Al-Monitor Daily Briefing: How coronavirus outbreak has boosted Palestinian-Israeli cooperation

If you have trouble reading this email, [view it in a browser](. [logo]( [fb_icon]( [twitter_icon]( EDITOR'S PICKS Friday, March 20 | Daily Briefing [By: Daoud Kuttab on Thursday, Mar. 19, 2020]( Palestine 1 [How coronavirus outbreak has boosted Palestinian-Israeli cooperation]( While Palestinian-Israeli cooperation has been revved up to the highest level for some time due to the coronavirus outbreak, some problems persist. Syria 2 [Doctors in northwest Syria brace for ‘devastating’ coronavirus]( Medical personnel in Syria contacted by Al-Monitor worry that Idlib's crippled health infrastructure will not be able to handle a coronavirus outbreak. Iran 3 [Will Iran's economy collapse under coronavirus crisis?]( While the country’s economy will certainly take a massive hit by the ongoing pandemic, Iran has shown resilience toward such crises in the past. Turkey 4 [Is Turkey ready for social distancing?]( Turkey’s technological infrastructure is equipped to support the country through the pandemic, but the public lacks awareness of social distancing. Egypt 5 [Egypt’s censors shift into high gear over coronavirus coverage]( Press censorship in Egypt has most recently hit The Guardian and The New York Times following what it claims are "false rumors" of the coronavirus crisis in the country. Iran 6 [Iran medical council says coronavirus crisis still developing]( Iranian medical officials warn that COVID-19 could well plague the country for at least another two months. 7 [Iran releases jailed US Navy vet Michael White on medical furlough]( Iran has released US Navy veteran Michael R. White on medical furlough, the State Department announced today. US President Donald Trump asked Syria for the release of US journalist Austin Tice. Israel 8 [Coronavirus, not Iran, Netanyahu’s biggest test]( Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has focused his political career on battling the Iranian nuke program as the biggest threat to Israel, but his legacy ultimately hinges on the way he confronts the current coronavirus outbreak. Israel 9 [Netanyahu’s target: to isolate coronavirus, Benny Gantz]( On the backdrop of internal party disagreements, Blue and White leader Benny Gantz must make a decision on whether to join a Netanyahu unity government. Turkey 10 [Why Ankara’s Syrian refugee threat has lost its impact]( The “refugee crisis” that Ankara triggered at the Greek border has come to an end, as it failed to create the desired impact on Europe. Israel 11 [Israel, Palestinians cooperate over coronavirus]( When the crisis surrounding the coronavirus is finally over, Israelis and Palestinians alike will realize that it is possible to do things differently and cooperate in various areas. Palestine 12 [Israel tightens grip on Palestinian workers to limit COVID-19]( The Israeli authorities have decided to prevent Palestinian construction workers who are crucial for the Israeli construction sector from commuting from and to the West Bank for fear that this could help spread the coronavirus in Israel. Iraq 13 [Is Iraq taking necessary measures to prevent COVID-19 spread?]( Iraqi authorities are taking strict measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Syria 14 [Deir ez-Zor residents protest rule by Syrian Kurdish group]( The Deir ez-Zor military council, affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), has been firing on protesters and believes they are being fed anti-SDF propaganda by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Israel 15 [Netanyahu, Gantz get closer to reaching unity government]( Despite an earlier pledge by Israel's Blue and White leader Benny Gantz to not partner in a government with current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, negotiations between the two sides on a unity government are progressing. Culture 16 [Upper Egypt publisher fights for survival]( Hypatia Publishing House, which takes its name from an executed Platonic thinker, aims to put Upper Egypt on the literary map. 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]( © 2020 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