Al-Monitor Daily Briefing: Netanyahu’s plan for winning an outright majority in the Knesset

If you have trouble reading this email, [view it in a browser](. [logo]( [fb_icon]( [twitter_icon]( EDITOR'S PICKS Tuesday, December 17 | Daily Briefing [By: Danny Zaken on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019]( Israel 1 [Netanyahu’s plan for winning an outright majority in the Knesset]( If he wants his right-wing ultra-Orthodox bloc to win 61 seats so he can form an immunity coalition, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will need Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked to run as part of the New Right list and pass the electoral threshold. Turkey 2 [Will Libya become Turkey’s next Syria?]( The recently signed Turkey-Libya military cooperation deal and maritime delimitation agreement threatened to raise tensions not only in Libya but throughout the Eastern Mediterranean with Turkey asserting the right to intervene militarily in Libya if requested and to drill for oil and gas. Washington 3 [Intel: Trump administration distances itself from Congress’ recognition of Armenian genocide]( The State Department is distancing itself from Congress’ vote to recognize the Ottoman Empire’s massacre of more than a million, mostly Christian Armenians as a genocide. Iran 4 [Iran's regional peace initiative faces major challenges]( While Oman and Iran may have high hopes for the Hormuz Peace Endeavor, regional security arrangements have typically needed great-power backing to hold them together. Lebanon 5 [Lebanon parliament consultations postponed amid popular anger]( Lebanon's parliament consultations were postponed as police wielded batons and tear gas against protesters in downtown Beirut. Gulf 6 [Yemen's shaky power-sharing pact faces uncertain future]( The agreement between Yemen's government and secessionist forces in the south has shown little progress since it was signed more than a month ago. Syria 7 [Congress on verge of passing long-stalled Assad sanctions package]( Congress is on the brink of sanctioning Syria’s Bashar al-Assad government after three years of struggling to get the legislation approved. Gulf 8 [Intel: Why US is likely to raise concerns about China’s investment in Oman]( A Chinese state-owned company has inked a deal to take over nearly half of Oman’s power transmission firm, which is valued at $2 billion. Culture 9 [Southern Turkish city defiant over its raki and kebab]( Although Adana province banned a raki festival for reasons of safety, locals rushed to the bars to celebrate their culture of raki — accompanied by turnip juice — and kebab. Israel 10 [The ultra-Orthodox dilemma on slamming Liberman]( Ultra-Orthodox politicians fear that any attacks against Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Liberman would actually reinforce him within secular electorate. Iraq 11 [Iraq's Ninevah province turns back on Shiite forces]( The Ninevah provincial council has voted to replace a governor who was close to Iran-backed forces with a military man who is close to the United States. Israel 12 [Netanyahu’s relations with Likud members: The ultimate test]( Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has nurtured his relationship with Likud members for more than three decades. Now he's not sure that they will continue to follow him. Culture 13 [Quran manuscript a 'blessing' for an Iranian Kurdish village]( A centuries-old manuscript of the Quran continues to play a central in the identity of residents of an Iranian village where residents revere it as a sublime, God-given blessing. Israel 14 [2020 elections: Israeli-Arab party aspires to 15 seats]( Arab Joint List Knesset members are in an excellent mood: They believe that grassroots campaigning could garner them 15 seats in the upcoming March elections. Gulf 15 [Who is responsible for the new wave of killings in Aden?]( It's hard to determine which side or sides are behind the latest wave of killings as a new round of military escalation looms in Yemen’s south, which has seen skirmishes in Abyan province between the two partners of the Saudi-led coalition. 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