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
What EU shift in financial support policy means for Gaza The European Union contribution of 30 million euros to pay the salaries of Palestinian Authority civil servants in the Gaza Strip will be used to support families in need, which has angered Palestinians. Palestine
Who is involved in killing of Baghdad demonstrators? The political crisis has escalated significantly in Iraq after security forces grew violent against protesters. Iraq
Erdogan banks on motley crew of Syrian armed groups Turkey’s Syria partners seen as "ill-disciplined, untrained and inexperienced"; Erodgan links opposition to referendum to coup plotters; Mattis rules out US-Russia military cooperation "for now." Syria
Egypt turns to Japanese model to reform education Egypt, whose educational system is seen as widely lacking, is seeking to invigorate its school system by adopting aspects of the Japanese whole child educational model. Egypt
Will Saudi Arabia allow Pakistani general to command military alliance? It remains unclear whether Pakistan's Gen. Raheel Sharif will be offered, or take up, the position of supreme commander of the Saudi-led "Islamic military alliance." Saudi Arabia
Erdogan presses for 1.5 million new jobs ahead of key vote Faced with a worsening economic downturn, Turkey’s president scrambles to achieve some improvement, even if transient, ahead of a critical referendum in April. Turkey
3 alternatives to two-state or one-state solution for Mideast peace Ever since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had his meeting in Washington, Israeli efforts have intensified to develop alternatives to the single-state or two-state solutions. Palestine
How Trump is already shifting domestic politics in Iran US President Donald Trump’s threats against Iran are quickly morphing from a foreign policy issue to a domestic political football in Tehran. United States
Has the military wing tightened its grip over Hamas? The election of military leader Yahya Sanwar as the head of Hamas’ political bureau in Gaza has raised questions on the movement’s policy at home and abroad and the military wing’s grip over the movement. Palestine
Is Erdogan promising a ghost army in Syria? Erdogan promises to set up a “national army” in the area to be cleansed from the Islamic State in northern Syria, but with the combat assets available to him, never mind a national army, even a force to secure the cleansed area will not be easy. Syria
New documentary highlights life of imprisoned Palestinian leader The producers of "Marwan," a documentary about the life of imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, hope to revive national pride among Palestinians with his story. Palestine
Can economic opportunity bring Turkey, Egypt closer? Turkey and Egypt are making investment overtures toward one another despite lingering political animosity that is unlikely to be resolved. Egypt
