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
'Precarious calm' in southwest Syria amid cease-fire In an interview with Al-Monitor, the spokesman for the Southern Front, Maj. Issam al-Rayes, talks about the recent cease-fire brokered by the United States, Russia and Jordan in southern Syria, the regime’s violations and the boycott of the Astana talks. Jordan
Israeli-Palestinian water deal could chart course for further talks An agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority on the Red Sea-Dead Sea canal project could build some trust between the sides, but the Palestinians are leery of any impact from it going into negotiations. Palestine
US expected to recertify Iran compliance with nuclear deal The secretaries of state and defense appear to have overruled Iran hawks in the White House and Congress. United States
Pentagon wants to build new US facilities in Iraq, Syria The Trump administration has asked Congress for the authority to build new “small-scale,” “temporary facilities” to help defeat the Islamic State. Iraq
Ankara-Islamic State story emerges between lines of Turkish report A new report by Turkey’s Interior Ministry takes a kindly look at the country's fight against Islamic State. Syria
Turkey waiting … and waiting … to intervene in Afrin Ankara's pro-government media are blaming the United States and Russia for delaying Turkey’s move on Kurdish forces in Afrin, which was to begin July 5. Syria
Palestinians disappointed over Israeli Labor primaries Palestinian leadership in Ramallah is disappointed over Isaac Herzog losing the Labor Party’s primaries, as they were hoping that Herzog would join the Netanyahu government and advance regional negotiations. Palestine
Egypt keen on protecting Qatari investments Egypt recently severed ties with Qatar, but believes the countries' economic relationship should stay above the fray. Qatar
Dahlan preps for return to Gaza Former Fatah senior official Mohammed Dahlan is venerated now in the Gaza Strip as the man who closed the deal with Egypt to renew electricity flow. Palestine
Anti-Semitism abroad serves Netanyahu's plan In the battle against anti-Semitism in Europe, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sides with the Hungarian government instead of siding with Hungarian Jews. Israel
Jordan sees big gains in south Syria cease-fire The cease-fire brokered by the United States, Russia and Jordan for southern Syria seems to be holding, for now. Jordan
Egypt, Dahlan foiling Abbas' plot against Hamas in Gaza Strip Senior Fatah leaders have lashed out at Egypt over deals reached with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ archrival Mohammed Dahlan to improve conditions in Gaza, even as Abbas is trying to pressure Hamas there. Palestine
