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
Netanyahu and the 'apartheid state' Under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the term “apartheid state” has gone from being a label to becoming substance. Palestine
5 Rouhani allies in the crosshairs of Iran's hard-liners In the months leading up to Iran’s May 19 presidential election, conservative opponents will likely focus on incumbent President Hassan Rouhani's inner circle. Iran
Will Iran’s Guardian Council disqualify Rouhani from running? With Iran's presidential election three months away, tongues are openly wagging about the Guardian Council's potentially disqualifying President Hassan Rouhani from running for re-election, and the Priniciplists suspect a ploy to portray him as a victim. Iran
What is Russia’s role in Syria and the 'post-West' world order? Russia is not wasting time while the new US administration gets its bearings on Syria and the rest of the world. Syria
US should test Russia on Islamic State With the complicated regional dynamics of the Syrian war, the US could benefit from Russian assistance. Syria
Barzani asks Erdogan to free pro-Kurdish detainees In a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani has called for Turkey to release political leader Selahattin Demirtas and other pro-Kurdish lawmakers. Turkey
Turkey coup defendants deny Gulen affiliation The group trials have begun of soldiers charged in connection with the July coup, and although their defenses have varied, all have so far denied being followers of cleric Fethullah Gulen. Turkey
In Palestine, no job means no health insurance The Palestinian government recently decided to halt health insurance for Palestinian unemployed citizens, sparking angry reactions among civil society organizations in light of the deteriorating economic conditions for hundreds of thousands of Palestinian unemployed citizens. Palestine
Egypt proposes inheritance protections for women Lawmakers are considering a plan that would spell out prison sentences and fines for people who try to keep inheritances from being distributed fairly to rightful heirs, a problem that especially affects women. Egypt
Iranian MPs move to hand control over bond market to Central Bank Iran’s moderate-leaning parliament appears to be pushing for control over the lucrative bond market to be given to the central bank. Iran
Iran's Rouhani warns military not to intervene in elections Just three months before Iran’s presidential election and with conservative figures announcing their candidacy, President Hassan Rouhani warned military institutions against interfering in the vote. Iran
Why is Erdogan rushing into a referendum now? While Turkey's economic and security vulnerabilities increase, Erdogan has run out of enemies to rally his base against for the April referendum. Turkey
