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
Dahlan muscles his way into Gaza with UAE money A reconciliation effort between Hamas and estranged Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan could resolve the bad blood among Palestinians resulting from the 2007 infighting between Fatah and Hamas. Palestine
Iranians support restarting nuclear program if US backs out of deal A growing percentage of Iranians also support their country’s military intervention in Syria in the aftermath of terrorist attacks in Tehran, according to a new poll. United States
Turkey's pervasive president may be wearing out his welcome "Erdoganmania" is evolving into Erdogan fatigue as he exhausts people with his constant interference in their lives. Turkey
Embassy killings fuel Jordan-Israel tensions The entire Israeli Embassy staff was evacuated from Jordan after a guard shot and killed two Jordanians following a dispute on embassy grounds. Palestine
Without reforms, Iranian banking crisis looms As he prepares to begin his second term, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is faced with the prospect of a major banking crisis. Iran
Iranian MPs request to visit imprisoned opposition leader After news that Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi are reportedly suffering from serious illnesses, some are calling for their release. Iran
Turkish parliament expels more pro-Kurdish lawmakers in absentia Turkey has stripped two more pro-Kurdish lawmakers of their seats in its ever-widening dragnet as pro-Kurdish politicians and their supporters take to the streets of Diyarbakir. Turkey
Israeli, Turkish chefs hope food can bridge divide For Israeli food blogger David Dudi Califa, a victim of the IS attack in Istanbul a year ago, the best reply to terrorism is to cook with love. Israel
Arab Sunni areas of Iraq see demands to join Kurdistan Region The secessionist wing in Iraqi Kurdistan is working on using demands from some Sunni Arabs to join the region to support the upcoming referendum and independence. Iraq
Yazidi boys forced to fight for IS still need psychological help Hundreds of Yazidi boys indoctrinated by the Islamic State have managed to escape, but without professional treatment, their trauma continues. Iraq
Knesset’s summer session ends in disgrace A vicious debate in the Knesset over the nationality bill guarantees further turbulence into the fall. Israel
Al-Qaeda strikes back Al-Qaeda's attempted assassination of Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Nayef in 2009 appears to have ultimately brought the prince down in 2017. Saudi Arabia
