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
Death knell looms for Turkey's judicial independence Turkey’s government has drafted an unprecedented bill to pave the way for a massive purge in the highest echelons of the judiciary, which many believe will spell the death of judicial independence. Turkey
One year after Sousse attack, Tunisia’s tourism industry remembers victims while remaining hopeful Tunisia’s tourism sector, bolstered by increased security, continues to push on following the sharp decline it experienced in the wake of last year’s Sousse attack. Tunisia
Why so many of Israel's security hawks have become doves In Israel, many top intelligence and security leaders have grown much more moderate during their service, but the prime minister and his cohorts would rather brand them as leftists than analyze why. Israel
The war over Fatah leadership has begun Former Fatah senior member Mohammed Dahlan has been channeling humanitarian aid funds to the Gaza Strip, thus creating an alliance with the local Hamas leadership. Palestine
Who is killing Syrian opposition figures in Aleppo, Idlib? The armed opposition in Aleppo and Idlib has been facing a series of assassinations and assassination attempts, as some leaders accuse the regime and IS of being behind them. Syria
Israel and Turkey have reconciled, now what? The renewed Israeli-Turkish relations will not be based, as in the past, on closed security cooperation, but on the convergence of interests and common enemies. Israel
Will next Palestinian president be handpicked by Abbas? Many prominent names are coming up as potential successors to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is expected to handpick the candidate himself. Palestine
The longest wait: My journey out of Gaza Al-Monitor's correspondent documented her own journey from Gaza into Egypt during the Rafah crossing's brief opening in early June. Palestine
Why Iranians are turning against Leonardo DiCaprio The announcement of a Hollywood biopic about 13th-century Persian poet Rumi with Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead role has sparked an outcry among Iranians. Iran
Digital map seeks to document 'trail of destruction' of Mideast antiquities Government and nonprofit organizations are working together to mitigate the threats that the Islamic State, looters and others pose to Middle East antiquities. Yemen
Cairo wages war on corruption with TV ads, but will it work? The Egyptian government has launched a TV ad campaign aimed at combating corruption, but some fear it will be ineffective without structural reform. Egypt
Iran rejects speculation on shift, divisions over Syria Iranian officials claim no differences among officials on Syria; Russia may be rethinking its Syria strategy; UN envoy stresses need for US, Russia “critical mass” in Syria. Syria
