The Takeaway: April 8, 2020

Andrew Parasiliti

A Blue and White party election campaign poster, depicting party leader Benny Gantz, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is seen in Tel Aviv, Israel February 18, 2020. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RC243F9OLAV7 — A Blue and White party election campaign poster, depicting party leader Benny Gantz, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is seen in Tel Aviv, Israel Feb. 18, 2020. — REUTERS/Amir Cohen

By Andrew Parasiliti (@ATParasiliti)

Welcome to The Takeaway, where we break down trends in the Middle East that you shouldn’t be missing.

Highlights: Israel’s rival leaders maintain political as well as social distance for Passover; Pompeo warns of Iraqi ‘economic collapse’ in proposing dialogue; Syrian Kurds settling scores with US-backed activists; Are Syrian refugees going home?... and more!

Four quick takes:

I. Israel: Is Bibi considering a fourth election?

The agreement between Israel’s two Benjamins – Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Knesset speaker Benny Gantz – faced a last-minute glitch on April 6, just as the press was announcing the details of the unprecedented “emergency coronavirus government” that would allow Netanyahu to serve the first 18 months as premier and then hand over the reins to Gantz.

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The Takeaway: April 8, 2020

Israel’s rival leaders maintain political as well as social distance for Passover; Pompeo warns of Iraqi ‘economic collapse’ in proposing dialogue; Syrian Kurds settling scores with US-backed activists; Are Syrian refugees going home?... and more!

I. Israel: Is Bibi considering a fourth election?

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