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
Why Turkish media is upset with CNN, WaPo Many Turkish media outlets have responded harshly to a scholarly analysis on The Washington Post forecasting another coup in Turkey and an interview on CNN International of a Turkish military officer who some claim participated in the coup attempt. Turkey
Iran’s Bank Mellat loses 37.5% in share value in one day The Tehran Stock Exchange tanks as market regulators allow resumption in trading of Bank Mellat shares. The key question is why there has been a sudden plunge. Iran
How quarrel over tobacco sent Libya into darkness A recent electricity blackout in most of western Libya caused by a local militia dispute has contributed to the new normal of major power cuts and a failing national electricity grid in the country. Libya
PA warns of danger if Israel annexes West Bank settlement Believing it will deal a fatal blow to any future peace process, the Palestinian Authority has warned of escalation if Israel annexes the Ma'ale Adumim settlement in the West Bank to Jerusalem. Palestine
Young Gazans launch startups to battle unemployment Faced with rampant unemployment, talented young Gazans are creating their own innovative projects with no official funding and support. Palestine
Widow of Israeli Bedouin demands inquiry into alleged terror attack Bedouin leaders and Knesset members from the Joint List are demanding an investigation into the violent eviction of Umm al-Hiran and the case of Kiyan Abu al-Kiyan, who Israeli authorities claim intentionally attacked and killed a police officer with his vehicle during the eviction. Israel
Israeli-Palestinian solidarity overcomes politics Despite voices on both sides of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict drumming up animosity toward the other side, there are many examples of people from both sides who see the other as human beings. Palestine
What will Trump era mean for Gaza? The Palestinians paid close attention to the inauguration speech of US President Donald Trump, who promised to eliminate radical Islam — something Hamas took personally. Palestine
White House warns Iran on missile test, but signals intent to enforce nuclear deal Trump national security aides warned Iran against missile tests and its support for Yemen’s Houthi rebels, but said they were drawing a line between Iran’s regional behavior and the Iran nuclear deal. Yemen
What the US stands to lose by alienating Morocco After Donald Trump's election, abrupt and extreme changes in US policy threaten its relationship with longtime ally Morocco. Morocco
Trump's pick for Israel envoy to undergo unprecedented Senate grilling Senate Democrats vow tough hearing on David Friedman as advocates of a two-state solution ramp up their lobbying. Israel
Turkish-Greek standoff over Aegean islets continues Disagreements over the fate of suspected Gulenist officers in Greece and the status of disputed Aegean Sea islands continue to chill Turkish-Greek relations. Syria
