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
Turkic speakers join forces in Iran's parliament The unprecedented formation of a cross-factional parliamentary group of Turkic speakers stirs controversy in Iran. Iran
US backs Turkish offensive with airstrikes around al-Bab After repeated appeals from Turkey for the United States to help Turkish troops and their rebel proxies to capture al-Bab, US airstrikes are resuming in a move that could help diffuse growing tensions between the NATO allies. Syria
Why hasn’t Iran’s president announced bid for re-election? The Iranian president’s press conference on the first anniversary of the implementation of the nuclear deal is met with positive reactions among Reformists and harsh criticism by hard-liners. Iran
Why Ankara’s honeymoon with Trump may be short-lived By blasting the Obama administration over Gulen and the Syrian Kurds, the Turkish government is signaling to the incoming Trump administration its demands for improved ties. Syria
Court sinks Egyptian-Saudi island deal A court ruling supposedly has ended Egypt’s attempt to hand over two strategic Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia, but the government hasn’t necessarily given up. Saudi Arabia
What game is Russia playing in Libya? Russia appears headed toward greater involvement in Libya, a development that could have catastrophic consequences for Libya and the region. Libya
How women pried open the doors to Turkish military schools again Turkish women successfully pressured the Turkish government to reverse its apparently arbitrary decision to exclude women from naval and air force academies. Turkey
Turkey’s cinema sector reels over probes The Turkish authorities have launched a judicial probe into more than 400 people involved in the country’s cinema industry, fueling concern that the arts and culture realm is next in line for purges. Turkey
Is more women entering Yemen's labor market really progress? Yemen's vicious civil war has altered many aspects of society so that women are forced into the family's breadwinning positions, which may not necessarily reflect a milestone in gender equality. Yemen
Palestinian local elections on front burner The postponed local Palestinian elections might be scheduled in 2017 amid talks about possibly holding them in phases starting next May. Palestine
Will snowballing scandals bury Netanyahu? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is embroiled in not one but three major scandals that could end his career. Israel
What the world is telling Palestinians, Israelis and Trump European diplomats believe the international attendance at the second Paris conference reflects broad support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestine
