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
New generation of Arabic-singing Israelis move charts A new generation of Israeli singers, many of whose families are from countries in the Arab world, choose to sing in Arabic in order to trace their roots. Israel
Iran unrest could complicate Trump decision on sanctions waivers US President Donald Trump has voiced his support for Iran's protests, but the unrest could further complicate his decision on whether to waive nuclear sanctions next month. United States
Israel ignores Iran’s support of Arab Peace Initiative Israel keeps silent while Iranian President Hassan Rouhani signs onto the resolution of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation supporting Israeli-Palestinian peace based on a two-state solution. Israel
Why Netanyahu needs votes of Israelis living abroad A top Likud Party source told Al-Monitor that in the remaining two years of the government’s term, a real effort will be made to advance an initiative allowing Israelis abroad to vote in the Knesset elections. Israel
How Rouhani can use protests to advance reform Key questions about the protests in Iran remain unanswered, but that does not stop President Hassan Rouhani from being able to seize on the demonstrations to advance his agenda. Iran
Iranian conservatives welcome protests, for now Unsure of who is behind the protests, Iranian political figures and factions voice support for the economic grievances of the protesters. Iran
Russia 'consulted, heard and feared' in the Middle East Moscow weighs benefits and risks of leverage and leadership in the Syria crisis and the Middle East peace process. Saudi Arabia
Protests in Iran unlikely to bring about change Despite their sudden spread, protests in Iran are unlikely to instigate the change that demonstrators desire. Iran
Egypt’s parliament in bid to ban atheism As Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hopes to appease the ultraconservative Salafists who helped get him elected, blasphemy convictions have intensified under his presidency. Egypt
Why one Israeli minister wants to bring Trump train to Jerusalem Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz's decision to name a train station that has not been built yet in Jerusalem after US President Donald Trump has upset many world leaders. Israel
Struggle with Sochi guest list reflects animosities over Syria As Russia seeks to overcome Turkey’s objections to Kurdish participation in the planned Sochi conference, Moscow welcomed Kurdish commanders to assure them Kurds are not being excluded. Syria
2018 fraught with uncertainties for Turkish economy Despite its spectacular growth this year, Turkey’s economy is burdened with serious problems and fragilities that might spoil the party next year. Turkey
