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
Iran, Turkey move to re-establish role as regional backbone Despite their major differences over key regional crises in past years, shared threats and shared objectives are once again pushing Iran and Turkey together. Turkey
Israel's culture minister pressures theater over Palestinian poet An event hosted by the Arab-Hebrew Theater in Jaffa supporting Israeli-Palestinian poet Dareen Tatour generated a harsh reaction by Israel's Culture Minister Miri Regev, who threatened to cut state funding to the theater. Israel
Turkish dam project would wipe out ancient town A Turkish government dam project is threatening to flood a 12,000-year-old ancient settlement, bringing Turkey to the verge of losing traces of at least 10 civilizations. Turkey
Ankara makes overtures to Idlib militants The English-language edition of Yeni Safak has reported that Turkey asked the group to dissolve itself and for the militants, who seized Idlib province last month after routing Turkish-backed Ahrar al-Sham rebels, to relinquish the critical Bab al-Hawa border crossing linking Idlib to Turkey’s Hatay province. Syria
Iranian Reformist MPs under fire for confirming conservative ministers The Reformist Omid faction in the Iranian parliament is under fire for having voted to confirm controversial conservative ministers. Iran
Jordan’s Islamists win big in local polls amid voter apathy An Islamic-led coalition, which had boycotted the previous two elections, scored major gains in Jordan’s recent local elections amid low voter turnout. Jordan
Turkish foundation helps Syrians recover from devastation of war The Turkiye Diyanet Foundation is restoring mosques in the Syrian province of Aleppo, recruiting preachers and teachers and providing hundreds of job opportunities. Syria
Israel’s deafening silence over Charlottesville Israel considers itself the homeland of the Jewish nation, but failed to defend Americans Jews after the recent white supremacist and anti-Semitic rally in Virginia Israel
Russia weighs its role as arbiter in Libya As Moscow works to shore up its influence in bringing Libya’s rival governments together, it is examining whether Gen. Khalifa Hifter is more of an asset or a liability. United Arab Emirates
Turkey fumes as Sinjar Yazidis declare 'democratic autonomy' Some Yazidis have announced their opposition to the Iraqi Kurdistan independence vote, as Turkey and Iran consider attacking the Yazidi-allied PKK in the Qandil Mountains. Iraq
Iran’s Quds Force commander calls for national unity Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani discusses the importance for mosques to encourage unity among Iranians and to attract diverse crowds. Iran
Saudi Arabia woos Persian-speaking Sunnis in Central Asia A deterioration in economic and political relations between Tehran and Dushanbe since moderate Hassan Rouhani first took office has allowed Saudi Arabia to expand its influence in Tajikistan at Iran’s expense. Saudi Arabia
