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
Rouhani government criticizes IRGC arrests of journalists Members of President Hassan Rouhani's Cabinet have voiced criticism over the arrests of journalists and activists. Iran
Operation seduction: Lapid captures Israel’s mainstream support Contrary to opposition leader Isaac Herzog, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid has chosen to stay stately and not to attack Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally. Israel
How Israel's culture minister threatens national film industry, democracy Culture Minister Miri Regev is examining state funding of Israeli films with the intention of withholding support to productions she considers anti-Israeli. Palestine
How Polisario Front hopes to partner with Russia in Western Sahara Polisario Front officials in Western Sahara are working to enlist Russia as an ally at the United Nations Security Council in their fight for independence, as they believe both sides have many shared interests. Algeria
Congress raises specter of rupture with Turkey if referendum passes A House panel slammed Ankara's authoritarian drift ahead of the April 16 vote. Turkey
Will Turkey allow 18-year-old members of parliament? One of the proposed amendments to Turkey’s constitution is the lowering of the age of candidacy for parliament to 18. What does that mean for Turkey's youth? Turkey
Why Turkey’s growth data has economists scratching their heads Turkey’s latest growth data, which suggests the economy rebounded strongly in the fourth quarter of 2016, appears out of sync with other key indicators, fueling doubts over Ankara’s new calculation method. Turkey
Tehran mayor steps aside as conservatives rally forces ahead of presidential vote Tehran’s mayor, a two-time presidential candidate, has announced that he will not run in the May 19 vote. Meanwhile, former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad holds his first press conference in almost four years. Iran
Turkish outrage mounts as doctors point to neurotoxin in Idlib attack In Turkish hospitals, medical staff including a team from Doctors Without Borders report mounting evidence that victims of yesterday's attack may have been exposed to sarin or a similar toxin. Syria
How some Israelis plan to cash in with cannabis As the Knesset considers a bill to legalize exporting medical cannabis, dozens of Israeli kibbutzim are getting in on the lucrative industry. Israel
Fatah’s Barghouti pushes hunger strike for 3,500 prisoners Imprisoned Fatah senior leader Marwan Barghouti calls for the group’s prisoners in Israel to start a hunger strike over imprisonment conditions. Palestine
Structural issues cloud Khamenei's economic vision for Iran To realize Iran's economic potential, the supreme leader and the government need to take steps to allow genuine private sector expansion. Iran
