The Takeaway: Would Hamas complicate US plans for reset with Palestinians? Also: the back story on the spat between Israel and Jordan; Gulf post-COVID economic trends; Turkey’s Kurds; Egypt and Somalia; and more! Originals
Egypt sentences activist Sanaa Seif to 18 months in prison Seif, who had been in pretrial detention since June, was convicted Wednesday of spreading false news and misusing social media. Egypt
Ukraine rejects Iran's final report on downed passenger plane The Iranian government said last year's shooting down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was the result of a human error. Iran
Palestinians receive first batch of vaccines through COVAX More than 60,000 doses of the AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines arrived in Ramallah on Wednesday. Palestine
US support for Kurds in Iraq, Syria unaffected by tensions with Turkey The Pentagon is standing by Kurdish fighters in Iraq and Syria despite growing political pressure to back off, according to a government audit. Iraq
Ankara’s Syria incursion risks sparking long-term ethnic feud in Turkey Turkey’s military intervention into Afrin might disrupt the social ties between Turkey’s Kurds and Turks permanently and spark an ethnic Turkish-Kurdish feud that could last for generations. Syria
In wake of protests, Iranian officials call for large turnout to mark revolution Following anti-government protests last month, Iranian officials are keen on a large turnout to celebrate the 39th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iran
Drought, dust storms suffocate Iran’s Khuzestan province Despite the government’s measures, southwestern Iran remains mired in a deep environmental crisis. Iran
Turkey pledges to change terror law to win EU visas Turkey has submitted a position paper to Brussels promising to amend the counterterrorism law to decriminalize journalistic opinions, a long-standing demand from Europe before it will grant Turks visa-free travel. Turkey
Can Geneva build on Syrian peace talks in Sochi? Russia's congress on Syria can boast some achievements, but it also leaves plenty for Geneva to resolve. Syria
Israel's education policies leave ultra-Orthodox students behind By giving preference to Yiddish over English and math, ultra-Orthodox schools prevent their graduates from seeking a future in the high-tech industry. Israel
Palestinian council seeks to revive Jerusalem Secretariat Palestinians have expressed skepticism about the Palestinian Central Council’s ability to reactivate the Jerusalem Secretariat and have it work as a shadow municipal council in East Jerusalem. Palestine
Leaks on 'deal of the century' aimed at taking Palestinian pulse Observers viewed that while leaked details of the "deal of the century" are obviously designed to take the pulse of the Palestinians, the deal itself is a blow to the Palestinian cause. Palestine
Polish Holocaust law turns into political battleground in Israel While negotiations continue between Israel and Poland over its new Holocaust law, Israeli politicians are cashing in on the outrage. Israel
Trump policies forge fragile truce among Palestinian factions Although the US decision on Jerusalem has brought views within the PLO closer, a recent dispute between Fatah and PFLP members threatens the uneasy rapprochement. Palestine
Israeli census on Jerusalem a political game ahead of elections Reports that Arabs could become 50% of population of Jerusalem in the coming decade have major implications as Jerusalem's municipal elections approach. Palestine
