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
Will Hamas boycott upcoming local elections? On Feb. 15, Hamas submitted to the Central Election Commission its three conditions for participating in Palestinian local elections rescheduled for May 13. Palestine
The Israeli right's judicial shakedown Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked has scored a victory in the ongoing campaign of the Israeli right to gain control over the Supreme Court. Israel
Why did Egypt really close Al-Nadeem victims' center? Egyptian security forces shut down Al-Nadeem Center on charges that it breached licensing laws, but representatives of the rehabilitation center say politics are involved. Egypt
Will settlers bring down Netanyahu again? Israel's right-wing activists have forgotten the trauma of bringing down the Netanyahu government in 1999 and are willing to threaten the prime minister with leaving the coalition if their demands are not fulfilled. Israel
Food vs. guns: Will Hamas chose Egypt or Iran? The military wing of Hamas in Gaza pressures the new boss Yahya Sinwar to mend ties with Iran, while the residents of the Gaza Strip need the assistance of Egypt against the misery of the long closure. Palestine
No breakthrough expected at new Syria talks Expectations were modest for a new round of Syria talks set to get underway in Geneva Feb. 23, with the new US administration still formulating its policies. Syria
Trial begins for murder of Turkish commando who stopped coup attempt Turks are closely watching the trial of those accused of murdering special forces commando Omer Halisdemir, who was killed in the line of duty as he played a key role in stopping last summer’s coup attempt. Turkey
Can Iran's Khamenei rule out ‘national reconciliation’? Despite his stated skepticism of the idea of national reconciliation, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei may in effect be maneuvering to decide the terms of such a reconciliation. Iran
Is Ahmadinejad defying Khamenei’s 'advice' to abandon ambitions? Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is believed to be back in the game with his former deputy’s announcement that he intends to run in the upcoming presidential elections. Iran
Turkish-Iranian rivalry hits peak as Syria talks kick off Both countries accuse each other of destabilizing the region and undermining security in Iraq and Syria. Syria
How Moses cartoon killed Turkish satirical magazine A cartoon ridiculing Moses brought about the swift demise of a satirical magazine without a political or legal decision having been made. Turkey
The real story behind secret Aqaba summit on Mideast peace According to reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participated a year ago in a secret meeting in Aqaba with US Secretary of State John Kerry, Jordanian King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Palestine
