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
The real reason Tunisia renewed its state of emergency The state of emergency in Tunisia was renewed nationwide despite the fact that the security situation has improved, which has raised questions on the reasons behind it. Tunisia
How to replace Abbas? Produce a vice president While some Palestinian politicos discuss creating a vice presidential position appointed by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as a transitional safeguard, others complain that the next in line to lead must be elected. Palestine
How oil is bringing Iraq, Egypt closer Iraq is planning to supply Egypt with a million barrels of oil as both countries face a deteriorating relationship with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
How Lebanon’s presidential problem turned into opportunity Lebanon’s former Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced his support for former chief of the army and Hezbollah ally Gen. Michel Aoun as president, which may have been Hariri's last resort as his relationship with Saudi Arabia has been tense. Saudi Arabia
Despite difficulties, Palestinian women continue to marry prisoners More Palestinian women are marrying prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli jails in what they see as an act of patriotism. Palestine
Will Cairo reverse decision to transfer islands to Riyadh? As the Egyptian government defends in court its maritime border agreement with Saudi Arabia that transferred two Red Sea islands to Riyadh, a lawyer for the state provoked controversy after admitting the "islands are still Egyptian." Saudi Arabia
Have Turkey's neo-Ottomans abandoned Yemen? Turkish media ignores Yemen despite mounting civilian casualties, but hard-core Islamists and secular groups blame the neo-Ottoman government for being a pawn of Western and Saudi interests. Saudi Arabia
Why KRG will remain Turkey’s main ally in Iraq Despite warnings from Turkish nationalist quarters about ultimate Kurdish aspirations, Ankara and Erbil are likely to maintain their pragmatic ties. Iraq
Meet Netanyahu’s right-hand man in the Knesset Knesset member David Bitan, coalition chairman and a close associate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has proposed legislation that would make it easy to revoke the nationality of activists like B’Tselem chief Hagai El-Ad. Israel
Russian-Palestinian relations better than during Soviet era Russian-Palestinian relations remain strong at both the official and public level, as Moscow has always supported the Palestinians’ right to self-determination and regularly funds cultural centers in the Palestinian territories. Palestine
Egyptian conference deepens internal Fatah split The conference on the Palestinian cause held in Ain Sokhna in Egypt stirred controversy among Fatah members supporting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and supporters of dismissed Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan. Palestine
How dual nationality became a key controversy in Iran The issue of dual citizenship is turning into a full-blown political football in Iran, where 35 senior officials have been barred from holding office following probes into their citizenships. United States
