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
Has Israel recognized link between Gaza blockade, security threat? The report of Israel’s state comptroller about the management of the 2014 war in the Gaza Strip evokes officially for the first time the linkage between the distress of Gaza residents and the Hamas campaign against Israel. Palestine
Saudis make surprise trip to Iraq: Why now? Saudi Arabia is making overtures to Iraq as Iran's influence expands in the region. Saudi Arabia
Satire under siege in south Damascus With the threat of having to evacuate their homes hanging over their heads, activists and artists still manage to produce the satirical web series "Southern Sketch" in south Damascus. Syria
Why some in Fatah aren't pleased about new deputy leader Marwan Barghouti was not selected for the position of deputy leader of Fatah, despite the many votes he won during Fatah’s 7th congress, raising criticism within the movement. Palestine
Turkey downplays Barzani's support for HDP Now that Iraqi Kurdistan's president has left Istanbul, Turkey is denying reports that he had appealed to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to free several prominent Kurdish politicians from jail, probably because suggestions that Barzani was lobbying on behalf of Turkey's pro-Kurdish parties complicated Erdogan's efforts to woo Kurdish voters in the run-up to the April 16 referendum. Turkey
How Israel’s Gaza War report became a political battlefield Missing the purpose of the state comptroller's report to debate the Gaza War, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon are busy defending themselves while Education Minister Naftali Bennett marks a political victory. Israel
How Iran's hard-line media reacted to Oscar win While Asghar Farhadi’s Oscar for “The Salesman” was warmly welcomed by moderates and Reformists, the hard-line media tried to discredit the achievement, opining the award was politically motivated. United States
Fictional president falls victim to censorship in Turkey A short comedy film becomes the latest victim of censorship in Turkey, as authorities seem to grow pricklier ahead of a critical plebiscite in April. Turkey
Turkey's AKP scrambles to contain crisis ahead of key vote Turkey’s government has enacted a series of economic measures to woo voters ahead of a key constitutional referendum, but the threat of the economic crisis is far from over. Turkey
What's behind Israeli Cabinet's anti-polygamy plan? The Israeli Cabinet has created a plan to strictly enforce an anti-polygamy law from 1977, but why now? Palestine
Will families with 2 children become the norm in Egypt? A parliamentary committee is examining draft legislation aimed at curbing Egypt's population growth by encouraging smaller families. Egypt
Egypt’s Cabinet reshuffle disappoints Several politicians expressed their dissatisfaction with the recent Cabinet reshuffle in Egypt, which excluded economic portfolios. Egypt
