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
Netanyahu's happiness industry Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech at the opening of the Knesset's 2016 winter session was focused on the wonderful situation of Israeli citizens while ignoring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and growing disparities within Israeli society. Israel
What recent Houthi moves in Red Sea mean for Israel Houthi assaults against US and UAE vessels should indicate to Israel that control of Red Sea waters might be at stake. Saudi Arabia
Tensions flare between Hezbollah, Gulf states Analysts say Hezbollah has made a sharp pivot toward confrontation with Gulf states, in part as a result of its alliance with Iran. Legacy: Gulf
Gaza students buy their way into graduation The Ministry of Education and Higher Education in the Gaza Strip warned companies, offices, libraries and others against selling ready-made academic research papers and projects for undergraduate and graduate students in a recent statement. Palestine
How political struggles are blurring Israel's national memory Israel's love for its assassinated heroes is proving fickle, with Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s legacy of peace diminishing by the year while the right builds up that of far-right tourism minister Rehavam Ze’evi. Israel
Gaza’s exchange shops come under scrutiny The Palestinian Ministry of Economy recently announced the formation of a new oversight committee to monitor the work of exchange shops in the Gaza Strip, in light of the manipulation of currency prices that has been ongoing for many years. Palestine
Worst forecasts become reality as Yemen starves A year and a half of war has pushed Yemen into famine as food insecurity threatens 14 million people, while the fighting parties spend millions on war. Yemen
Does Iranian law consider US a hostile state? Although Iran and the United States have been in a near-constant state of hostility over the past 3½ decades, it is still unclear whether the United States is technically an "enemy state" according to Iranian law. United States
US cool to Russia pause in Aleppo strikes Washington expressed skepticism about Russia’s plan to extend a pause in airstrikes on Aleppo until Nov. 4 so those needing medical care and opposition fighters could leave the city. Syria
Saudis turn to US states in bid to repeal 9/11 bill Riyadh’s latest lobbying push aims to enroll state governors. Saudi Arabia
Egyptians affected by cancer find support, good-natured rivalry A nonprofit association in Egypt, CanSurvive, helps cancer patients and survivors cope with the physical and psychological challenges of living with the disease. Egypt
Iran’s parliament gives green light to Rouhani’s new ministers Iranian media diversely reacted to parliament’s confirming of the new ministers of education, youth affairs and sports, as well as culture and Islamic guidance. Iran
