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
Saudis turn to US states in bid to repeal 9/11 bill Riyadh’s latest lobbying push aims to enroll state governors. Saudi Arabia
Iran’s parliament gives green light to Rouhani’s new ministers Iranian media diversely reacted to parliament’s confirming of the new ministers of education, youth affairs and sports, as well as culture and Islamic guidance. Iran
‘Cyrus the Great’ enters Iranian politics The unexpectedly large gathering of devotees of Cyrus the Great in his resting place of Pasargadae on Oct. 28 sparks heated debate in Iran. Iran
Can battle over public broadcasting bring down Netanyahu? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is now fighting against the establishment of a new public broadcasting corporation, an entity he himself initiated. Israel
Abadi says 'we are ready' if Turkey wants war As Turkey's behavior grows more erratic and aggressive by the day, the United States is scrambling to head off a dust-up among its anti-Islamic State coalition partners. Iraq
Could megaprojects spell mega trouble for Turkey's economy? Giant infrastructure projects launched by the Turkish government have raised the specter of potentially unpredictable burdens on public finances amid little transparency on loan and demand guarantees provided to private contractors. Turkey
Why Netanyahu and Liberman are boycotting Arab party members Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman have called upon the coalition to boycott parliamentary activities of the Joint List for missing the funeral of former President Shimon Peres, even if they themselves were the late president's bitter rivals. Israel
What's really behind Iraq's new alcohol ban? The Iraqi parliament's ban on the production, import and sale of alcoholic beverages of all kinds has raised a broad protest among religious minorities, individuals and civil societies. Iraq
Will Islamic Jihad reconciliation initiative unite Palestinians? Most Palestinian factions have accepted the initiative launched by Ramadan Shalah, the secretary-general of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, but will this initiative remain mere ink on paper? Palestine
Creeping offensives, truces spread tensions in south Syrian rebel ranks Syria's Southern Front forces, which face threats from the Islamic State and the government from various directions, have so far managed to hold their ground in the Daraa area despite government offensives and truces that pressure local communities into agreements with the Assad government. Syria
Arabs seek new partnership with next US president A new poll shows widespread distrust but reliance on the United States. Saudi Arabia
Will first-ever primaries shake up Israel’s ultra-Orthodox? For the first time since the establishment of Israel, an ultra-Orthodox party will hold primaries to determine its list for the next election instead of relying on rabbis to name them. Israel
