Cairo discuss boosting ties Representatives of Russia and Egypt seemed pleased with the outcome of their meetings this week, as they touched base on current regional developments and talked through their perspectives. Qatar
