Al-Monitor Daily Briefing: Will Israel, Qatar cooperate to save Gaza?

[logo]( [fb_icon]( [twitter_icon]( EDITOR'S PICKS Monday, February 19 | Daily Briefing [By: Shlomi Eldar on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018]( Israel 1 [Will Israel, Qatar cooperate to save Gaza?]( US Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt called for Israel and Qatar to cooperate in order to save the Gaza Strip from a humanitarian crisis. 2 [Afrin puts Turkish-Iranian-Russian mistrust on full display]( More than anything, the situation in Afrin puts on full display the deep and lingering mistrust between Iran, Turkey and Russia. Palestine 3 [Tillerson deviates from Trump's position on Palestinian refugee agency]( US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson supports developing a sustainable funding mechanism for UNRWA, but it is unclear whether he can convince anyone else in the Trump administration of such an approach. Washington 4 [US seeks to double AK-47 supply to Syrian partners]( The Pentagon wants more firepower to help the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces secure territory seized from the Islamic State. Egypt 5 [Sisi supporters turn to stars to boost campaign]( While sports, art and media celebrities have announced their support for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's second presidential term, some question whether dissent is really an option. Turkey 6 [Turkish public divided over military's alliance with FSA]( Turkey’s preoccupation with military insignia helps deepen anti-Americanism while also signaling the top echelons’ obsession with the United States. Turkey 7 [Diyarbakir's signature dessert is multicultural tradition]( Diyarbakir owes its famous dessert, kadaif, to the 18th-century Armenian population, but today, Muslim transports from nearby Bingol have taken over the trade. Israel 8 [Israeli education minister prepares for Netanyahu’s succession battle]( HaBayit HaYehudi leader Naftali Bennett, the only Cabinet minister to criticize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after police recommended indicting him, is preparing for the fight to lead the Israeli right in the post-Netanyahu era. Egypt 9 [Not all Coptic youths on board with church's support of Sisi]( As Egypt's presidential election approaches, some Coptic youths have decided to boycott the polls even as the Orthodox Coptic Church seems to be taking a strong stance in favor of President Sisi. Turkey 10 [Anxious Turkish investors eyeing opportunities abroad]( Mounting political tensions, uncertainties and declining rule of law in Turkey are pushing Turkish entrepreneurs to consider investing abroad. Syria 11 [Kurdish fighters join Turkey's Afrin operation]( In its intervention, Turkey is capitalizing on Kurdish fighters affiliated with the Free Syrian Army who want to liberate Afrin from Kurdish rivals. Israel 12 [Deportation of African migrants angers Israeli restaurateurs]( Israeli restaurateurs call upon the government to drop its plan of massive deportation of African migrants and offer them residence status. Israel 13 [Abbas draws two-year timeline]( According to Palestinian sources, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has given up on the Americans and is not ruling out an armed intifada. Egypt 14 [Sisi ensures shoo-in election, keeps rearranging staff]( People are questioning the timing of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s appointment of a close associate as acting intelligence director ahead of the presidential election. Palestine 15 [Hamas enters new phase of confrontation with Islamic State]( Hamas in the Gaza Strip broadcast a video where two Islamic State members confessed to working for IS, which reveals a new phase in the relationship between the two groups. Egypt 16 [Egyptians divided over army's foray into culture]( The Egyptian Ministry of Defense organized a stand at the Cairo International Book Fair to showcase the army’s achievements in the cultural scene, but some critics warned of ulterior motives. Iraq 17 [Will Great Mosque of Samarra and its minaret survive?]( The 1,200-year-old minaret of the Great Mosque in Samarra is in dire need of restoration, which the Iraqi authorities and UNESCO have started working on. STAY CONNECTED [fb_icon_footer]( [twitter_icon_footer]( [instagram_icon_footer]( [rss_icon_footer]( CONTACT US [Support & Contact]( [Advertise](mailto:advertise@al-monitor.com) NEWSLETTERS [Subscribe]( TERMS OF USE [Visitor Agreement]( [Privacy Policy]( © 2017 Al-Monitor. All Rights Reserved. If you no longer wish to receive these emails you may [unsubscribe or manage your preferences]( at any time. Al-Monitor · 1850 K St NW · Suite 1225 · Washington, DC 20006 · USA