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
Iranian politicians hail election of Lebanon’s new president Iranian politicians across the political spectrum have hailed the election of Michel Aoun as Lebanon’s new president. Saudi Arabia
Turkey is about to find out if more people are safe when armed Many members of Turkey's Justice and Development Party are buying and carrying weapons without knowing how to use them. Turkey
Is Erdogan really serious about bringing back death penalty? A leading expert argues that by signaling his keenness for the death penalty, Erdogan is merely engaging in “cheap populism.” Turkey
What is Turkey up to in northern Syria? As Turkey advances in northern Syria as part of its Euphrates Shield offensive, taking control of al-Bab and Manbij would give Ankara access to the Aleppo front. Iraq
Ax hangs over Turkey's EU bid as AKP pushes to revive death penalty Turkey's president and now prime minister are speaking ever more boldly about reviving the death penalty despite the repercussions for the country's EU bid in what looks like a move to intimidate critics and also solidify the support of Turkish nationalists. Turkey
Palestinian paper faces backlash for interview with Israeli minister Palestinian paper Al-Quds, based in Jerusalem, recently published an interview with Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, angering some Palestinians who saw it as a normalization of ties with Israel. Palestine
Who was behind plot to assassinate Fatah leaders? News was leaked to the media about the arrest of cell members who were plotting to assassinate three Fatah leaders, although the Palestinian security services will not reveal details on the case before the investigation process is complete. Palestine
Where does US-Tunisian military cooperation end? Tunisians are opposed to the US-Tunisian military cooperation under the pretext of fighting terrorism, claiming that it undermines the country’s sovereignty and independence. Libya
Refugee camp clashes increase as Palestinian security steps up raids The West Bank is becoming more volatile as security services continue to raid refugee camps in operations the Palestinian Authority is trying to keep quiet. Palestine
How Aoun rose from '90s renegade to Lebanon's new president The election of Gen. Michel Aoun as Lebanon’s president ends a 2½-year void in the office but also divides the Lebanese public, with some considering him the candidate of Hezbollah. Lebanon
Can Iran pull Turkey, Iraq away from brink of war? Despite its tensions with Turkey, Tehran is well-positioned to bring Ankara and Baghdad closer amid their escalating war of words — but could Iran be successful in this endeavor? Iraq
Israel's defense minister offers Palestinians big stick, tiny carrots Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman's "carrot-and-stick" plan promises Palestinians big punishments alongside negligible benefits, very much like the policies of the European colonial powers in Africa. Palestine
