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
Intel: US stands down on Europe’s new trade mechanism with Iran Europe launched its first shipment to Iran today using a mechanism that was originally intended to function as a workaround to US sanctions in a Hail Mary bid to salvage the unraveling Iran nuclear deal. United States
Key Trump ally blasts administration for extending Iran nuclear waivers The Donald Trump administration is casting the renewal of four civil nuclear waivers as “restrictions” on Iran’s nuclear program, but Sen. Ted Cruz argues that they enable Tehran. United States
Iran battles coronavirus amid dramatic slump in oil income The Iranian government says it is experiencing its lowest oil revenues in a decade amid the coronavirus pandemic. United States
Ankara cracks down on efforts by medical groups, opposition to address pandemic Complaining of a lack of transparency, the Turkish Medical Association began publishing its own figures tracking the virus' spread Tuesday to the displeasure of the government, which has also halted donation drives initiated by opposition mayors. Turkey
Intel: Erdogan, Trump talk coronavirus US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the COVID-19 crisis by phone today, the White House announced. Turkey
Iraqi government calls on civil society to fight COVID-19 Iraqi civil society is offering its help and support to the Iraqi government in fighting the coronavirus. Iraq
Turkey’s femicide toll soars amid coronavirus lockdowns Women’s rights groups are calling for urgent action to protect victims of domestic violence in Turkey, where coronavirus restrictions leave vulnerable women trapped with their abusers. Turkey
Dubai propping up Emirates airline with fresh capital amid coronavirus travel slump With nearly all of its flights grounded, Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Rashid Al Maktoum plans to inject equity into Emirates airline to keep it afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. United Arab Emirates
Israel outlines pandemic cooperation with Palestinians, warns international help needed In a briefing, the Israeli Foreign Ministry praised cooperation with the Palestinian Authority in battling the coronavirus, but stressed that the Palestinians will need more help than Israel is able to provide. Palestine
Coronavirus crisis exposes Shin Bet's secret database Resistance to the Israeli government’s emergency measure to track coronavirus patients has revealed one of the most secretive tools of the Shin Bet in its war against terrorism. Palestine
Will COVID-19 reshape ultra-Orthodox leadership? Public outrage against the ultra-Orthodox community is palpable in Israel for its members disobeying coronavirus restrictions against large gatherings. Israel
Syrian Kurds hunker down amid fears of COVID-19 Most people in northeastern Syria seem to be obeying a lockdown imposed by the Kurdish autonomous administration to contain the spread of the coronavirus, but many are wondering how they will survive financially. Syria