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
After Mosul battle, is Syria next for PMU? As the liberation of Mosul nears, the Popular Mobilization Units announced that they have received an invitation from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to fight in Syria. Iraq
Is Turkey ready for global manhunt for Fethullah Gulen? The Turkish government and its media outlets hope the new US administration will hand over the suspected mastermind of the failed coup, but what if Fethullah Gulen decides to play an international cat-and-mouse game with Turkey? Turkey
Is Erdogan’s rise unstoppable? A correlation exists between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s authoritarian shift and the popular support he receives, making for a paradox that is fast dragging Turkey toward a paternalistic rule. Turkey
Trump talks Middle East plans US President-elect Donald Trump, in a meeting with The New York Times on Nov. 22, discussed many critical matters in the region, including ending the Syrian war and forging Israeli-Palestinian peace. Syria
The final nail in the coffin of peace process in Turkey Following the detention of the mayor of Mardin, reviving the peace process between Kurdish militants and the Turkish government is no more than a pipe dream. Syria
Ankara intensifies strikes against YPG, moves to arrest PYD leader As Turkey continues its struggle with the Syrian Kurdish militants allied with the United States against the Islamic State in Syria, Ankara has issued a warrant for the arrest of Salih Muslim, the co-chair of the group's political arm. Syria
Turkey backpedals on statutory rape proposal Turkey is reconsidering — but not abandoning — a law that would treat perpetrators of statutory rape as "victims," which some fear could open the door to polygamy, honor killings and legalizing marriage at puberty. Turkey
Is Erdogan giving up on EU aspirations? A proposal to join the Russian- and Chinese-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization gets lukewarm reception, even among Turkish Islamists. Turkey
Egypt’s Nubians protest for right to return to their lands Nubians in southern Egypt have staged demonstrations and roadblocks in recent days, protesting a government takeover of what they claim to be part of their ancestral homeland. Egypt
How the call to prayer is uniting Israel's Arabs, ultra-Orthodox Ultra-Orthodox Knesset members have joined forces with Joint List Knesset members in objecting to the bill preventing the muezzin call to prayer. Israel
Is Iran’s Guardian Council trying to tame lawmakers? The Guardian Council’s apparent attempt to extend its powers to include supervision of members of parliament faces pushback from the government and lawmakers. Iran
Were Israeli ministers the last to learn about Gaza tunnels? According to different sources, Israeli Cabinet ministers did not receive information about the tunnels dug by Hamas in 2014, though the information was gathered by Israeli intelligence and was transferred to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Palestine
