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
British-Iranian charity worker faces new charge in Iran: state TV Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was convicted of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government, has been notified of "a new indictment." Iran
Can young Brotherhood splinter group advance issue of political detainees? A group of young people from the Muslim Brotherhood in Qatar, Sudan and Turkey decide to defect from the group and establish their own movement, citing failures on part of senior leaders to tackle the issue of political detainees and fugitives in Egypt. Egypt
UAE grants five-day paid paternity leave The United Arab Emirates grants paid paternity leave for the private sector, a first in the Arab world and a move widely welcomed by locals and expats. United Arab Emirates
Coronavirus-infected Israel, on brink of anarchy As Israel records more than 3,000 new coronavirus cases a day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s opponents and also his ultra-Orthodox partners gang up against him. Israel
Access to Asi River turned into left-right battleground in Israel A tweet by Yair Netanyahu turned a battle over accessing the Asi River into a political war between right and left, Ashkenazi and Mizrahi. Israel
Sudan floods muddy Nile dam talks The floods in Sudan have destroyed thousands of homes and killed hundreds amid stalled negotiations between Cairo, Addis Ababa and Khartoum over the Nile dam dispute. Egypt
Online calls for anti-Sisi protests in Egypt may fall flat Social media activists are calling for street protests Sept. 20 against Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, but expectations are low. Egypt
Israeli-Arabs split over agreement with the Emirates Some Israeli-Arabs reject the deal with the UAE, while others cheer the opening to the Arab world. United Arab Emirates
Intel: Russian naval exercises could fuel Greece-Turkey standoff in EastMed A planned Russian drill could worsen an already tense standoff between Greece and Turkey in the energy-rich and disputed eastern Mediterranean Sea. Turkey
Serbia, Kosovo to open embassies in Jerusalem Serbia plans to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem next year, and Kosovo also has agreed to open an embassy in the holy city. Israel
Dog sparks hope in Beirut of possible miracle survivor under rubble A dog alerted Chilean rescuers to a possible sign of life near downtown Beirut and the search has provided hope to people in the city one month after the deadly explosion. Lebanon
Palestinian leaders grasp for unity in Ramallah-Beirut meeting While the Sept. 3 meeting between major Palestinian faction leaders in Ramallah and Beirut was an unusual accomplishment in itself, many observers are cautious about crucial obstacles to change. Palestine