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
French envoys bear surprising message from Mideast Christians A French delegation to Lebanon, Iraq and Syria found that many Christians in the Middle East believe Western policies place economic interests ahead of their well-being. Iraq
Will Iran's new undercover morality agents have any impact? The plan to dispatch 7,000 undercover morality agents has stirred much criticism in Persian-language media and social networks, with the backlash mostly focused on the project's social costs. Iran
Why Trump, Clinton both scare Netanyahu Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fears that if elected president, Hilary Clinton will hit the ground running and not stop until advancing the two-state solution. Israel
Hamas watches its words in response to Jerusalem bus bombing Hamas is celebrating — but not claiming responsibility for — the April 18 bus bombing in Jerusalem, indicating it is walking a fine political line between maintaining its popularity among frustrated Palestinians and avoiding a punitive retaliation by Israel. Palestine
Israel's Arab Jews officially recognized as victims of Holocaust Roughly 1,000 of Israel's North African and Iraqi Jews have requested to receive a one-time compensation grant that recognizes the suffering of those communities under the Nazi regime. Iraq
Why Tuz Khormato clashes were more than just local skirmishes In Tuz Khormato, Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units and Kurdish peshmerga forces recently fought what appears to be a battle in the Shiite-Sunni power struggle, and not just a localized skirmish. Iraq
Erdogan’s secret economic weapon Turkey’s defense industry sector has emerged as a shining star in a turbulent period of economic jitters and falling exports. Turkey
Changes to Jordan's constitution raise concerns The newly approved amendments to the Jordanian Constitution will change the king's role in appointing key officials, though observers disagree on whether this will serve or weaken the country's parliamentary system. Jordan
Is homophobia at all-time high in Tunisia? Homophobia has reached an unprecedented level in Tunisia, as National Guard members are posting violent threats against the gay community on social media and signs banning gays from entering are displayed in public places. Tunisia
Syrian rebels weigh in on cease-fire Opposition fighters in Syria consider the cessation of hostilities 'negative,' although it has reduced civilian casualties. Syria
Can Paris conference offer breakthrough on two-state solution? The Palestinian leadership considers the French initiative and international support of the Paris conference the last opportunity for diplomacy. Palestine
US, Russia to jointly monitor Syria cease-fire US Secretary of State John Kerry and UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said they hoped that a partial Syria cease-fire would be extended to Aleppo after the United States and Russia agreed to create a joint Syria cease-fire monitoring operation in Geneva, but fighting raged on in the city. Syria
