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
Iran signs first energy contract since nuclear deal Iran's first energy deal since the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions on the country is a major breakthrough in the development of the massive South Pars gas field. Iran
Iranian 'shadow government' likely to remain pipe dream Despite the fanfare in some quarters of the Principlist camp, the idea of a “shadow government” being set up in Iran appears unlikely to materialize. Iran
Parchment down to last maker in ancient Turkish birthplace Parchment, the game-changer in the ancient library war between Alexandria and Pergamum, is at risk of extinction in modern-day Bergama, where an 85-year-old man is the last surviving craftsman. Turkey
Israel anticipates Raqqa’s fall For Israel, the regional power balance after the end of the Islamic State could actually mean a Hezbollah reinforced by the Lebanese army, with Iran present on the Golan Heights front. Israel
Zuwara, the Libyan city working to stop migrant smuggling A group of local activists from the Amazigh-majority city of Zuwara in Libya are taking matters into their own hands and working to prevent illegal immigration from the shores of North Africa toward Europe. North Africa
In Aden, Yemeni activists still live in fear Two years after Houthi rebels were expelled from Aden, Yemenis are fleeing the port city as militias and extremists are increasingly targeting activists, intellectuals and anyone opposing their views. Yemen
Cybercrime law draws mixed reactions among Palestinians Victims hope a new cybercrime law will help them gain rights, get fair compensation and receive legal protection, but some Palestinians fear the law will constitute a tool of repression. Palestine
Protests grow over police actions in Morocco The Moroccan government promotes the country as a model for stability in the region, but its failure to calm months of protests could have serious consequences. Morocco
Jordanian soccer teams’ ugly rivalry reveals deeper divide Al-Wehdat and Al-Faisaly teams' long-standing wrath displays ethnic divisions in Jordan. Palestine
US escalation in Syria strengthens Iran-Russia partnership The race to recapture eastern Syria may soon lead to direct confrontation between the US-led coalition and Syria’s Russian and Iranian allies. Syria
Rethinking Russia’s Mideast ambitions Iran and Russia make for surprising allies in the Middle East, but ultimately Russia values its own interests over any alliance. Syria
Lebanon’s summer music festivals range from chic to psytrance From international concerts by the sea to gatherings at a family estate, Lebanon’s festivals offer a variety for music lovers. Lebanon
