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
How Trump's visit revamped US Mideast policy The regional visit of US President Donald Trump revealed that he supports an anti-Iran coalition of Sunni countries and that he is determined to broker a deal between Israel and the Palestinians. Saudi Arabia
The resurgence of Palestinian tribalism The Palestinian local elections held May 13 showed that Palestinians voted for tribal and independent lists instead of political lists, giving serious cause for concern. Palestine
Damascus, Amman exchange threats as border tensions flare Recent military exercises hosted by Jordan increased the Syrian regime's suspicion about activity on its southern border, while the opposition accuses the regime and Iran of trying to create a land route from Iran to Lebanon, through Syria and Iraq. Iraq
Iraqi comedian gets political By mocking outdated customs or mimicking politicians in Iraq, Ahmad Wahid is entering uncharted territories with his stand-up comedy. Iraq
Egypt harnesses star power to fight drugs Egypt’s Ministry of Social Solidarity is creating ads featuring young soccer stars and actors to teach young people about the dangers of drug abuse. Egypt
Egypt’s judiciary takes bold step in showdown with Sisi The Egyptian State Council decided to defy the law on the appointment of the heads of judicial bodies and nominated only Judge Yahya Dakroury, in a move that may stir a dispute with the president. Egypt
Egypt's alcohol bans keep stirring controversy A ban on alcohol during an Islamic holiday has revived debate over the effectiveness and fairness of government attempts to regulate such spirits. Egypt
Trump budget slashes Middle East aid The State Department is seeking deep cuts to military and economic assistance for Arab states. Bahrain
Empowering Egyptian women by turning homes into factories A personal tragedy led Gamal Talaat to start a project that boosts the economic power of women and keeps the Egyptian handicrafts industry alive. Egypt
What’s on Rouhani’s second-term economic agenda? While President Hassan Rouhani’s economic agenda features strong commitment to the building blocks of sustainable development, there are significant challenges ahead. Iran
Iran's conservatives question election results Iranian conservatives appear unwilling to accept the landslide re-election of moderate President Hassan Rouhani. Iran
New voices join Washington clamor over beatdown by Erdogan guards More US lawmakers are calling for action against the Turkish president's security detail after it beat up protesters in Washington, while the Turkish Foreign Ministry complains of what it calls "aggressive" conduct by "US security personnel." Turkey
