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
Is Turkey being snowed by flurry of fake defense news? Turkey's news media have been overloaded with exaggerated and at times improbable defense industry and security reports serving as political propaganda for the government. Turkey
3 reasons disgruntled conservatives may sway Turkish referendum Small cracks have appeared in Turkey’s conservative ranks, but they are likely to have a big impact on the outcome of a crucial referendum expected in April. Turkey
How drop in tourism is altering life for Sinai Bedouins With tourism having declined in Egypt since the 2011 revolution, south Sinai residents have been leaving their rich, green lands and heading toward urban areas in search of job opportunities. Egypt
Why the US might cut Palestinian aid drastically The Palestinian Authority worries that the new US administration will withhold aid, in part to pressure Palestinians to return to the negotiating table with the Israelis. Palestine
How Iran-Saudi rapprochement is impacting Lebanon Iran has been hinting at potential rapprochement with Saudi Arabia for quite some time now, and in Lebanon, historical rival parties are showing signs of consensus as well. Saudi Arabia
Israeli right prepares for post-Netanyahu era Rivals from within the Likud Party and leaders of other coalition partners are already preparing for the moment Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have to step down. Israel
Netanyahu trapped between right-wing settlement law, US president Confronted with a yet-unknown position by US President Donald Trump and continuous pressure from his coalition partners, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu keeps changing his mind about the settlement Regularization law. Israel
Armed Iraqi factions threaten to target Americans in response to travel ban While the Iraqi government cautiously follows up on the impacts of the US executive order to ban Iraqis from the United States, some Shiite militias threaten to target Americans in Iraq in response to the new US policy. Iraq
Americans to wrestle in Iran; Iranian archers not so lucky Iran reversed its ban on the entry of US wrestlers for a meet, but Iranian archers will not be able to compete at US event. United States
Three Iranian couples recount heartbreak of Trump’s travel ban The new US president's Jan. 27 executive order to ban Iranians and nationals of six other countries from entering the United States has directly impacted countless families, including couples who have found themselves separated. United States
Will Iran challenge Russian interests in European natural gas market? Iranian gas exports have been held back not only by sanctions, but also by Iran's lack of energy infrastructure and the country's domestic calculations. Russia
Why GCC has been silent on Trump's 'Muslim ban' Gulf states have failed to criticize the Trump administration for its recent "Muslim ban" in an attempt to keep the new US administration on their side in light of the economic and security challenge the Gulf region faces. Legacy: Gulf
