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 artful can Trump be when dealing with Palestine-Israel conflict? Despite President Mahmoud Abbas’ much-anticipated visit to Washington, Palestinians don’t have high hopes that US President Donald Trump can achieve a breakthrough and reach a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Palestine
White House sees wild-card nature as asset in Trump’s first foreign trip Trump’s first foreign trip as president will be to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Rome, the holy places for Islam, Judaism and Christianity, as he tries to rally the world to unite against extremism and intolerance, aides say. Saudi Arabia
How the US stood with Syria's Kurds Turkish airstrikes against the YPG in Syria animated the region, but the US-led anti-Islamic State coalition is standing its ground when it comes to defending the Syrian Kurds. Syria
No end in sight for Erdogan's purges after referendum The Turkish government’s narrow victory in last month’s constitutional referendum has emboldened new purges, affecting hundreds of police officers, academics and civilians. Turkey
Kurds rage as Turkish police flee scene of fatal crash Police officers crashed into a home in Kurdish town, killing two children, and furious residents are demanding an end to security forces' impunity. Turkey
What are European Union’s plans if Trump fails on Mideast peace? If US President Donald Trump fails to advance his Middle East conference initiative, the European Union will advance its own initiative for a third Paris conference. Palestine
Palestinians flock to first Palestinian bank in Jerusalem The National Bank opened its branch in the Dahiat al-Barid neighborhood in Jerusalem on April 17, allowing Palestinians to fulfill their banking needs in Israel without having to cross into the West Bank. Palestine
What's holding up the liberation of Iraq's Tal Afar? There are various accounts of why Tal Afar, Iraq, remains under the Islamic State's control despite the presence of armed forces ready and waiting to reclaim the city. Iraq
'National dialogue' initiative indicates shifting political sands in Iran While former Reformist President Mohammad Khatami's call for national reconciliation earlier this year was roundly rejected by Iranian conservatives, the initiative may finally take off with Principlist parliament Speaker Ali Larijani at its helm. Iran
Former Tehran mayor under fire for criticism of Syria war Former Tehran Mayor Gholam Hossein Karbaschi has been indicted for criticizing Iran’s approach to the Syrian civil war. Iran
Netanyahu turns discrimination resentment into strategy Forty years after the political turnabout that brought the right-wing Likud Party to power, Likud supporters from the periphery and of Middle Eastern origin still feel discriminated by a left-wing European elite. Israel
Why Trump-Abbas meeting has rattled Netanyahu Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is concerned that the US president's inviting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for a meeting in the White house, well before many other important world leaders, reflects a determination to advance a two-state deal. Palestine
