Al-Monitor Daily Briefing: Have taxes killed GCC economic integration?

If you have trouble reading this email, [view it in a browser](. [logo]( [fb_icon]( [twitter_icon]( EDITOR'S PICKS Friday, May 15 | Daily Briefing [By: Karen Young on Friday, May. 15, 2020]( Gulf 1 [Have taxes killed GCC economic integration?]( Saudi Arabia's recent decision to increase its value-added tax by 300% could spell the end of chances for regional economic integration and policy coordination. 2 [Syrians held in Turkish prison 'in breach of international law,' advocates say]( Scores of Syrians detained after Turkey's Operation Peace Spring began in October have been accused of links to the Kurdistan Workers Party and moved to a prison in Sanliurfa, Turkey. Israel 3 [Pompeo forges ties with Ashkenazi as Israeli government diversifies]( The US administration knows that the new government in Israel means that the days of working only with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are over. Washington 4 [How Jordan’s refusal to extradite a convicted terrorist could imperil $1.5 billion in US aid]( Conservative Republicans are turning to a new law that could cut Jordan off from as much as $1.5 billion in US assistance unless it agrees to extradite a woman who helped bomb an Israeli restaurant in 2001. 5 [Pentagon says Damascus, Moscow exploit discontent in Kurdish-controlled Syria]( A US military report accuses Russia and the Syrian regime of using Arab discontent in eastern Syria to undermine the Kurdish-led administration. Iraq 6 [Suicide rates increase within Iraq’s Yazidi community]( The number of suicides among Iraqi Yazidis have been increasing recently, while they receive little support from local and international organizations in this regard. Israel 7 [Gantz introduces Israel's first female ultra-Orthodox minister]( Blue and White leader Benny Gantz has tapped legislator Omer Yankelevich as diaspora minister in the new unity government, the first ultra-Orthodox woman to lead a ministry. Palestine 8 [How a jailhouse letter to Abbas could fast forward Palestinian unity talks]( It remains unclear whether tentative steps will lead to a genuine unification of the fractured Palestinian national movement. 9 [Don’t 'turn a blind eye' to Libya, UN agencies warn]( Seven United Nations agencies called for a cease-fire in war-torn Libya that would allow local authorities and humanitarian organizations to focus on the coronavirus outbreak. Turkey 10 [Decentralization push sparks fears of division in Iraqi Kurdistan]( Sulaimaniyah’s pursuit of enhanced self-governance has stoked concerns over the Iraqi Kurds’ hard-won unity as economic woes strain their autonomous region. 11 [Why is US pushing unworkable plan to renew Iran arms ban?]( Two years after the United States withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, the administration is looking extend the UN ban on conventional arms sales to and from Iran, a strategy designed to kill the deal for good and benefit President Donald Trump whether it succeeds or not. 12 [PKK attacks Turkish military base in Kurdistan Region of Iraq]( The attack comes amid intra-Kurdish tensions in Iraq over the PKK's and Turkey's presence in the country. Palestine 13 [Why is Egypt building more walls around Gaza?]( Although Hamas has taken several measures to boost security on the border with Egypt and prevent any attempt to infiltrate into the Egyptian territory, Egypt continues to build walls and destroy the tunnels. Iran 14 [Iran rejects US plan to reenter nuclear deal to trigger sanctions return]( In Iran's media review today, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that the United States has left the nuclear deal and plans to reenter are "idiotic." 15 [Iranian tanker on way to Venezuela despite US pressure]( The tanker passed through the Suez Canal on Wednesday. Israel 16 [Drama in Israel’s Knesset: Swearing-in ceremony of new government delayed]( The national-unity government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz has not been established yet, but already suffers from obstacles. Palestine 17 [Gaza municipalities suspend services amid coronavirus crisis]( Municipalities in the Gaza Strip issued a decision to reduce some services provided to citizens in light of the coronavirus crisis. 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