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
Will Palestinian government give in to calls to postpone elections? After violent clashes disrupted the West Bank city of Nablus, both residents and political factions have been calling for the local elections slated for Oct. 8 to be postponed until security is restored. Palestine
What comes next for Turkey after Jarablus victory? Turkey’s strategic goals and field preparations signal that it plans to stay in northern Syria for quite some time. Syria
How Ankara, Washington plan to achieve regional energy security US Vice President Joe Biden was in Ankara last week, and Cyprus and energy security joined Turkey's attempted coup and the Islamic State as discussion topics. Syria
Why Sabbath crisis didn't topple Netanyahu's government The ultra-Orthodox party’s manufactured crisis over train repair work being conducted on the Sabbath came with a built-in expiration date. Israel
Has Turkey’s Gulenist witch hunt spiraled out of control? The Turkish government’s post-putsch witch hunt is seeking to eliminate Gulenists from both government offices and public life, pushing the limits of rationality and upending hundreds of thousands of lives. Turkey
Corruption scandal hits Tehran City Council According to a document by the General Inspection Office, members of the Tehran City Council have been handing out public property at a discount. Iran
Will Israel hold referendum over two-state solution? With the Israeli occupation of the West Bank nearing its 50th year, Israel's peace camp is pushing the idea of a referendum over its future. Palestine
Will tribalism dominate upcoming Palestinian elections? As electoral lists form in the runup to the local Palestinian elections, various political factions worry that tribal and family loyalties will trump political affiliations. Palestine
The morning after: What happens to Gaza if Hamas is toppled? Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman is accused of hampering the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza in an effort to overthrow Hamas' rule. What if he succeeds? Palestine
Will reforms require shrinking the size of Iraq's parliament? Some parliamentary blocs' efforts to cut the number of parliamentarians is facing obstacles, including the constitutional quota system, which currently calls for an increase in members. Iraq
How MasterCard debacle got one Iranian minister in trouble When Iran's Minister of Communication and Information Technology Mahmoud Vaezi was recently quoted as saying that MasterCard services were coming to Iran, the reports were quickly denied as a misunderstanding, though a MasterCard-affiliated debit card service is set to begin issuing prepaid cards. Iran
Biden’s diplomatic triage in Turkey Ankara reconsiders its Syria policy amid strains in US-Turkey ties and a reset in Iran-Turkey diplomacy. Syria
