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
Backlash at Abbas escalates among Palestinians Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' attendance at the funeral of former Israeli President Shimon Peres has angered the Palestinian public and political factions, increasing the chance of violence in the streets. Palestine
'Syrian Interim Government' still seeks legitimacy amid violence In an interview with Al-Monitor, Jawad Abu Hatab, prime minister of the Syrian Interim Government, discussed the challenges the political and armed opposition face on the ground in Syria. Syria
Is a new West Bank settlement Obama's red line? If Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on defying the US president and building a new West Bank settlement, Barack Obama could respond by abstaining in a UN Security Council vote on Palestinian Statehood. Palestine
How Netanyahu sidelined Peres’ vision for peace By naming Israel’s nuclear facility after Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ignores his peacemaking efforts to position himself as heir to Peres' security legacy. Israel
Will Jewish MP join Iraqi parliament? Responding to Iraqi Jewish messages, an Iraqi parliamentary bloc calls for official representation of Iraqi Jews in the parliament. Iraq
Will Salafi groups trigger Israel-Hamas clash? Salafi groups have adopted the tactic of firing rockets at Israel in an attempt to weaken Hamas by pushing it into a military confrontation with Israel. Palestine
Are Libyans abandoning democracy in search of stability? More and more democratically elected governments in Libyan localities are being replaced by military rule. Libya
Finance minister says Iran seeks 'resilient' economy Iran's Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Tayebnia tells Al-Monitor that Iran is boosting non-oil exports, unifying its exchange rate and increasing the independence of its Central Bank and that remaining US sanctions are the main impediment to Iranian-American investment. United States
Egypt seeks to crack down on killings by police New amendments to Egypt’s police law seek to make it tougher for police to abuse their authority. Egypt
UN Syria envoy: Jabhat al-Nusra holding Aleppo ‘hostage’ De Mistura calls on Jabhat al-Nusra, Russia and Syria to end fighting in Aleppo; why is Erdogan mostly mum on Aleppo? Syria
How Iraqi Kurdistan plans to reform education to fight extremism The Kurdistan Regional Government aims to reform the religious curriculum, but some claim that these efforts will fail because extremists still have influence on the reform process. Iraq
Focus shifts to second Trump-Clinton debate US voters — and Republican and Democratic party officials — will be closely watching the second presidential debate on Sunday, Oct. 9. United States
