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
Gaza military court sentences two to death for drug offenses In the first ruling of its kind since the creation of the PA, a military court in Gaza City has sentenced two Palestinians to death for dealing drugs, worrying human rights groups. Palestine
Gulen casts a large shadow over Turkey’s ties with West Erdogan’s fury grows as more European countries express doubt that Gulen is behind last year’s failed coup against him. Turkey
Can Iran avoid looming banking crisis? In Iran, debate on how to avoid a looming banking crisis reaches fever pitch, with the future structure of the Central Bank of Iran becoming a battlefield between the government and its conservative opponents. Iran
Putin, Rouhani hold 'intensive' talks in Moscow Iran’s president, who is on a two-day trip to Moscow, holds “important” meetings with Russia’s president and prime minister. Russia
Turkey deals death blow to Kurdish leadership with DBP conviction Democratic Regions Party co-chair Kamuran Yuksek has been convicted of terrorism and sentenced in absentia to a lengthy prison term, while party officials decry insufficient evidence in "purely political” trial. Turkey
Turkey’s main Islamic human rights organization faces internal upheaval Mazlumder, Turkey’s main pro-Islamic human rights organization, has witnessed an internal revolution as those who criticized the government too much were kicked out. Turkey
What role will Iran-linked militias play once IS leaves Iraq? Despite Iraqi government attempts to control Shiite militias within the Popular Mobilization Units, the groups still are ready and willing to confront Israel and Saudi Arabia outside of Iraq. Iraq
Will new union chief give Egypt more control over press? Abdel Mohsen Salama, who is affiliated with the regime of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, was recently elected head of the Journalists' Union, raising questions about the state's future role in the media. Egypt
Could 'regional deal' be behind Israel's government crisis? Following the annual Arab League meeting in Jordan this past weekend, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will bring up the issue of the Arab Peace Initiative in his upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump. Egypt
Jordanians really don't want Israel’s gas Jordan's agreement to buy Israeli natural gas has Jordanians up in arms. Palestine
In Idlib, Syrians find solace in soccer With the Syrian war surrounding Idlib, the General Commission for Youth and Sports is organizing soccer and other sports leagues as a way to create some air of normalcy in opposition-held areas. Syria
Will Christians soon be enrolling at Egypt's Al-Azhar? The proposal to affiliate nonreligious faculties at Al-Azhar University with the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education goes beyond allowing the enrollment of Christian students. Egypt
