Al-Monitor Daily Briefing: Israel’s love of Kurds weaponized by their foes

If you have trouble reading this email, [view it in a browser](. [logo]( [fb_icon]( [twitter_icon]( EDITOR'S PICKS Monday, December 16 | Daily Briefing [By: Amberin Zaman on Friday, Dec. 13, 2019]( Syria 1 [Israel’s love of Kurds weaponized by their foes]( Israel's support of Kurdish autonomy in Syria is not always welcomed — at least publicly — by Syria's Kurds. North Africa 2 [Are Russia and Turkey in tug of war over Libya?]( Libya has emerged as a contested issue between Russia and Turkey. Iraq 3 [Iraqis await fallout from NYT expose on Iranian influence]( Leaked documents from Iranian intelligence seem to back up Iraqi protestors' angry contention that Iran has corrupted top-level Iraqi politicians, though the politicians themselves offer rebuttals. Israel 4 [Demands for term limits rise as Netanyahu clings to power]( Benjamin Netanyahu's endless fight to keep the premiership has prompted calls for change from Israelis exhausted from three elections in one year. North Africa 5 [Protesters unmoved by Algeria's first corruption trial]( Algeria’s protesters view the current trial of figures linked to the former regime as a charade that some in power are using to settle personal accounts. Israel 6 [Israel must set conditions for Hamas over Palestinian elections]( Israel should agree to the Palestinian demand of enabling elections also in East Jerusalem, but it should not agree for terror group Hamas to participate in the electoral process. Palestine 7 [Palestinians plan legal steps to stop new Hebron settlement]( A controversial proposal for a new settlement in the heart of Hebron calls for bulldozing a long-barricaded Palestinian vegetable market to build new shops and housing for Israelis. Iraq 8 [Iraqi political blocs struggle to meet deadline to replace outgoing PM]( As the constitutional deadline arrives, Iraqi political parties seem unable to select a new prime minister. Syria 9 [Security situation in Aleppo’s al-Bab still not stable]( Following angry public protests in Aleppo’s city of al-Bab due to the deteriorating security conditions, police forces are intensifying efforts to prevent terrorist incidents. Jordan 10 [Israeli citizen stands trial in Jordan as tensions simmer]( Jordanian-Israeli relations have grown increasingly tense as Jordan tries an Israeli accused to illegally crossing the border and holds a military exercise simulating an Israeli invasion. Turkey 11 [Intel: Pentagon worried Turkey ‘spinning out’ of NATO orbit]( Defense Secretary Mark Esper told an audience at a New York think tank he was worried that Turkey is “spinning out” of the NATO orbit. Culture 12 [Sex workers fall victim to Israeli government paralysis]( Due to the paralysis of successive transitional governments in Israel, millions of shekels allocated to the Welfare Ministry to help sex workers get out of the business have gone unused and might therefore be returned to the Finance Ministry. 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