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
New political alliance unites Iraqi religious and secular parties In a sudden development, the Sadrist movement led by Muqtada al-Sadr and the National Coalition led by Ayad Allawi announced the formation of a political alliance in the upcoming elections. Iraq
As Mosul battle nears end, Iraqi Christians wary of return Despite the liberation of the Ninevah Plains, very few Iraqi Christians have returned to their historical homeland, while the majority of them refuse to return due to security concerns. Iraq
Israeli legal brass hound Olmert as ex-PM's release approaches Despite the efforts of Israel's state attorney to prevent his early release, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will walk out of prison on July 2, memoir in hand. Israel
Israel 'playing with fire' on Hamas prisoner issue Israel hopes that by canceling family visits of Hamas prisoners, the organization will be pressured into advancing a prisoner exchange deal. Palestine
Netanyahu dictates agenda in meeting with US envoys Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the one dictating the agenda in his meetings with US envoys Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt. Palestine
Egypt strikes two revolutions from history textbooks Egypt's Ministry of Education is omitting the January 25 and June 30 revolutions from school history textbooks after a question in the official exams stirred controversy. Egypt
New UN Libya envoy faces long road to peace The newly appointed UN envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame, must review all previous steps and policies his predecessors made to avoid repeating their mistakes as the war and chaos continue to weigh heavily on Libya. Libya
Abbas' Gaza sanctions fit into peace project Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' increasing pressure on Hamas in the Gaza Strip is widely seen as less about reconciliation and more as a step toward a regional settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Palestine
The real reason Hamas is flirting with dismissed Fatah leader Amid reports about Hamas meeting with dismissed Fatah leader and former opponent Mohammed Dahlan in Cairo, questions arise about the lack of transparency and the results of these meetings. United Arab Emirates
Washington talks fail to secure breakthrough in Qatar crisis Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has been huddling with Gulf diplomats all week, to no avail. Legacy: Gulf
Corker hold puts Saudi arms deal at risk Congressional aides say the Senate Foreign Relations chairman’s threat to block arms sales to the Gulf until the Qatar crisis is resolved could have a wide-ranging impact. Saudi Arabia
French shift on Syria could open doors in Russia France’s newly elected president has indicated he is open to talks that could leave Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in power, bringing the country closer to Russia’s stance. Saudi Arabia
