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
Inside the Trump-Pelosi tug of war over Iran war powers President Donald Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are tangling over the legal authorities necessary to attack Iran. Congress
US questions whether Iraq can boot American troops After Iraq's parliament urged US troops to leave the country Sunday, the White House and some Iraqi lawmakers are raising questions about whether Iraq's caretaker prime minister has the authority to kick out US forces. Iraq
Iraq's Kurds weigh opportunities, risks in wake of Soleimani killing Can the Kurdistan Regional Government help out the United States as it faces Iraqi anger over the Soleimani killing, and does the KRG want to risk doing so? Iraq
Incitement against Russian-Israelis resurges in election campaign As the elections approach, ultra-Orthodox leaders are accusing Israelis who immigrated from Russia and Ukraine of coming to the country to weaken their political force. Israel
Is Turkey 'big winner' after Soleimani killing? Some observers assert that the killing of the Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani will increase US reliance on Turkey for its future military operations in the Middle East and enhance Turkey's overall geopolitical positioning, but such thinking may prove to be wishful thinking. Syria
Oman’s humanitarian aid to Yemen also pragmatic Providing assistance to Yemenis requires Oman to maintain a low profile and strike a political balance with its giant neighbor to the northwest, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
Dubai ports giant hires ex-Israeli intelligence official to land US support for Sudan bid DP World has hired controversial lobbyist Ari Ben-Menashe to get a US grant to develop Sudan’s most important cargo terminal. United Arab Emirates
Deadly stampede kills scores at burial of Iran's Soleimani Scores of mourners died in a stampede that marred and briefly delayed a massive burial for the Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani assassinated in a US airstrike last week. United States
US withdrawal from Iraq is Israel’s worst-case scenario The leaked letter published this week about the United States considering withdrawing from Iraq and Syria generated great concern within the Israeli security establishment. Iraq
TurkStream gas pipeline will bring Moscow, Ankara closer than ever Turkey and Russia are set to inaugurate the TurkStream gas pipeline, which promises to increase Russian leverage in regional energy markets. Turkey
Intel: US uses Uighur crisis to sideline China in MidEast The United States is highlighting China’s mass detention of some one million Muslim Uighurs in concentration camps as part of a bid to reduce Beijing’s diplomatic clout in the Middle East. Bahrain
How Moscow is positioning itself as broker amid Mideast tensions Russian President Vladimir Putin's shuttle diplomacy in the Middle East seeks to gain Russia more power and higher status. Syria