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
Many Egyptians unmoved by heroic 'train lady' story A woman who offered to pay a conscript's train fare has been celebrated as a national hero in Egypt, but skeptics suggest the incident was staged to deflect attention from bigger challenges faced by the country. Egypt
Russia pushes COVID-19 vaccine in Egypt Moscow is busily promoting its COVID-19 vaccine in Egypt, which it hopes to recruit for testing and production purposes. Egypt
US floats idea of upgrading Qatar to 'non-NATO ally' A senior State Department official made the suggestion amid a White House push for Arab states to recognize Israel following this year's strategic dialogue with Qatar. Qatar
US imposes sanctions on Iranian intelligence, Hezbollah-linked targets in Lebanon New US sanctions affect 47 individuals and entities in Iran as well as three targets in Lebanon. Lebanon
Why is Turkey acquiescing to Egypt’s role in Libya? Egyptian mediation in Libya could prove a silver lining for Turkey as its ability to influence the conflict seems to wane, bearing also on its energy ambitions in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey
Israel’s president apologizes for failure to cope with coronavirus President Reuven Rivlin apologized for the failure of the country's leadership to better cope with the coronavirus and appealed to citizens to follow new lockdown restrictions that are going into effect. Israel
Turkey begins vaccine trials with foreign drugmakers Turkey's health minister has announced the start of human trials in Turkey with Chinese, US and Russian vaccines and says the end of the crisis is in sight. Turkey
Turkey more diplomatically isolated than ever in Arab world Many analysts believe that Ankara’s meddling in the Arab world’s affairs has contributed to pushing some of these regimes toward Israel. Gulf
Is Israel-Gulf business ready to take off? Agribusiness, retail, housing, and hospitality look like good bets for Israel-Gulf trade. United Arab Emirates
Egypt’s presidency clashes with religious institutions over verbal divorce Calls for new legislation in Egypt to annul verbal divorce, namely by President Abel Fattah al-Sisi, raise the ire of Al-Azhar and other religious institutions already at odds with the president. Egypt
Iraqi government steps up fight against corruption The arrest of six senior officials on corruption charges shows that serious steps are taken in the fight against corruption, amid calls that the government speeds up its reform program. Iraq
Normalization deals rattle Israeli left The Israeli left and center is not sure how to react to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's diplomatic achievements in the Gulf. Israel