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
New campaign against face veil sparks controversy in Egypt Mohamed Attiya, the founder of the "Ban the niqab" campaign, speaks to Al-Monitor about why he supports banning niqabs in state institutions despite the criticism the campaign has received. Egypt
The man who stopped Bibi from attacking Iran Former Mossad Chief Meir Dagan passed away this week at the age of 71. He was a man of fearless combat who leaves a legacy of reaching out to Israel's neighbors while promoting a regional arrangement. Israel
Is Khamenei’s Nowruz message bad news for Rouhani? Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei designated this year as the year of "Resistance Economy: Action and Implementation." Iran
Legacy of former Israeli PM sees revival decades after his death As Israel commemorates the life of Prime Minister Menachem Begin, politicians are selectively using his legacy to boost their own images. Israel
Why are Turkey’s dogs committing suicide? The problem of abandoned dogs in Turkey has worsened in recent years, and animal rights groups are standing up to promote anti-abuse legislation. Turkey
Will the Islamic State survive 2016? The Islamic State's loss of territory has some experts predicting its demise, but are we sure? Iraq
How Tehran and Damascus view Russia’s latest Syria move Regardless of the partial Russian military withdrawal, it appears that other allies of the Syrian government are holding their ground. Lebanon
EU deal with Turkey to send back refugees already on thin ice The consensus on the resolution of the Syrian refugee crisis by Turkey and the European Union may not last long due to its fragile framework. Syria
What Russia's withdrawal means for Syria conflict Opinions vary about the repercussions and motives behind Russian President Vladimir Putin’s partial withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria. Syria
Ultra-Orthodox turn to 'kosher' Internet Israel's ultra-Orthodox leadership is encouraging its community to access only filtered Internet content and use ''kosher'' smartphones, as technology makes it harder and harder to block unwanted material. Israel
Erdogan takes authoritarian rule to new heights in war on PKK Terrorist bombing in Turkey kills two Americans as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan resurrects "thought crimes" in confronting critics; Is Iran a spoiler in Palestinian politics? Israel cool to feelers from Sudan. Saudi Arabia
Vessels willing to go the distance to avoid Suez canal tariffs Egyptian authorities, who recently inaugurated the East Port Said side channel of the Suez Canal project, say they’re not concerned by reports of vessels using alternate routes. Egypt
