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
Turkey deals death blow to Kurdish leadership with DBP conviction Democratic Regions Party co-chair Kamuran Yuksek has been convicted of terrorism and sentenced in absentia to a lengthy prison term, while party officials decry insufficient evidence in "purely political” trial. Turkey
Turkey’s main Islamic human rights organization faces internal upheaval Mazlumder, Turkey’s main pro-Islamic human rights organization, has witnessed an internal revolution as those who criticized the government too much were kicked out. Turkey
What role will Iran-linked militias play once IS leaves Iraq? Despite Iraqi government attempts to control Shiite militias within the Popular Mobilization Units, the groups still are ready and willing to confront Israel and Saudi Arabia outside of Iraq. Iraq
Will new union chief give Egypt more control over press? Abdel Mohsen Salama, who is affiliated with the regime of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, was recently elected head of the Journalists' Union, raising questions about the state's future role in the media. Egypt
Could 'regional deal' be behind Israel's government crisis? Following the annual Arab League meeting in Jordan this past weekend, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will bring up the issue of the Arab Peace Initiative in his upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump. Egypt
Jordanians really don't want Israel’s gas Jordan's agreement to buy Israeli natural gas has Jordanians up in arms. Palestine
Will Christians soon be enrolling at Egypt's Al-Azhar? The proposal to affiliate nonreligious faculties at Al-Azhar University with the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education goes beyond allowing the enrollment of Christian students. Egypt
Palestinians get 'right to return' — to Jerusalem The Israeli High Court of Justice ruled that Palestinian residents of Jerusalem cannot be permanently stripped of their residency rights after having lived elsewhere. Palestine
New poll gives Turkish opposition slight edge as referendum nears Opinion polls suggest Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is somewhat likely to lose the April 16 presidential referendum that would expand his powers. Turkey
Will Turks give blessing to Erdogan’s autocratic course? President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s referendum campaign is drowning Turkey in populist and nationalist bluster, but it seems to have little effect in swaying the vote, including in Erdogan’s own conservative base. Turkey
What role should EU have in resolving Syria crisis? In an interview with Al-Monitor, Marisa Matias, the chair of the delegation of the European Parliament for relations with the Mashreq countries, speaks about the EU’s role in the Syrian conflict, while tackling the refugee crisis and ways the EU is helping host countries, like Jordan and Lebanon, deal with the massive influx of displaced Syrians. Egypt
What federalism would mean for northern Syria In an interview with Al-Monitor, the new co-chairman of the Syrian Democratic Council, Riad Darar, said that Syrians need to fully understand their interests in this international game to prevent the partition of the country and to build a new system that is more flexible in responding to change. Syria
