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
This woman may be biggest opposition to Erdogan Meral Aksener, a rare female heavyweight in Turkish politics, may be the long-awaited leader to thwart Erdogan’s authoritarian ambitions. Turkey
US seizure of Iranian assets may open old wounds One month after the US Supreme Court’s ruling that frozen Iranian assets can be used to compensate families of victims of a 1983 bombing, the Rouhani administration is under mounting pressure to take action. Iran
Will Israel move from occupation to annexation? Palestinian officials fear that the appointment of hawkish Yisrael Beitenu head Avigdor Liberman as defense minister signals an Israeli policy leap from occupation of Palestinian territories toward annexation policies. Palestine
Why Hamas and Israel both oppose French peace initiative Few seem hopeful that France's upcoming peace talks will actually result in peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Palestine
Ultra-Orthodox slaughterhouse faces ax Ultra-Orthodox butcher Yoel Kraus claims that because he has no ID card and avoids contact with the Israeli authorities as an anti-Zionist, the police are trying to close down the ancient traditional slaughterhouse he operates and imprison him for tax evasion. Israel
New defense minister's death penalty demand would put Israelis at risk The demand by incoming Minister of Defense Avigdor Liberman to impose the death penalty for terrorism convictions could destroy Israeli-Palestinian security cooperation and ignite a new intifada. Palestine
Why an old-fashioned novel is trending among Turkey's youth A romantic Turkish novel first published in 1943 has finally been translated into English this month after becoming a social media sensation, coinciding with the third anniversary of the Gezi Park protests that shook Turkey and its ruling party. Turkey
US, Kurds to clear path toward Raqqa, with or without Turkey Because of Turkey's objections to Kurdish involvement, operational plans against the Islamic State keep changing. Syria
Have Israelis grown accustomed to corrupt politicians? Honesty and integrity are passé in Israel, where citizens have gotten used to politicians being corrupt. Palestine
Does Obama administration oppose key Iran bill? Congress blows up over the administration's refusal to endorse renewal of the expiring Iran Sanctions Act. Iran
Expect repercussions from deadly Latakia attacks All players in the Syrian war are scrutinizing the recent bloody assaults on Syrian civilians and the range of results that are likely. Syria
US allies mobilize on two fronts against IS, but Sunnis wary US-backed Iraqi forces have encircled Fallujah, and mostly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces have advanced on villages north of Raqqa, but Sunni residents are terrified of retribution by Kurdish and Shiite local forces preparing to liberate those cities from the Islamic State. Iraq
