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
Are Cairo, Riyadh in a messy ‘political divorce’? Egypt was not pleased when a Saudi royal delegation traveled to the controversial Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia to discuss potential energy projects with officials there. Saudi Arabia
Will Iran, Hamas break ties over Aleppo? Relations between Hamas and Iran have been especially tense since the group publicly condemned the violent battle for Aleppo. Palestine
Iraqi women join battle against Islamic State In response to the exploitation of women by the Islamic State as part of their "sexual jihad," women across Iraq are taking up arms in increasing numbers in the fight against the militant group. Iraq
UN anti-settlement resolution wake-up call for Israelis With UN Security Council Resolution 2334, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not only faces criticism from the center-left, but also calls from the right to annex West Bank lands. Israel
Turkey closes coup commission as key questions linger A parliamentary investigation commission created to investigate the political aspects of the July coup has wrapped up work at the Turkish president’s behest without providing any real answers. Turkey
Will Liberman's Palestinian sanctions cost Israeli lives? Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman ordered the military unit coordinating activities on the West Bank to sever civilian ties with the Palestinian Authority while maintaining security cooperation, but the two are inseparable. Palestine
Why did Iranian opposition leader resign from his own party? Green Movement leader Mehdi Karroubi, who has been under house arrest since 2011, has resigned as head of the Reformist party that he established. Iran
Why Iran sees Aleppo as chance to get in rather than out Rather than seeing the victory in Aleppo as an opportunity to wind down operations, the Syrian government’s Iranian ally appears to be preparing to push ahead with new offensives. Syria
First coup trial opens in Turkey As the first suspects go to trial in connection with the July coup attempt, a deeply wounded and divided Turkey does not appear ready for closure. Turkey
Why UN anti-settlement resolution won't make a difference UN efforts to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have failed miserably, as Israel is unmoved by its resolutions over the years. Palestine
Is Netanyahu sacrificing Israel on his crusade against Obama? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knows that Israel will pay, diplomatically and politically, for its over-the-top response to the anti-settlement UN Security Council resolution, but it seems he doesn't care. Palestine
Has PKK reached impasse in Turkey, Syria? Turkey was shaken by two recent terror acts by PKK-affiliates that killed some 60 people. What is the strategy of the Kurdish movement, and is that strategy sustainable in Turkey and Syria? Syria
