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
Iranian banks slowly reconnect to the world While Iran works to gradually reconnect its banking system to the world, major hurdles remain, even as companies find creative solutions. Iran
Raqqa mothers recount horrors of life under IS as city liberated The thousands of Syrians who fled Raqqa when it fell under the Islamic State’s control have gained an inch of hope to return to their homes after the city was recently liberated. Lebanon
Lebanese women entrepreneurs push for success The Lebanese League for Women in Business is launching projects encouraging women to open their own businesses. Lebanon
How the Syrian army is working to gain control of road to Raqqa The Syrian regime army took control of Hama’s eastern countryside from the Islamic State, which opened a road toward eastern Syria and areas controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces. Syria
Syrian opposition 'interim government' takes control of Bab al-Salameh border crossing The Free Syrian Army has handed over the administration of the Bab al-Salameh border crossing with Turkey to the co-called Syrian Interim Government, in what could positively impact the opposition on many levels. Syria
Young Gazans mobilize to save Palestine's oldest archaeological site A youth movement emerges spontaneously to prevent the demolition of Tall al-Sakan, the oldest archaeological site in Gaza. Palestine
Palestinian reconciliation takes its toll on new PA budget The Palestinian reconciliation will require a substantial increase in the PA budget, including new hires for security and resolving the ongoing crisis involving civil servants appointed by Hamas. Palestine
Netanyahu sidelines far-right ideology of assassinated minister Speaking at the memorial day for assassinated politician Rehavam Zeevi, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chose to ignore Zeevi’s racist ideology and accusations of sexual misconduct. Palestine
Hamas backtracks on charter changes Bellicose statements by some Hamas leaders appear to suggest the organizations' new leadership is tossing aside recent changes to its charter. Palestine
Can Meretz Party change Israeli left? With Labor head Avi Gabbay veering to the right, Meretz faces both handicaps and opportunities leading the center-left political bloc. Israel
US welcomes Kurdish backpedaling The United States sees a way out of the political crisis between Baghdad and Erbil as the Kurdistan Regional Government offers to suspend the results of its independence referendum and open dialogue. Iraq
Pentagon says Iraqi flight ban won’t impact US military assistance to Kurds US arms are getting through to the peshmerga, but crucial aid contractors are getting held up. Iraq
