Al-Monitor Daily Briefing: How Turkey is turning to Russia amid row with US over Syria

[logo]( [fb_icon]( [twitter_icon]( EDITOR'S PICKS Thursday, February 28 | Daily Briefing [editor_pic]( 1 [How Turkey is turning to Russia amid row with US over Syria]( The timing of the Turkish foreign minister’s unexpected phone call today with his Russian counterpart in the middle of US-Turkey talks on Syria is the latest sign that Washington and Ankara remain hopelessly at odds over how to move forward in the region. Iran 2 [Will sanctions suffocate trickle of Iran-US trade?]( With the reimposition of US sanctions, the trickle of trade between Iran and the United States could vanish altogether. Turkey 3 [Turkey rows against strong currents in northern Syria]( The latest statements out of Washington and Moscow have again highlighted the difficulties Ankara faces in trying to achieve its aims in Syria. 4 [Israel hopes Zarif resignation reveals cracks in Iran's Syria policy]( Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to express his glee when Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif offered his resignation, but what does it mean for Tehran's strategy in Syria? Russia / Mideast 5 [Putin, Netanyahu find common ground in Moscow]( In their first meeting since the downing of a Russian jet in September 2018, Russia's president and Israel's prime minister carefully reaffirmed their strained ties. Israel 6 [Tensions ramp up on Temple Mount ahead of Trump’s peace plan]( With President Donald Trump set to unveil his much-hyped peace plan and Israel deducting Palestinian tax revenues, the disputed compound of Al-Aqsa or the Temple Mount is crackling with tension. Turkey 7 [US presence in northern Syria serves the Kurds, not Turkey]( The US decision to keep 200 troops in northern Syria is a blow to Ankara. 8 [Despite high price of Syrian reconstruction, business, influence opportunities abound]( Though Syria's blueprint for reconstruction is ambitious, costly and in some ways at odds with Western priorities, there is some cause for optimism in Damascus' marketing of reconstruction opportunities to friendly states. Palestine 9 [Palestinian women entrepreneurs compete for professional assistance]( The Ministry of National Economy in the West Bank recently launched a competition targeting women working in the food industry in order to encourage their efforts and support national products. Palestine 10 [Libyan court cracks down on Hamas activities]( Four Palestinians have been hit with significant jail sentences after a military court in Libya declared them guilty of being affiliated with and aiding Hamas. Iran 11 [Iran's Zarif returns to work after Rouhani rejects resignation]( Mohammad Javad Zarif has resumed work as Iran's top diplomat after President Hassan Rouhani rejected his abrupt resignation, though the debate continues over what forced the foreign minister to bid farewell in the first place. Israel 12 [Is Netanyahu coordinating with Trump over 'deal of the century’?]( Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hopes that publication of the US Mideast peace deal just after the elections would attract public attention away from an imminent indictment against him. Turkey 13 [Erdogan blasts polling as Turkey's local elections approach]( President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, long a close observer of opinion polls, now indicates they are not to be trusted when it comes to March 31 local elections that may put his leadership to the test. 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