Al-Monitor Daily Briefing: Baghdad's row with Ankara could benefit each side

If you have trouble reading this email, [view it in a browser](. [logo]( [fb_icon]( [twitter_icon]( EDITOR'S PICKS Thursday, July 9 | Daily Briefing [By: Fehim Tastekin on Wednesday, Jul. 8, 2020]( Turkey 1 [Baghdad's row with Ankara could benefit each side]( Turkey’s latest military operation against Kurdish militants based in northern Iraq has triggered harsh reactions from Baghdad but also opened room for dialogue between the militaries of the two sides. 2 [Podcast: US Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook discusses admin's Iran policy]( Hook, the Trump administration’s top official on Iran, talks about the prospects for further prisoner exchanges and diplomacy with Iran; the threat from Iran’s nuclear programs; and more. Iran 3 [As Iran applauds BLM, Afghan minority short on rights]( While the Iranian government points to the "Black Lives Matter" movement as proof of American hypocrisy, Iran's Afghan minority has a different take. 4 [R&D potential could be key to spark Saudi economy]( The impact of COVID-19 and low oil prices has led to even further expected declines in Saudi Arabia's gross domestic product, but research and development could hold the key to an economic reset. Egypt 5 [Tensions escalate between Egypt, Ethiopia with no end in sight of Nile dam dispute]( Ethiopia has recently accused Egypt of unilaterally using Nile River waters via a project approved in 1995; Cairo says upstream countries are not affected and that it has all the rights to use the Nile waters. Israel 6 [Israel, UAE test potential for cooperation on COVID-19]( The agreement signed between the United Arab Emirates' Group 42 and Israel’s IAI and Rafael companies offers a glimpse of the potential for cooperation -- if not deterred by annexation. 7 [A way forward for the United States and Turkey]( Turkish-US relations, while fraught with tension, must also align with a mutual interest in stability in the Middle East and preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Iraq 8 [Despite promises, displaced Iraqis linger in limbo]( Iraq's prime minister has prioritized helping the displaced, but efforts to restore them to their homes are still hindered by political disagreements, a lack of funds and the absence of infrastructure and services. Gulf 9 [Will formation of new government in Yemen lay groundwork for peace?]( Despite agreeing to a cease-fire in south Yemen, it seems the chances of ending the conflict between the Saudi-backed government forces and the UAE-backed southern separatists and forming a new government are dim. Israel 10 [Israeli army hit hard by coronavirus]( The second wave of the novel coronavirus is affecting the IDF, which has ordered 10,000 soldiers into quarantine. Egypt 11 [Egyptian loans raise fears of impact on economy]( The Egyptian government expands borrowing from the IMF and selling international bonds, amid warnings of the danger of trying to solve the economic crises by borrowing from abroad, and demands to search for alternatives as Egyptian foreign debt reaches record numbers. Israel 12 [Israel’s middle class sags as aid package delayed]( Young Israelis and the country's middle class are facing the biggest economic crisis Israel has ever experienced as the pandemic's second wave crashes. 13 [UN report blames civilian deaths in northwest Syria on government and rebel groups]( The report by the United Nations' Syria commission details numerous possible war crimes in recent months by both pro-government forces and the rebel group HTS. Israel 14 [Palestinian workers stay in Israel for three weeks in a row]( Some 46,000 Palestinians are now lodged on construction sites in Israel; they must stay where they work for three weeks before going back home. Gulf 15 [UK to resume issuing Saudi Arabia arms export licenses]( Licensing had been suspended last year after a British court ruled that the government violated British law by selling arms without examining whether the weapons may be used to harm noncombatants. 16 [Emirates temporarily halts bookings to New Zealand]( The Dubai-based carrier's decision follows a stoppage it placed on flights from Pakistan as countries struggle to resume flights during the pandemic. Iran 17 [Iran’s Rouhani stands by foreign minister after parliament slurs]( The fragility of the Iran nuclear deal and its bleak prospects have given Iran’s hard-liners the upper hand in their domestic battle against moderate forces. 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