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
Rouhani: Trump lacks means to pressure Iran Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the United States is no longer able to isolate and pressure Iran. Saudi Arabia
Iraqi religious minority struggles to survive in hostile environment Members of Iraq's dwindling Mandaean community are facing many difficulties in practicing their religion as the government has failed to protect them. Iraq
F-35 offers Israel 'entire Middle East' from the cockpit The acquisition of F-35 stealth jets guarantees Israel unprecedented aerial superiority. Israel
Afghan kite runners revive old tradition in new home The 116,000 Afghans seeking asylum in Turkey are often overlooked, but a kite project aims to lift their spirits. Syria
Knesset members return to Temple Mount After a two-year ban, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allowed Knesset members to return to the Temple Mount in a trial run of a new policy. Palestine
UAE, Egypt approve more aid for Gaza, Hamas It looks like support is on the way for destitute Gaza via the UAE and Egypt. United Arab Emirates
Cairo seeks to boost trade with Ankara, overlooking political deadlock Tarek Kabil, Egypt’s minister of trade and industry, said it is not in Egypt’s interest to hinder trade activities with Turkey. Egypt
Egypt revamps cave museum devoted to Nazi general Egypt's Antiquities Ministry has renovated and reopened a museum in a cave used by Erwin Rommel, the Nazi general known as the "Desert Fox," during his campaign against the British in 1942. Egypt
Russia weighs in on Bannon-free White House Analysts examine what foreign policy changes Washington might make concerning the Mideast now that Steve Bannon is gone, and what that could mean for Moscow. Syria
Erdogan hastens executive presidency with new decree Turkey's latest decree under a continued state of emergency grants the intelligence sector unprecedented influence in the military and government, while giving Erdogan full control in these areas. Turkey
How AKP supporters learned to live with Assad Having vilified President Bashar al-Assad for years, President Erdogan and his supporters are backing off their previous threats against the Syrian president with the growth of Kurdish groups in Syria. Syria
The more Trump sinks, the more Turkey’s currency and government recover Discouraged by the US president’s dismal performance, global short-term investors are returning to emerging economies, including Turkey, boosting Ankara’s economic and political prospects in critical times. Turkey
