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
Have the Palestinians blocked US Embassy move to Jerusalem? Senior Palestinian officials believe that their restrained diplomatic approach through Jordanian and Egyptian channels helped suspend the relocation of the US Embassy to Jerusalem. Palestine
Sisi’s church donation stirs religious controversy When Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi donated 100,000 Egyptian pounds to build a mosque and a church in the new administrative capital, he stirred a wave of criticism and a religious controversy over Muslims donating to church building. Egypt
Does Trump's 'America First' approach bode ill for Israel? It is unclear whether US President Donald Trump will see in his new isolationist strategy an interest for the United States to mediate between Israel and its neighbors. Palestine
Debate over sterilizing homeless women addicts resurfaces in Iran A proposal to sterilize homeless women who are addicted to drugs has stirred heated debate in Iran again, with conservatives using the issue to attack President Hassan Rouhani's administration. Iran
Will Netanyahu's allies abandon him? For now, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is confident that Likud members and voters support him despite the police investigations, but some are very troubled by the allegations against him. Israel
Syria's new national security force pledges loyalty to Turkey A video of a new police force in Syria trained and equipped by Turkey shows the troops chanting Islamist and nationalist slogans, casting doubt about Ankara's claims that it has no designs on its former Ottoman dominion. Syria
Are Iran, Saudi Arabia about to reconcile? News has surfaced of Saudi King Salman having sent condolences after the death of former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, as Kuwait’s foreign minister visits Tehran to reportedly deliver a message from the Gulf Cooperation Council. Saudi Arabia
Lawyers struggle to pursue legal action over trash burning in Lebanon Even though trash burning is illegal in Lebanon, judges have failed to hold municipal heads accountable for allowing the burning of waste. Lebanon
Israel’s Gaza war and ‘post-truth’ politics On the eve of the release of the report on the failures of the political leadership during Operation Protective Edge, the country’s leaders have launched a war of versions in order to derive political benefit. Palestine
Will Tunisia restore diplomatic ties with Syria? The resumption of diplomatic relations with Syria has become an urgent matter for the Tunisian government, given the large number of Tunisian fighters involved in the Syrian war. Syria
Gaza reels as power crisis continues to leave its population in darkness The power crisis and its roots in the Gaza Strip have stirred a heated debate involving mutual accusations between the PA and Hamas, while Palestinians take to the streets to protest the growing problem. Palestine
Will Iraq succeed in bringing Iran, Saudi Arabia closer? Iraq has been stepping up its mediation efforts to achieve a Saudi-Iranian reconciliation amid a conducive political and economic environment. Legacy: Gulf
