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
Rafsanjani missile tweet draws fire from Khamenei After Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani for appearing to criticize Iran’s missile program, a number of analysts attacked Rafsanjani. Iran
Is this the man who will replace Abbas? It seems dismissed Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan is expanding his regional and international influence to become the potential successor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Saudi Arabia
Is Iranian economy weighing Rouhani down? Polls show the Iranian president’s voter base is broadening in the aftermath of the country’s parliamentary elections, but that he also faces immense challenges related to the state of the Iranian economy. Iran
Why Jordan is installing cameras at Al-Aqsa Mosque Jordan’s plan to install surveillance cameras at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is raising controversy among Palestinians, as some believe Israel will take advantage of the cameras to further attack and pursue those defending the mosque's grounds. Palestine
Why some Jews have said Yemeni Jews aren't welcome in Israel Satmar ultra-Orthodox activists are trying to convince Yemeni Jews to immigrate to the United States instead of Israel. Yemen
Supreme Court's rejection of Israeli gas plan has ministers fuming Government ministers have launched an assault on the Supreme Court after its rejection of the natural gas outline. Israel
Knesset ends turbulent winter session Knesset members heading off for recess after this winter session leave behind a record best characterized by extremism between Arabs and Jews, and lots of voices being raised. Israel
What the Egyptian Cabinet reshuffle means In a bid to revive his Cabinet’s role before addressing the parliament to earn confidence, Egyptian Prime Minister Sharif Ismail yielded to the parliament’s demands and announced a Cabinet reshuffle that included 10 portfolios. Egypt
Are Iranian missiles a shield against better relations with US? After Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said that discourse and not missiles is the way of the future, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called such talk treasonous. Iran
Why this Hamas leader will not tell you what you want to hear Hamas leader Ahmed Youssef sees the critical light he shines on his own party as essential to its legitimacy in Gaza, though many others among the leadership wish he would toe the line. Palestine
How this NGO is helping victims of Turkish mine disaster provide for their families A project spearheaded by Turkish Americans aims to assist impoverished women in Turkey’s western town of Soma, where a massive mining disaster has left hundreds of families without livelihood. Turkey
Animals among victims of southeast Turkey clashes Thousands of birds and domestic animals are among the victims of ongoing clashes between security forces and Kurdish rebels in southeastern Turkey, where animal rights activists risk death coming to the rescue. Turkey
