Al-Monitor Daily Briefing: Israeli attorney general wrestles with indictment timing

[logo]( [fb_icon]( [twitter_icon]( EDITOR'S PICKS Thursday, January 3 | Daily Briefing [By: Ben Caspit on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019]( Israel 1 [Israeli attorney general wrestles with indictment timing]( Israel’s Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit is grasping for advice on how his decision on indicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could affect the early elections in April. 2 [Al-Monitor's 2019 Middle East Forecast]( Al-Monitor asked its columnists and contributors how events will shape the Middle East, and the world, in 2019. Washington 3 [Intel: How Elizabeth Warren’s first 2020 interview shows Democrats are in a bind over Syria]( President Donald Trump’s surprise announcement last month that he’s withdrawing US troops from Syria was met with a strong bipartisan rebuke from Congress. But several notable Democrats were silent — including those with presidential aspirations. Washington 4 [Lawsuit over Washington violence looms over US-Turkey relations]( Kurdish protesters who were pummeled by President Erdogan’s security detail last year are seeking millions in damages in US federal court. Iran 5 [Meet Iran's first ever Sunni female ambassador]( The Iranian government has appointed its first ever female Sunni ambassador, reviving hopes for greater senior political representation among the marginalized religious minority. Gulf 6 [Khashoggi’s murder three months on: new clues, new dynamics?]( Unresolved questions linger in the murder of The Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, but authorities are hoping chilling new footage might provide clues. Israel 7 [US-Palestinian man gets life sentence for selling home to Jews]( A Ramallah court has sentenced a Palestinian-American to life in prison for selling East Jerusalem property to Jewish Israelis in what could be a sign that the Palestinians are considering ending security coordination with Israel. Washington 8 [Trump signals possible flexibility on pace of Syria withdrawal]( President Donald Trump signaled possible flexibility in the pace of a US withdrawal from Syria, saying the United States would protect the Kurds. Iran 9 [Former hard-line presidential candidate could become Iran's judiciary chief]( The appointment of Sadegh Amoli Larijani as chairman of Iran’s Expediency Council has fueled speculation that conservative former presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi is poised to succeed him as judiciary chief. Iraq 10 [UN seeks to raise awareness of bias against African-Iraqis]( Iraqis of African descent seem to be making progress, albeit slowly, against discrimination, with the UN's help. Egypt 11 [Egyptian silk producers hope to spin profits]( Egypt hopes that removing tariffs on the import of silkworms will encourage young entrepreneurs to cultivate them to help meet local demand. Washington 12 [US doubles down on military aid to Lebanon]( The Donald Trump administration is providing Lebanon’s army with more than $100 million in upgrades to tanks and attack helicopters. Palestine 13 [Financial crisis threatens to silence Hamas broadcasts]( Hamas-affiliated channel Al-Aqsa TV fears financial woes could force it to stop broadcasting for the first time since 2006. Palestine 14 [Historic Jerusalem district threatened by settler group]( The houses of several Palestinian families in East Jerusalem are threatened with destruction or expropriation by a powerful Israeli organization working to expand the settlements. Palestine 15 [Palestinian oud trio combines poetry with music]( Le Trio Joubran puts Palestine's oldest instrument, the oud, and the words of Mahmoud Darwish at the heart of its works. 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]( © 2019 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