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
Why is Israeli Labor shifting back to leftist agenda? Israel’s Labor Party is returning to its left-wing agenda, readopting the vision of peace of late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Palestine
Did Kurds determine outcome of Turkey's referendum? The voting pattern of Kurds has become the most debated issue of the Turkish referendum, with many people pointing fingers at Kurdish voters for voting for the "yes" front. Turkey
Is prominent conservative cleric really a threat to Rouhani? While Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and cleric Ebrahim Raisi have to some extent shared backgrounds in public service, the incumbent Iranian president’s greater experience in politics remains the biggest thorn in the side of his conservative opponents. Iran
Iran’s Guardian Council announces presidential candidate list The Guardian Council has given the green light to six candidates to run in Iran’s May 19 presidential election, with former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad being disqualified. Iran
Has Turkey's referendum emboldened hate? Threats and venomous words against Turkish women have caused an uproar among citizens but haven't drawn much of a reaction from the government. Turkey
Why is Khulafa Mosque's minaret on verge of collapse? The minaret of the historic Khulafa Mosque in Baghdad is on the verge of collapse, which may spark sectarian tension in the city. Iraq
What's in Palestine's first ever education law? The Palestinian Education Ministry announced the ratification of their first law on education to bring significant changes to the educational and academic process in the Palestinian territories. Palestine
Syria chemical attack unsettles Iran's chemical weapons survivors The use of chemical weapons in Syria has led members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a fighting force that remembers the horror and uncertainty of the Iran-Iraq War, to be both angry and cautious about blame. Syria
Russia steps up its game in Mideast diplomacy The heavy traffic between Moscow and the Middle East after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited Russia last week signals that Russia is looking to quickly solidify its relationships with regional partners. Saudi Arabia
Israeli politicians continue silence over settlers attacking IDF Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ignored extreme-right incitement for many years, including a recent attack by the Hilltop Youth group against the Israel Defense Forces. Israel
Turkey's AKP claims Kurdish support for referendum, Kurds say otherwise As Turkey continues to roil in the aftermath of the referendum, the ruling party is now claiming the Kurds helped President Recep Tayyip Erdogan win in what Kurdish leaders call "blatant disinformation." Turkey
How Abbas is prepping for expected surge in nationalist sentiment Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is pinning his hopes on Egyptian and Jordanian pressure on the Trump administration to engage in a two-state solution process within a regional framework. Palestine
